Filemaker Server Plug-ins

Hi,

I'm a bit confused by Filemaker Server Plug-ins.

I can't seem to find a clear answer in the administation and users
guides for what they exactly are.

I -know- FM Server has the facility to store, and deploy plug-ins to
fm pro clients via plugin auto-updating, but it also has its own
separate extensions folder, and there seem to be clues that plug-ins
can exist and run on the server (e.g. to provide functionality to web
users for example)

The FM plugin developers guide has no relevant information.

The FM plugin SDK and example show that plug-in functions can be
flagged as executable on the server, but there is virtually no
documentation of what the various flags are etc. Nor how to achieve
different effects.

So Can FM Server host plug-ins that exist soley on the server?

Can FM Pro clients make use of them?

I'm looking at writing a plugin (already got my basic 'hello world'
plug in up and running), but I'd ideally like it to be installed only
on the server. I've got Mac and PC end users and don't really want to
have to mintain 2 separate versions. (Worse, the plugin needs to
bridge to functions in the dotNet managed world, so a Mac port would
be a royal pain.

If I can simply have the plug-in exist on the server, without having
to deploy to clients that would be ideal.

And if so does the plug-in have to be written a certain way to support
that?

I'm currently developing against FM8 Server Advanced, and would
upgrade to 9 if it were required.

-cheers,
Dave