Configuration parameters by environment

Typically, you need to support more than one server environment. Guidewire recommends that you maintain at least the following environments:
  • Development
  • Test
  • Deployment (production)

So that you do not have to change configuration parameters each time you switch between environments, PolicyCenter provides the ability to set configuration parameters for a specific environment or for a specific server or server role.

Setting the env attribute on <param>

Environment-specific parameters can reference environment properties to indicate in which environment or environments they are valid. You specify the environment or environments for a configuration parameter in file config.xml by adding an env attribute to the parameter definition. If you want a parameter to apply for multiple values of the env attribute, you can add a comma-separated list of values for the attribute.

Use the following syntax to add an env attribute to a parameter definition:
  • <param name="..." value="..." env="..."/>

Setting the server attribute on <param>

Although it is possible for the server attribute to specify a server ID value, the use of a server ID is usually too specific to be meaningful in most cases. Thus, Guidewire recommends that you set the value of the server attribute to one or more server roles instead. As multiple servers can share the same server role, the server attribute can affect any server with that server role. You can only set a single value for the server attribute, however.

Use the following syntax (notice the beginning hash mark) to specify a server role rather than a server ID for the server attribute:
  • server="#server_role"

Thus, #batch specifies the batch server role.

Note:

Typically, the only real need to use a server ID for the server attribute is if there is a host that contains multiple NICs (Network Interface Cards). In that case, it is possible to specify a URL with an address that is specific to single NIC on the host machine.

Setting configuration parameters at runtime

To have PolicyCenter use a specific version of a parameter, specify the environment in a JVM option at server startup, for example:
  • gwb runServer -Denv=test
  • gwb runServer -Dserver=#batch