Look up a configuration setting and read exactly how it is documented
A configuration setting is defined by more than its name: its accepted values, its default, the file or screen where it lives, the version that introduced it and the other settings it depends on. Ask Search+ "What does this setting control, and what is its default?" and the answer cites the configuration reference so you can read the full entry before you change it.
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Last updated October 2026
How to look up configuration settings with Search+
- Upload the configuration reference for your version
Add the configuration or administration reference and the release notes for the version you run. Setting names and defaults change between releases.
- Ask about the setting by name or by effect
If you know the name, ask for its entry. If you only know what you want to change, describe the behavior and ask which setting controls it.
- Check dependencies before changing it
Ask which other settings interact with this one and whether a restart is needed. Open each citation to read the notes beside the entry.
Questions to ask about a configuration setting
What is the default value of this setting, and what happens if it is not set?
What values does it accept, and what are the units?
In which configuration file or console page is this setting defined?
Does this setting only take effect if another option is enabled?
Does changing it require a restart, or is it applied immediately?
When was this setting introduced, and has it been renamed or deprecated?
What to look for in a configuration setting
A complete entry states the setting's exact name, its data type and the values or range it accepts. Typos and wrong types are a common source of failed changes.
The documented default tells you what the system does if the setting is never configured, which is often the behavior you are trying to change.
Settings can be global, per user or per component, and one source can override another. The documentation usually explains which value wins.
Some settings are read only at startup. Notes on restarts or reloads are easy to miss and change how you roll out a change.
Ask across every guide in the workspace, or narrow the question to the configuration reference alone.
Open a citation to read the supporting excerpt, with the section reference when the documentation has one.
Configuration wording you may see and what to ask
| Wording you may see | What it usually signals | A follow-up question |
|---|---|---|
| "Default:" | The value used when unset | What happens if I remove this setting entirely? |
| "requires restart" | Change applies only after a restart | Which service needs restarting? |
| "deprecated" | The setting will be removed | What replaces it, and from which version? |
| "overrides" | Precedence over another source | Which value wins if both are set? |
| "only applies when" | A dependency on another option | Which option has to be enabled first? |
| "experimental" | Not intended for production | Is this setting supported in production? |
What is a configuration setting?
A configuration setting is a named option that changes how software or a system behaves without changing its code, set in a file, environment variable, command, or administrative screen, and documented with its accepted values and default.
Configuration setting questions
Can Search+ find a setting if I only know what it does?
Will it tell me the default value?
Can it warn me about settings that interact?
Can it check whether a setting exists in my version?
Can it explain a setting's effect on performance?
Should I paste the value from the answer into my config?
Change a setting knowing what it does
Start a workspace, upload the configuration reference for your version, and ask about the setting.
Start a workspace