How configuration files work

The server maintains configuration properties for both the GIS server and its services in a collection of configuration files. When the server object manager (SOM) starts, it reads these configuration files. These files use XML to define such things as the set of server object container machines, server directory locations, and other properties of service configurations. There are three types of configuration files:

When you modify the properties of the server or its services (either through an administrative interface such as Manager or programmatically with the server API), these changes are reflected in the appropriate configuration file.

Although you can modify configuration files manually using a text editor, it is recommended that you edit their contents using an administrative interface such as Manager or ArcCatalog, or the ArcObjects Server API. Before you edit the configuration files, you must stop the ArcGIS Server Object Manager service.

If there are errors in the server configuration file, the SOM logs an error and attempts to use defaults for the missing or invalid values. If the SOM encounters a corrupted service configuration file, it logs a warning and ignores the configuration.


11/18/2013