The user can also assign another name for the configuration file, such as the Engine::FixEngine::init(const std::string& aPropertiesFileName = "") call parameter.

For example:

Engine::FixEngine::init("FE.properties")

EngineRoot

The top of the directory tree under which the engine's configuration and log files are kept.

DO NOT add a slash at the end of the directory path.

ListenPort

Optional. Engine's listen port.

Supports multiple values delimited by comma.

LogFileName

Optional. Engine's log file name. If this parameter is commented or empty, LogFileName = "engine.log" as default.

Actually represents the alias for the "Log.Engine.File.Name" parameter. If both parameters are specified simultaneously, then:

• If Log.Engine.Device is not specified, "LogFileName" is used;
• If Log.Engine.Device is specified, "Log.Engine.File.Name" is used;

ListenAddress

Optional. Engine's local IP address to bind to.

It can be used on a multi-homed host for a FIX Engine that will only accept connect requests to one of its addresses. If this parameter is commented or empty, the engine will accept connections to any/all local addresses.

LicenseFile

The license file path.

LogDirectory

This property is the path of the directory in which the logs for all incoming (if LogIncomingMessages is set to "true") and outgoing FIX messages are stored.

It is possible to specify a path related to the EngineRoot directory. For example, if LogDirectory is set to "logs" then the real path is /logs. The specified directory must exist.

ConnectAddress

Optional. Engine's local IP address to send messages from.

It is used only for multi-homed hosts If this parameter is commented or empty, the engine will send IP datagrams from any/all local addresses.

NumberOfWorkers

A number of threads that serve FIX sessions (heartbeat generation/check, message rejecting, message delay delivering, etc) On Linux the recommended value is 2.

On other platforms the recommended value is 10. The value must be integer and greater than zero.

OutOfSequenceMessagesStrategy

Optional. This parameter sets strategy for processing out-of-sequence messages. Parameter is available since FIX Antenna 2.23.0
Valid values:

• RequestAlways - send resend request with BeginSeqNo (7) = <out-of-sequence message number>, EndSeqNo (16) =0 on any out-of-sequence message.  
• RequestOnce - send the only resend request on the gap. Duplicates of resend requests for the same interval are not sent.
• IgnoreGap - send resend request on gap and process out-of-sequence messages.
• Queue - use temporary queue for storing out-of-sequence messages and process them after the gap is closed.

Default value: RequestAlways.

OutOfSequenceMessagesStrategy.QueueSize

Optional. The size of temporary queue for processing out-of-sequence messages (measured in a count of messages). The parameter is used if parameter OutOfSequenceMessagesStrategy=Queue. Parameter is available since FIX Antenna 2.23.0

Default value is 2000. 

A queue should be cleared after exceeding the limit out-of-sequence messages and a new resend request should be sent.

Session parameters

LogonTimeFrame

This parameter sets the time period after which a session is non-gracefully terminated if a response is not received to a first "Logon" message (message type A).

The corresponding Logout message is sent to the counterparty. This value is in seconds. The recommended value is 30 seconds for dedicated connections or private networks. Trading connections via the internet will require calibration. If it is set to "0", then the time period is unlimited. The value must be integer and not negative.

LogoutTimeFrame

This parameter sets the time period after which a session is automatically terminated if a response is not received to a "Logout message" (message type 5).

This value is in seconds. The recommended value is 10 seconds for dedicated connections or private networks. Trading connections via the internet will require calibration. The value must be integer and greater than 0.

IntradayLogoutTolerance

An option not to reset sequence numbers after Logout.

Valid values:

• true - enables IntradayLogoutTolerance mode;
• false - disables IntradayLogoutTolerance mode.

If set to true, sequence numbers are not reset after Logout. Logout sender should initiate session recovery by sending Logon message with SeqNum = <last outgoing="" seqnum>=""> + 1; expecting reply Logon with SeqNum = <last incoming="" seqnum>=""> + 1. If a gap is detected, standard message recovery or gap filling process takes place.

