1. Configuring Sakai from Outside the Web Application
Tony Atkins

2. The Default State OOTB Hypersonic SQL (in memory)
Database storage of binary content (except archives)
No incoming mail
No outgoing mail

3. The sakai.properties file
Lives in TOMCAT_HOME/sakai
Stores 250+ settings used by components and tools
Follows the convention of a normal Java Properties file

4. Simple Properties getString
A string including spaces but no carriage returns: stringProperty=a string including spaces
Example in Sakai: server.url
getBoolean
TRUE or FALSE booleanProperty=TRUE
Example in Sakai: auto.ddl

5. getStrings properties
Anything from a simple list to a full hierarchy of properties can be represented: multiProperty.count=3 multiProperty.1=peas multiProperty.2=porridge multiProperty.3.count=3 multiProperty.3.1=hot multiProperty.3.2=cold multiProperty.3.3=in the pot, nine days old
Example in Sakai: Terms

6. Customizing your sakai.properties file
Start with reference/docs/sakai.properties
At a minimum, review and edit:
Database settings
Filesystem settings
Branding
Mail Settings
Optionally review:
Tool Settings

7. Database settings: Uncomment the appropriate block for your database
Edit the username and password properties

8. FileSystem settings
The location in which binary content will be stored (also disables storing binary content in the database).
The location in which site archives will be stored.
A comma-delimited list of volumes between which binary content should be distributed
The maximum amount of content allowed for a single site (in Kb)

9. Branding ui.institution The name of your institution serverId
The name of this node
serverName
Our service name
serverUrl
The full service URL

10. Mail Settings smtp.enabled Whether or not to enable incoming mail
The server name that handles outgoing mail
smtp.dns.1
The primary DNS server used to look up hosts found in mail.
smtp.dns.2
The secondary DNS server used to look up hosts found in mail.
smtp.port
The port on which James will listen.

11. Tool Settings stealthTools@org.sakaiproject.tool.api.ActiveToolManager
A list of tool Ids that should be hidden from end users. Provisional tools are hidden by default.
An additional list of tool Ids that should be hidden from end users.
A list of tool Ids that should be visible to end users (overrides both of the above settings).

12. Config Viewer Tool what each option controls
A contrib tool
Written by Tony Atkins (with much advice from Aaron and Antranig).
A compendium of 250+ configuration options with guidelines as to:
what each option controls
what syntax is expected for each option
what tools depend on each option
Demo
Source

13. toolOrder.xml Secondary file that controls:
Which tools can be selected for each type of site (overrides other settings)
The order in which the tools can be selected for each type of site
The tools that are checked by default for each type of site

14. Configuring toolOrder.xml
Start with the defaults: component/component-api/component/src/config/org/sakaiproject/config/toolOrder.xml
Copy to TOMCAT_HOME/sakai/toolOrder.xml

15. Questions?