This section describes the parameters that need to be set in order to launch Eucalyptus for the first time. The first launch of Eucalyptus is different than a restart of a previously running Eucalyptus deployment in that it sets up the security mechanisms that will be used by the installation to ensure system integrity.

Eucalyptus configuration is stored in a text file, /etc/eucalyptus/eucalyptus.conf, that contains key-value pairs specifying various configuration parameters. Eucalyptus reads this file when it launches and when various forms of reset commands are sent it the Eucalyptus components.