If set to false, sequence numbers are reset after Logout.

ReasonableTransmissionTime

This parameter specifies the delta (increment) to the Heartbeat interval between a TestRequest message being sent by FIX Engine and a Response Heartbeat being received.

The session attains a "telecommunication failed state" if no Response Heartbeat message is received after the normal Heartbeat interval plus delta. For example if no message (application or session level) is received during the Heartbeat interval then Engine sends a TestRequest message. If the required Response Heartbeat message is not received during Heartbeat interval plus Delta then the session moves to the state "Telecommunication link failed". This parameter is specified in (Heartbeat Interval/100). The recommended value is twenty percent.

ForceSeqNumReset

This parameter allows to resolve sequence gap problem automatically.

When mode is ON session uses 141(ResetSeqNumFlag) tag in sending/confirming Logon message to reset SeqNum at the initiator or at the acceptor. Valid values:

• "0" or "false" - Disable ForceSeqNumReset mode;
• "1" or "true" - Enable SeqNum reset at first time of session initiation;
• "2" - Enable SeqNum reset for every session initiation.

DuplicateResendRequestLimit

Specifies how much same ResendRequests received before Application::onResendRequestLoop is called.

This option is disabled if value is less than 2.

AdditionalParsersList

This parameter defines the list of additional (custom) protocols which require registering of the corresponding parsers.

When FIX Antenna is started, all dictionaries from DictionariesFilesList are loaded. If dictionaries are standard, predefined standard parsers (like FIX40; FIX41; FIX42; FIX43; FIX44; FIXT11) are created basing on them. If any dictionary from DictionariesFilesList is custom, parser is not automatically created and therefore such parsers should be listed in AdditionalParsersList parameter.

Format of the value: [UNIQUE_PARSER_NAME@][FIXT_PROTOCOL1:]APP_PROTOCOL1[,APP_PROTOCOL2...], where:

• UNIQUE_PARSER_NAME - optional, name of the parser;
  
• FIXT_PROTOCOL1 - optional, session protocol. Required if APP_PROTOCOL doesn't contain session messages;
• APP_PROTOCOL1 - required, application protocol;
• APP_PROTOCOL2, ... - optional, list of other application protocols.

Below are examples of possible parsers with correct format:

• MyFixParser@FIXT11:FIX50SP2,FIX50SP1;
• FIXT11:FIX50SP2,FIX50SP1;
• FIXT11:FIX50SP2;
• FIX44.

These are examples of one entry. Entries can be combined with semicolon to define more than one parser:

AdditionalParsersList = FIX44; FIXT11:FIX50SP2; FIXT11:FIX50SP2,FIX50SP1; MyFixParser@FIXT11:FIX50SP2,FIX50SP1

ThirdPartyRoutingIsEnabled

FIX Engine has inbuilt FIX message routing capability and fully supports the "Deliver To On Behalf Of" mechanism as specified by the FIX protocol.

If this parameter is set to "true" then Engine will redirect FIX messages automatically to other FIX sessions it maintains if OnBehalfOfCompID field in the message is defined. If this parameter is set to "false" Engine directs all messages received to the client application.

DelayedProcessing.DeliveryTriesInterval

This parameter specifies the time interval between attempts to deliver an application level message to a registered client application in the event the application does not confirm receipt and operation upon the message.

The value is specified in milliseconds. The value must be integer and greater than 0. This parameter is required only if the DelayedProcessing.MaxDeliveryTries parameter is specified.

DelayedProcessing.MaxDeliveryTries

Optional. This parameter specifies the number of attempts that will be made to deliver an application level message to the registered client application.

If this value is exceeded then the session will be closed with the logout reason "Application not available". The recommended value is 10. The value must be integer and not negative.

Reconnect.Interval

This parameter specifies the time interval between reconnection attempts in order to restore a communications link.

This value is specified in milliseconds (seconds*10-3). The recommended value is 1000 for dedicated connections and private networks. Internet connections require calibration. The value must be integer and greater than 0.

