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docs(admin): Configuration Parameter chapter refactoring
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Signed-off-by: Josh <[email protected]>
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Configuration Parameters
========================

Nextcloud uses the ``config/config.php`` file to control server operations.
``config/config.sample.php`` lists all the configurable parameters within
Nextcloud, along with example or default values. This document provides a more
detailed reference. Most options are configurable on your Admin page, so it
is usually not necessary to edit ``config/config.php``.

.. note:: The installer creates a configuration containing the essential parameters.
Only manually add configuration parameters to ``config/config.php`` if you need to
use a special value for a parameter. **Do not copy everything from**
``config/config.sample.php`` **. Only enter the parameters you wish to modify!**

Multiple config.php file
------------------------
Introduction
------------

Nextcloud uses ``config/config.php`` as its main configuration file. This file controls
various fundamental aspects of server operations. It is typically modified as part of initial
deployment, when troubleshooting, and when making adjustments to surrounding infrastructure.

This is a required file for all Nextcloud deployments and thus it is critical for Nextcloud
administrators to be familiar with managing it.

This section of the *Administration Manual* documents how to adjust this essential file,
certain special characteristics of the ``config/`` directory, and all of the supported
parameters that can be specified in a ``config/config.php`` file.

.. note:: While ``config/config.php`` is a required file, many Nextcloud or Nextcloud app
settings are managed elsewhere and thus not included in it. These settings are typically
managed via individual apps.

Loading
-------

Configuration files located in ``config/`` are parsed automatically when Nextcloud
starts up. They are also checked for changes periodically (approximately every two seconds
in a standard PHP environment running with default *OPcache* settings; approximately every
sixty seconds in many pre-packaged Nextcloud installation methods).

The ``config/config.php`` file may be supplemented by additional ``*.config.php`` files
placed in the ``config/`` directory (if appropriately named and formatted).

.. danger:: Be cautious when naming or creating backup copies of your active
``config/config.php``. If a backup is located within ``config/`` and is named
``(ANYTHING).config.php``, it will be loaded as part of your live configuration
and override your ``config/config.php`` values!

.. tip:: If your configuration changes don't seem to be taking effect, check: (a) your PHP opcache
configuration; (b) for additional ``*.config.php`` files located in ``config/``; (c) the documentation
for your Nextcloud installation method/package; (d) the output of ``occ config:list system``.

Format
------

The short answer is that``config/`` files are plain text files with some special formatting
requirements for different types of parameters and values. This makes it extensible and easy for
Nextcloud to interact with. It also makes it easy for administartors to view with any text viewer
and from the command-line.

Technically these configuration files are PHP files containing a special (to Nextcloud) PHP array
called ``$CONFIG``. This array consists of various Nextcloud specific "key-value" pairs (in some cases
arrays themselves). Each pair has the form ``key => value`` and is comma-separated.

Types of Values
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Strings:

* ``"thisIsAnImportantValue"``
* Note: These must be either single or double quoted - i.e. ``"string"`` or ``'string'``.
* Note: IP addresses are considered strings.
* Examples:
- ``'logo_url' => 'https://example.org',``
- ``'versions_retention_obligation' => 'auto, D',``
- ``'logtimezone' => 'Europe/Berlin',``

Boolean:

* ``true`` or ``false``
* Note: These should **not** be surrounded by quote marks within the configuration file itself.
* Examples:
- ``'session_keepalive' => true,``
- ``'hide_login_form' => false,``

Numerical:

* ``12``
* This includes both integers and floating point numbers.
* Note: These should **not** be surrounded by quote marks within the configuration file itself.
* Examples:
- ``'loglevel' => 2,``
- ``'session_lifetime' => 60 * 60 * 24,``

Arrays of any of the above types:

* ``[ 'value1', 'value2' ]``
* All value types (including other arrays) can be included in arrays.
* Note: Only some parameters support array style values.
* Examples:
- ``'connectivity_check_domains' => [ 'www.nextcloud.com', 'www.eff.org', ],``
- ``'enabledPreviewProviders' => [ 'OC\Preview\BMP', 'OC\Preview\GIF', 'OC\Preview\JPEG', ],``

.. tip:: Nextcloud attempts to remedy some value type/formatting mistakes, but this is not foolproof.
Use the correct formatting (for the type of value in question) to avoid unexpected results arising
from values being cast in unexpected ways.

Modifying
---------

Parameters may be modified in a standard text editor (i.e. via the command-line or from a PC
then re-uploaded). They may also, in most cases, be modified using the commands in
the ``occ config:system:*`` namespace.

.. tip:: Incorrectly formatted ``key => value`` entries (or incorrectly specified values) may
not generate immediate errors or problems (such as parsing / syntax errors), but may still
lead to unexpected and undesirable results. Review your fully parsed (by PHP) configuration
by using the command ``occ config:list system`` and/or ``occ config:list system --private``
to identify anything unexpected.

Defaults
--------

Nextcloud creates a base ``config/config.php`` file at installation time containing the most
essential parameters for operations. These values are a mixture of auto-generated and drawn from
information provided by the administrator at installation time.

The file ``config/config.sample.php`` lists all the parameters within Nextcloud that can be
specified in ``config/`` files, along with example and default values for each. The content of
that sample configuration file is included here for ease of reference and alongside additional
context.

