Configuration information is stored in two properties files: portal.properties and system.properties.

On startup, the portal loads system.properties, system-ext.properties, portal.properties, and portal-ext.properties from the class path.

The *-ext.properties files make it easy for users to override the values without changing the source.

The portal checks with a setting in portal.properties to see whether or not to set the values in system.properties as actual system properties for the Java VM. The system properties include values for Java, Hibernate, logging, HTTP proxies, and more.

The portal then sets the values in portal.properties. The portal properties include values for languages, events, and much more.