Reconnect.MaxTries

This parameter specifies the number of attempts to restore the session.

The session is considered as restored if the telecommunication link was restored and the exchange of Logon messages was successful. If it is set to "-1", then the number of attempts is unlimited. This value is integer.

MessageTimeToLive

Optional. This parameter sets the time period after which a message rejecting is started while session doesn't exist.

Value is specified in milliseconds (seconds*10-3), must be integer and > 0.

CheckVersionOfOutgoingMessages

This parameter is an option whereby the version of FIX protocol used for the outgoing message is validated against that of the established session.

If set to "true" then the application must use the same version of the protocol as the established session otherwise an error occurs. If set to false then the application level message will be sent to the counterparty. The recommended value is "true".

ResendMessagesBlockSize

Resend Request resend messages by blocks.

This parameter defines how many messages proceed in block. The value “0” means that all messages will be resend in one block. The value must be integer and not less than 0.

The default value is "1000".

ResetSeqNumAfter24hours

Optional. An option to send a Logon message with the ResetSeqNumFlag set after each 24 hour period of session's activity to establish a new set of sequence numbers (starting with 1).

The default value is false.

DictionariesFilesList

This parameter contains a list of names of XML files with extensions of the FIX protocols delimited by semicolon.

EncryptionConfigFile

Encryption config file name.

TotalOutgoingStorageMemoryLimit

Specifies total amount of the memory (in MB) that active session may use.

0 - means infinite. When limit is reached, the "hardest" sessions will be closed non-gracefully.

Debug.LogSessionExtraParameters

If this property value is true, all session parameters will be printed to the engine.log file.

OutOfSequenceMessagesStrategy

Optional. This parameter sets strategy for processing out-of-sequence messages for specific session. Parameter is available since FIX Antenna 2.23.0

Valid values:

• RequestAlways - send resend request with BeginSeqNo (7) = <out-of-sequence message number>, EndSeqNo (16) =0 on any out-of-sequence message.  ResendRequestBlockSize is not supported (will be used strategy RequestOnce).
• RequestOnce - send resend request on gap (considering  ResendRequestBlockSize parameter). Duplicates of resend requests for the same interval are not sent.
• IgnoreGap - send resend request on gap and process out-of-sequence messages.
• Queue - use temporary queue for storing out-of-sequence messages and process them after the gap is closed. 

Default value is engine parameter OutOfSequenceMessagesStrategy.

OutOfSequenceMessagesStrategy.QueueSize

Optional. The size of temporary queue for processing out-of-sequence messages (measured in a count of messages). The parameter is used if parameter OutOfSequenceMessagesStrategy=Queue. Parameter is available since FIX Antenna 2.23.0

Default value is engine parameter OutOfSequenceMessagesStrategy.QueueSize.

A queue should be cleared after exceeding the limit out-of-sequence messages and a new resend request should be sent.

SocketOpPriority

Priority of the socket Send/Receive operations.

Valid values:

• EVEN (default) - share worker thread among all session in the Engine;
• AGGRESSIVE_SEND - use dedicated per session thread to send outgoing messages;
• AGGRESSIVE_RECEIVE - use dedicated per session thread to receive incoming messages;
• AGGRESSIVE_SEND_AND_RECEIVE - use dedicated per session threads to send and receive messages;

• DIRECT_SEND - use the current thread for sending, if this would block, performs as "EVEN".
  

SSL

For Initiator FIX Session:

Mandatory if SSL is used. Enable SSL support for the session.
Default value is false.

For Acceptor FIX Session:

Optional. If true, accept SSL connection only. If false, accept both SSL and non-SSL connections for the session.
Default value is false.

Storages

LogIncomingMessages

This property provides an option to log incoming FIX messages (those received) from a counterparty FIX Engine.

They will be stored in the directory specified by the LogDirectory parameter in a file with extension "in".