.. tip:: Only add parameters to ``config/config.php`` that you wish to modify.

.. danger:: **Do not copy everything from ``config/config.sample.php`` into your own
``config/config.php``!** Besides being unnecessary, it will break things and possibly even
require re-installation.

Multiple/Merged Configuration Files
-----------------------------------

Nextcloud supports loading configuration parameters from multiple files. You can add arbitrary
files ending with ``.config.php*`` (i.e. ``*.config.php``) in the ``config/`` directory. The values
in these files take precedence over ``config/config.php``. This allows you to easily create and
manage custom configurations, or to divide a large complex configuration file into a set of smaller files.
These custom files are not overwritten by Nextcloud.

For example, you could place your email server configuration in ``config/email.config.php`` and
whatever parameters you specify in it will be merged with your ``config/config.php``.

.. note:: The values in these additional configuration files **always** take precedence over
``config/config.php``.

.. tip:: To view your fully merged configuration (i.e. incorporating all config files), use
``occ config:list system`` and/or ``occ config:list system --private``.

.. danger:: Be cautious when naming or creating backup copies of your active
``config/config.php``. If a backup config file is located within ``config/`` and happens to be
named ``(ANYTHING).config.php``, it will be loaded as part of your live configuration and override
your ``config/config.php`` values!

Examples
--------

These are some examples of the content of typical ``config/config.php`` files immediately after
a basic installation of Nextcloud.

When you use SQLite as your Nextcloud database, your ``config.php`` looks like
this after installation. The SQLite database is stored in your Nextcloud
``data/`` directory::

<?php
$CONFIG = array (
'instanceid' => 'occ6f7365735',
'passwordsalt' => '2c5778476346786306303',
'trusted_domains' =>
array (
0 => 'localhost',
1 => 'studio',
),
'datadirectory' => '/var/www/nextcloud/data',
'dbtype' => 'sqlite3',
'version' => '7.0.2.1',
'installed' => true,
);

.. note:: SQLite is a simple, lightweight embedded database that is fine for testing
and simple installations, but production environments you should use MySQL/MariaDB,
Oracle, or PosgreSQL.

This example is from a new Nextcloud installation using MariaDB::

<?php
$CONFIG = array (
'instanceid' => 'oc8c0fd71e03',
'passwordsalt' => '515a13302a6b3950a9d0fdb970191a',
'trusted_domains' =>
array (
0 => 'localhost',
1 => 'studio',
2 => '192.168.10.155'
),
'datadirectory' => '/var/www/nextcloud/data',
'dbtype' => 'mysql',
'version' => '7.0.2.1',
'dbname' => 'nextcloud',
'dbhost' => 'localhost',
'dbtableprefix' => 'oc_',
'dbuser' => 'oc_carla',
'dbpassword' => '67336bcdf7630dd80b2b81a413d07',
'installed' => true,
);

Nextcloud supports loading configuration parameters from multiple files.
You can add arbitrary files ending with :file:`.config.php` in the :file:`config/`
directory, for example you could place your email server configuration
in :file:`email.config.php`. This allows you to easily create and manage
custom configurations, or to divide a large complex configuration file
into a set of smaller files. These custom files are not overwritten by
Nextcloud, and the values in these files take precedence over :file:`config.php`.

.. The following section is auto-generated from
.. https://github.com/nextcloud/server/blob/master/config/config.sample.php
.. Do not edit this file; edit the source file in core
.. DEFAULT_SECTION_START
Auto-generated Parameters
-------------------------

Default Parameters
------------------

These parameters are configured by the Nextcloud installer, and are required
These parameters are generated by the Nextcloud installer, and are required
for your Nextcloud server to operate.


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.. DEFAULT_SECTION_END
.. Generated content above. Don't change this.
Default config.php Examples
---------------------------
When you use SQLite as your Nextcloud database, your ``config.php`` looks like
this after installation. The SQLite database is stored in your Nextcloud
``data/`` directory. SQLite is a simple, lightweight embedded database that
is good for testing and for simple installations, but for production Nextcloud
systems you should use MySQL, MariaDB, or PosgreSQL.

::

<?php
$CONFIG = array (
'instanceid' => 'occ6f7365735',
'passwordsalt' => '2c5778476346786306303',
'trusted_domains' =>
array (
0 => 'localhost',
1 => 'studio',
),
'datadirectory' => '/var/www/nextcloud/data',
'dbtype' => 'sqlite3',
'version' => '7.0.2.1',
'installed' => true,
);

This example is from a new Nextcloud installation using MariaDB::


<?php
$CONFIG = array (
'instanceid' => 'oc8c0fd71e03',
'passwordsalt' => '515a13302a6b3950a9d0fdb970191a',
'trusted_domains' =>
array (
0 => 'localhost',
1 => 'studio',
2 => '192.168.10.155'
),
'datadirectory' => '/var/www/nextcloud/data',
'dbtype' => 'mysql',
'version' => '7.0.2.1',
'dbname' => 'nextcloud',
'dbhost' => 'localhost',
'dbtableprefix' => 'oc_',
'dbuser' => 'oc_carla',
'dbpassword' => '67336bcdf7630dd80b2b81a413d07',
'installed' => true,
);

.. Generated content below. Don't change this.
.. ALL_OTHER_SECTIONS_START
Expand Down

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