How to move or copy the Iguana working directory

Introduction

The procedure for moving or copying an Iguana working directory, whether from one server to another, or from one folder to another is simple: With Iguana stopped, copy the working directory, excluding a few files (that Iguana will generate on startup).

After copying the directory you will need to update the iguana_service.hdf file to point to the new working directory, and finally you will need to activate or transfer a license for the Iguana server.

Note: When you are installing a new Iguana server you should create a separate working directory. The procedure for this is different from copy an existing working directory, follow the Intitial Configuration procedure in our Deployment Best Practices page.

Issue [top]

How to move or copy the Iguana working directory.

Solution [top]

To move or copy Iguana working directory:

  1. Commit changes for all Translator projects, in every channel:

    Any changes that are not committed to the repository will be lost. This is because the Iguana repository is copied (or moved) during the process the and uncommitted changes are not included.

  2. Stop the Iguana service or daemon.
  3. Backup or copy the existing working directory:

    This is precautionary to ensure you can recover the original working directory if anything does wrong.

  4. Copy the existing working directory, excluding the following:
    • Folder: edit
    • Folder: run
    • Folder: IguanaConfigurationRepo
    • File: IguanaLicense
  5. Delete the existing working directory:

    If you are cautious you can initially rename it and then delete it later — but so long as you made a copy/backup in step (3) you can always recover anyway.

  6. Update iguana_service.hdf to point to the new working directory:
    1. The iguana_service.hdf file is in the Iguana install directory:

      If the Iguana install directory is C:\Program Files\iNTERFACEWARE\Iguana, the you will need to update the C:\Program Files\iNTERFACEWARE\Iguana\iguana_service.hdf file.

    2. Add the the --working_dir "<new working directory name>" option as shown:

      The critical piece of information is the --working_dir argument. This tells Iguana where to get its configuration files from, in this case you can see we are getting them from C:\Program Files\iNTERFACEWARE\Config\.
      For Linux/Mac use command_line_unix=./iguana.

      application{
   service_kill_timeout = 500000 
   service_display_name=iNTERFACEWARE Iguana
   service_name=Iguana
   service_description=HL7 Integration Engine
   command_line=iguana.exe --working_dir "C:\<new working directory>\"
   command_line_unix=./iguana --working_dir "<new linux/macos working directory>"
   path_registry_entry_win32 = SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment
}

      Note: For Linux systems update the command_line_unix=./iguana line in iguana_service.hdf instead.

  7. You will need to use your members account to activate or transfer a license.

How it Works [top]

Iguana stores configuration its configuration data and channel information in the working directory. When you create change the working directory you need to copy this information to the new working directory.

Iguana needs to know where the working directory to use — this information is stored in the iguana_service.hdf file. Which is why we need to update iguana_service.hdf to point to the new working directory.

And finally when you change the working directory the (generated) Iguana ID changes — which is why you need to use a new license key (to match the new Iguana ID).