OutgoingMessagesStorageSize

This parameter defines the upper limit to the number of outgoing messages that are resent in the event of a Resend Request.

The recommended value is 20000 if no data on mean activity is known.

ExtraSafeMode

If this parameter is true than file streams are flushed after each I/O operation.

TimestampsInLogs

Optional. An option to write timestamps in the log files.

The default value is true.

EnableIncrementalLogFileCreation

Setting property "true" will reserve 10Mb of disc space for logging.

If log reaches 10Mbs, another 10Mbs will be reserved and so on. When property is "true" FixAntenna performance is greatly increased.

Persistents.LogIncrementSize

Specifies amount of memory in bytes reserved for memory mapped file message storage for *.out/*.in files.

It defines how FIX Antenna reserves space on the HDD for PersistentMM (in any cases) and Persistent (if EnableIncrementalLogFileCreation is ON). It is recommended to set large enough value to minimize number of resizes during the storage life time. Each resize can cause latency spike.

Persistents.IdxIncrementSize

Specifies amount of memory in bytes reserved for memory mapped file message storage for *.idx file It defines how FIX Antenna reserves space on the HDD for PersistentMM (in any cases) and Persistent (if EnableIncrementalLogFileCreation is ON).

It is recommended to set large enough value to minimize number of resizes during the storage life time. Each resize can cause latency spike.

SplitPersistentMsgStorage.BackupDir

This property is the path to the directory, where sliced message storage will search for log files in case they are not found in the primary location.

It is user responsibility to move files from the primary location to backup. The default value is empty - backup path disabled.

SplitPersistentMsgStorage.MaxSliceSize

Specifies maximum size of one slice for sliced message storage.

Recommended value: any multiple of Persistents.LogIncrementSize Default value is 500000000 - 500Mb.

MessageStorage.IndexRebuildEnabled

Optional. If this parameter is true, FIX Engine will try to restore the index file from the log file in case the index file is missed or corrupted. The default value is false.

MessageStorage.RequireRejectFlagSupport

Optional. If this option is enabled, FIX Engine will not rebuild index files for message storages, that does not support embedded Reject Flag Marker. The default value is true.

MessageStorage.TimestampUnit

This property specifies precision of timestamps in session logs (.in / .out storage files). 
Possible values are: "millisecond", "microsecond", "nanosecond".

Optional. The property is global for all sessions. The default value is "millisecond".

Unregistered Acceptors parameters

CreateUnregisteredAcceptorSession

This parameter provides an option whereby FIX Engine will accept a FIX session for which it has no registered application (an acceptor).

If set to "true" Engine accepts incoming connection and creates corresponding Session object. If there is no Application associated with session, all application level messages are rejected with Application Level Reject(3) message. If an application is registered, the behavior is as standard. If set to false then Logon messages are ignored and incoming connection is dropped. Property is obsolete, UnregisteredAcceptor.CreateSession should be used instead.

UnregisteredAcceptor.CreateSession

This parameter provides an option whereby FIX Engine will accept a FIX session for which it has no registered application (an acceptor).

If set to "true" Engine accepts incoming connection and creates corresponding Session object. If there is no Application associated with session, all application level messages are rejected with Application Level Reject(3) message. If an application is registered, the behavior is as standard. If set to false then Logon messages are ignored and incoming connection is dropped.

UnregisteredAcceptor.IgnoreSeqNumTooLowAtLogon

This parameter allow to resolve seqNum too low problem at logon.

When it true - session continue with received seqNum.

UnregisteredAcceptor.maxMessagesAmountInBunch

FA able to join packages that wait for sending into the socket, this parameters controls how many messages could be joined.

0 means infinite. Value should be less than 1000000.

UnregisteredAcceptor.RejectMessageWhileNoConnection

When true, unregistered acceptors will reject messages in case they couldn't be sent during the interval specified in the MessageTimeToLive parameter.

You can find more information about how to use this parameter here: How to use "RejectMessageWhileNoConnection" parameter

UnregisteredAcceptor.tcpBufferDisabled

When true, the TCP buffer (Nagle algorithm) will be disabled for unregistered acceptors.

