This section contains information on the structure of the system and the important files which hold the system configuration.

Bootloader

The bootloader is used by NetKernel when running in Standalone Mode. It implements a classloader which locates and boots the kernel based on the path specified in the [install]/etc/bootloader.cfg. It also isolates NetKernel's classloaders enabling the system to run cleanly within an IDE without picking up an existing classpath. The bootloader allows the kernel to be reconfigured on the fly to allow updates to the kernel to be deployed by the Install Wizard.

The bootloader requires the following system properties:

• bootloader.basepath - this mandatory property must be set to the NetKernel install directory [install].
• bootloader.jarDir - this optional property specifies a path where additional jars are located which will be added to the classpath supplied to the kernel when it is booted.
• bootloader.nativeDir - this optional property specifies a path where additional jars which won't be reloaded are located which will be added to the classpath supplied to the kernel when it is booted. This is useful for libraries which connect to native code using JNI because these will fail if they get reloaded in secondary classloaders.

The file bootloader.cfg is a plain text file which contains one line; the fully qualified filesystem path to the location of the NetKernel classes - usually located at [install]/lib/1060netkernelx.x.x.jar

Global Kernel Parameters

The file [install]/etc/system.xml is an XML file which defines a set of parameters that configure NetKernel's kernel. More details can be found in the Kernel Tuning Guide.

Deployed Modules

The file [install]/etc/deployedModules.xml is an XML file which defines a set of file paths to the modules which will be commissioned by the Kernel. These paths may be absolute or relative; if relative they are resolved against the basepath.