Server run levels

PolicyCenter supports the concept of a server run level. Guidewire divides the complete set of server functionality into a number of sequential levels. Each server run level contains more server functionality than the previous run level. As you start the PolicyCenter server, you can specify that the server starts at a certain run level. In this manner, you can restrict the server functionality to the subset of functionality that is available at that run level.

The ability to restrict server functionality is useful if you want to perform a server operation at a certain functional level. For example, in a server upgrade, you want the server to be at a specific level of functionality so that you can perform the upgrade, but, you also want to prevent user from logging into the server.

Different ways to view and set run levels

In is possible to view and define the server run levels in multiple ways.

Run level Usage

Run level	Usage
QuickStart run level	The QuickStart run level applies only to the development QuickStart server. It is a numeric value from 0 to 5 that you enter on the command line as you start the QuickStart application server. The server starts at level 0 and proceeds to move through each server run level in the sequence until arriving at the requested run level. You set the QuickStart run level using the following command as you start the QuickStart server, with `n` being a specific run level number between 0 and 5: `gwb runServer --run-level n` See Set the QuickStart run level at server start.
Server run level	The server run level designates each level of server functionality with a specific name. The server run levels map to the QuickStart numeric levels. For example, QuickStart level 3 maps to a server run level of `NODAEMONS`. PolicyCenter shows the server run level in the server log, listing each run level as it reaches that level of functionality. See the Installation Guide for information on how to start the various types of production application servers.
System run level	The system run level provides a way to set a specific run level for an actively running server. You set the system run level using system_tools commands, for example: `system_tools -maintenance` See system_tools command for details.

QuickStart run level

The QuickStart run level applies only to the development QuickStart server. It is a numeric value from 0 to 5 that you enter on the command line as you start the QuickStart application server. The server starts at level 0 and proceeds to move through each server run level in the sequence until arriving at the requested run level.

You set the QuickStart run level using the following command as you start the QuickStart server, with n being a specific run level number between 0 and 5:

gwb runServer --run-level n

See Set the QuickStart run level at server start.

Server run level

The server run level designates each level of server functionality with a specific name. The server run levels map to the QuickStart numeric levels. For example, QuickStart level 3 maps to a server run level of NODAEMONS. PolicyCenter shows the server run level in the server log, listing each run level as it reaches that level of functionality.

See the Installation Guide for information on how to start the various types of production application servers.

System run level

The system run level provides a way to set a specific run level for an actively running server.

You set the system run level using system_tools commands, for example:

system_tools -maintenance

See system_tools command for details.

The following table lists the correspondence between the various ways of describing the run levels.

QuickStart run level	Sever run level	System run level
0	`NONE`	—
1	`GUIDEWIRE_STARTUP`	—
2	`SHUTDOWN`	—
3	`NODAEMONS`	`maintenance`
4	`DAEMONS`	`daemons`
5	`MULTIUSER`	`multiuser`