Otherwise, TCP may join and enqueue small packages until timeout ends.

UnregisteredAcceptor.SessionStorageType

Default storage type of created unregistered sessions.

By default persistentMM storage type used. Use "transient" value to use transient storage for the sessions.

Message Validation parameters

MessageMustBeValidated

Mandatory. Defines whether each application message is checked for the existence of required tags.

Valid values: "true" | "false"

If set to ‘true’ then all application-level messages are checked. If set to ‘false’ then the responsibility for message validity rests with the counterparty.

Note: Session level messages are checked in all cases. The recommended setting is ‘false’. Changing this value will impact up on the FIX Engine performance. Use ‘true’ for debugging and ‘false’ to increase performance.

Default value: MessageMustBeValidated = false

VerifyTagsValues

Optional. Defines whether each application message is verified for tag values

Valid values: "true" | "false"

If set to ‘true’ then all messages will be verified. If set to 'false' then the responsibility for message verification rests with the counterparty.

Note: Ignored if MessageMustBeValidated = false

Default value: VerifyTagsValues = true

ProhibitUnknownTags

Optional. Defines whether each application message is checked for the unknown tags.

Valid values: "true" | "false".

If set to ‘false’ then all application messages with unknown tags will be handled. If set to ‘true’ then the engine will reject messages with unknown tags.

Note: Ignored if MessageMustBeValidated = false

Default value: ProhibitUnknownTags = false

VerifyReperatingGroupBounds

Optional. Defines whether each application message is verified for repeating group size.

Valid values: "true" | "false".

If set to ‘true’ then the engine will reject messages with incorrect repeating group size. Otherwise, the message will be passed to the application layer. In this case, the responsibility for message validity rests with the counterparty.

Note: Ignored if MessageMustBeValidated = false

Default value: VerifyReperatingGroupBounds = true

IgnoreUnknownFields

Mandatory. If true then any undefined field that is unknown to the dictionary will be ignored. Should be false for development, true for production because if false FA stores all unknown fields in the FIXMessage in the list on the heap. With true it would ignore these fields thus limit storage on a heap

Valid values: "true" | "false".

Important: this value has priority over all other validation settings: Even If (MessageMustBeValidated = true and (ProhibitUnknownTags = true or VerifyTagsValues= true)) unknown fields are ignored.

Warning: Changing this value will impact upon the performance of FIX Engine.

Note: Ignored if MessageMustBeValidated = false

Default value: IgnoreUnknownFields = false

Validation.CheckRequiredGroupFields

Optional. Controls the validation of required fields inrepeatinggroup.

Valid values: "true" | "false".

If set to ‘true’ then repeating groups will be checked for the presence of required fields. If set to ‘false’ then the responsibility for repeating group validity rests with the counterparty. The recommended setting is 'true'.

Note: Ignored if MessageMustBeValidated = false

Default value: Validation.CheckRequiredGroupFields = true

AllowZeroNumInGroup

Mandatory. Defines whether the leading group tag with "0" value will be ignored.

Valid values: "true" | "false".

If set to ‘true’, a leading group tag with “0” value will be ignored in a raw message. Otherwise, an exception will be fired.

Default value: AllowZeroNumInGroup = false

AllowEmptyFieldValue

Mandatory. Defines whether the raw message may contain tags without values.

Valid values: "true" | "false".

If set to ‘true’, the raw message may contain tags without values that will be ignored.Otherwise an exception will be fired.

Default value: AllowEmptyFieldValue = false

Logging parameters

Log.File.Format

Customformatoflogfilerecord. Can be defined separately for each log file e.g. Log.Version.File.Format = ...

