[Opensim-dev] Round 2: Config changes preview

[Mister Blue]

I would like to hear from people running a large configuration of
simulators and regions -- how do they want configuration?

For our installation, we use a --inimaster on each simulator
invocation to set up site wide settings (physics engine, etc) and then
each simulator has an very small OpenSim.ini file in it's bin
directory to set simulator specific configuration. We also have
scripts that 'hide' the OpenSim.ini file in the Regions directory
because that is a directory of information that you save when you
upgrade the binaries.

It's nice to have the defaults around so you know what you can tune,
but it is of no use to a running simulator.

I would prefer a directory of default ini files (a directory so the
installation of a module can easily add a new set of parameters) and
then a single ini file that the simulator reads which overrides any of
the defaults. That would make administration easier since you would
know what you have change from the defaults. Also, ideally, the
overriding ini file should be in a 'user' directory -- not in the main
bin directory so one could upgrade the binaries by just slamming the
contents of a bin directory from a build on top of it.

Some more two cents.

-- mb

On Sat, Mar 14, 2009 at 6:52 AM, Stefan Andersson <stefan at tribalmedia.se> wrote:
> Some random thoughts;
>
> Our config files serves three purposes, as it seems
> a) specifying default values (though why on earth these are ever different
> from the hardcoded defaults escapes me)
> b) specifying user overriding values
> c) documenting available settings and their use
> d) pushing changing defaults from the svn to installed instances
>
> I think we need to address these concerns separately.
>
> As I understand it, the config dir is so that we can
> a) split humongous default config files into smaller ones
> b) to be able to 'drop' module default config files into an installation
> without having to merge them into one big ini.
>
> I think the settings can be split thrice;
> 1) Stuff that _must_ be reconfigured per installation : ip number, shared
> ports and stuff like that. (All users, should need no expertise)
> 2) Stuff that _can_ be reconfigured per installation. (Special installation
> cases, needs some knowledge)
> 3) Stuff that _seldom_ needs tampering. (Advanced user, special
> installation)
>
> I would suggest we break free of the current mindset and think about how
> 1) could be solved differently.
>
> Maybe we should say "either supply these settings on the command line, or
> create an OpenSim.ini file, look at OpenSim.ini.example for an example"
>
> Most users would probably go a long way just by specifying the 1) params on
> the command line.
>
> Of course, the created OpenSim.ini should need to be a bare minimum, and
> would probably need to change very seldom.
>
> Best regards,
> Stefan Andersson
> Tribal Media AB
>
>
>
>
>> Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 04:25:25 -0700
>> From: aerowolf at gmail.com
>> To: opensim-dev at lists.berlios.de
>> CC: opensim-users at lists.berlios.de
>> Subject: Re: [Opensim-dev] Round 2: Config changes preview
>>
>> because many people run their servers from inside their bin/
>> directory, and if it's named OpenSim.ini then any changes that are
>> made to that file will get overwritten (not just overridden) at the
>> next svn update.
>>
>> That's why it was renamed to OpenSim.ini.example -- originally, it was
>> set to OpenSim.ini, and that problem was pretty much the number one
>> support issue at that time.
>>
>> -Kyle H
>>
>> On Fri, Mar 13, 2009 at 5:00 PM, Paul Fishwick <fishwick at cise.ufl.edu>
>> wrote:
>> > Justin Clark-Casey wrote:
>> >> To get OpenSim to run at all, the user still has to copy
>> >> OpenSim.ini.example to OpenSim.ini (though it should be
>> >> possible to override this if config is supplied over the network).
>> >
>> > This may be a silly question, but is there some reason why we keep on
>> > suggesting
>> > that people copy OpenSim.ini.example to OpenSim.ini? Why not just make
>> > OpenSim.ini what happens to be in OpenSim.ini.example?
>> >
>> > -p
>> >
>> >
>> > Paul Fishwick, PhD
>> > Professor and Director, Digital Arts and Sciences Programs
>> > University of Florida
>> > Computer & Information Science and Eng. Dept.
>> > Bldg. CSE, Room 301
>> > P.O. Box 116120
>> > Gainesville, FL 32611
>> > Email: fishwick at cise.ufl.edu
>> > Phone: (352) 392-1414
>> > Fax: (352) 392-1220
>> > Web: http://www.cise.ufl.edu/~fishwick
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> >
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