Format string can contain any symbols and keywords:

• %% - put '%' symbol;
• %level - put severity level name: 'ERROR', 'WARN' etc.;
• %tablevel - put extra spaces for vertical alignment of records after %level;
• %date{FIX} - date in 'YYYYMMDD-HH:MM:SS.sss' format;
• %date{ISO8601} - date in 'YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS,sss' format;
• %date - date in 'DD MMM YYYY HH:MM:SS,sss' format;
• %timezone - time zone abbreviation or name (setup TZ env variable to take abbreviation in windows) or 'UTC';
• %logger - log category, component;
• %thread - thread id;
• %message - logged message.

Default value:

Log.File.Format = [%level] %tablevel%date{FIX} [%thread] [%logger] - %message

Log.File.CreateUniqueFileName

If true new unique file name will be created. Log.File.Name value is a pattern. 

If false Log.File.Name will be used as file name.

If Log.Device is not specified explicitly (in other words, Log.Device = "File" as default), Log.File.CreateUniqueFileName = "false" as default.

Log.Cycling

Enables/disables log file cycling. 

Valid values:

• true - to enable cycling;
• false - to disable cycling.

If set to true, then repeating records in logs will be controlled and replaced with the single "cycling record" according to the specified cyclling parameters. Seecyclling parameters described below for details.

Log.Cycling.Ignore

Number of repeating records to be placed to log before cycling is started.

Example: Log.Cycling.Ignore = 3

Log.Cycling.BlockSize

Number of repeating records to be accumulated (hidden) before write the "cycle record" to the log.

Example: Log.Cycling.BlockSize = 10

Log.Cycling.Multiplier

Multiplier for the BlockSize. If BlockSize number of messages is accumulated and the same message still appears then next BlockSize is calculated as the previous one multiplied by Multiplier.

Example: Log.Cycling.Multiplier = 10

Log.Device

Default target devices.

Valid values:

• File - messages will be written to the file;
• Console - messages will be written to the console;
• EventLog (Windows specific) - messages will be written to the Windows Event Log;
• WinDebug (Windows specific) - messages will be written to the OutputDebugString;
• Syslog (Linux/Unix specific) - messages will be written to the system log.

• Log4Cplus - messages will be written to Log4Cplus (since FIXEdge version 6.7)

If Log.Device is not specified explicitly, Log.Device = "File" as default.

The properties of the device are in the "Log.<name>" section. For instance Log.File contains all properties of the File device.

Multiple devices can be chosen - the names of devices should be separated by a space in this case. E.g.: by setting Log.Device = File Log4Cplus logging will be performed with both creating standard log files and forwarding to Log4Cplus.

Log.EventLog.EventSource

A string that specifies the name of the source. The source name must be a subkey of a log file entry under the EventLog key in the registry.

For example, "WinApp" is a valid source name if the registry has the following key: "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Event Log\Application\WinApp".

Log.File.AutoFlush

If set to true then buffer will be flushed after each logging call.

If set to false then flush is not called.

Setting to true decreases program performance; setting to false increases a risk of records loss in case of program failure.

Log.File.Backup.Time

Optional. Local time when logs should be backed up. When the specified backup time comes, the scheduler moves log files to the specified backup directory.

Should be in format 'hh:mm' or 'hh:mm:ss'.

Log.File.Locked

If set to true then lock file <Log.File.RootDir/Log.File.Name>.lock will be created. This will prevent other instance of the application use the same file.

Valid values:

• true - lock log file;
• false - do not lock log file.

Log.File.Recreate

If true then file will be recreated on each start.

If false then new records will be appended to the existent file.

Log.File.RootDir

The root directory for log files. It will be concatenated with each file name specified by 'Log.File.Name'. If Log.Device is not specified explicitly (in other words, Log.Device = "File" as default), Log.File.RootDir = LogDirectory as default.

You can find more information about how to configure paths to log files here: How to configure paths to FIXEdge log files.

Log.File.Rotate

Enables/disables log file rotation.

Valid values:

• true - to enable rotation;
• false - to disable rotation.

If set to true, after the specified file's size is reached, it is renamed and new log file is created. See rotation parameters described below for details.

Log.File.Rotate.SizeLimit

Sizeoffileinbytes.Whenlogfilereaches this size it is renamed (follow standard rotation approach) and the new file is created.

Example: Log.File.Rotate.SizeLimit = 104857600

Log.File.Rotate.FileLimit

Number of files to be involved in rotation. When the number is exceeded the older file is removed.

Example: Log.File.Rotate.FileLimit = 10

Log.File.Rotate.Dir

Rotation directory. Directory to store rotated files.
Example: Log.File.Rotate.Dir = <%SERVICE_NAME%>/log

Log.File.TimeZone

Time zone of the log message timestamp.

Valid values:

• Local - display time as local;
• UTC - UTC.

Log.File.Name

File name. If more than one category uses files with the same name the same file will be used simultaneously.

Log.DebugIsOn

Enable Debug messages.

Valid values:

• true - to enable Debug messages;
• false - to disable Debug messages.

Log.ErrorIsOn

Enable Error messages.

Valid values:

• true - to enable Error messages;
• false - to disable Error messages.

Log.FatalIsOn

Enable Fatal Error messages.

Valid values:

• true - to enable Fatal Error messages;
• false - to disable Fatal Error messages.

Log.NoteIsOn

Enable Note messages.

Valid values:

• true - to enable Note messages;
• false - to disable Note messages.

Log.WarnIsOn

Enable Warning messages.

Valid values:

• true - to enable Warning messages;
• false - to disable Warning messages.

Log.TraceIsOn

Enable Trace messages.

Valid values:

• true - to enable Trace messages;
• false - to disable Trace messages

Log.OpenLDAP.TraceIsOn

Enableswritingofdebuglog records fromOpenLDAPlibrary to the logs. The parameter has been added since FIXEdge 6.2.

Valid values:

• true - to enable OpenLDAP library debug-level logging;
• false - to disable OpenLDAP library debug-level logging

Affinity parameters

WorkerCpuAffinity

Defines an affinity mask for all worker pool threads.

Affinity is specified as bit mask where the serial number of the bit is the serial number of the core if read from the right to the left. Mask should be presented in the decimal system.

WorkerCpuAffinity = 14

Default value is 0. It means that the engine will not change thread affinity mask.

HelperCpuAffinity

Defines an affinity mask for dispatcher and other auxiliary threads.

Affinity is specified as bit mask where serial number of the bit is serial number of the core if read from the right to the left. Mask should be presented in the decimal system.

HelperCpuAffinity = 12

Default value is 0. It means that the engine will not change thread affinity mask.

CpuAffinity

Specifies affinity mask for dedicated threads of session. It makes sense only for aggressive modes.

Affinity is specified as bit mask where serial number of the bit is serial number of the core if read from the right to the left. Mask should be presented in the decimal system.

CpuAffinity = 168

Default value is 0. It means that the engine will not change thread affinity mask.

RecvCpuAffinity

Specifies affinity mask for dedicated receiving thread of session. It makes sense only for aggressive receive mode.

Affinity is specified as bit mask where serial number of the bit is serial number of the core if read from the right to the left. Mask should be presented in the decimal system.

RecvCpuAffinity = 228

Default value is 0. It means that the engine will not change thread affinity mask.

SendCpuAffinity

Specifies affinity mask for dedicated sending thread of session. It makes sense only for aggressive send mode.

Affinity is specified as bit mask where serial number of the bit is serial number of the core if read from the right to the left. Mask should be presented in the decimal system.

SendCpuAffinity = 82

Default value is 0. It means that the engine will not change thread affinity mask.

Backup parameters

BackupDirectory

Relative path to the backup folder.

This folder will be used for message storage files of the backup connections.

EnableAutoSwitchToBackupConnection

Defines if there should be an auto switch to the backup connection in case the primary connection is used and it is interrupted.

Valid values:

• true - to enable EnableAutoSwitchToBackupConnection mode;
• false - to disable EnableAutoSwitchToBackupConnection mode.

EnableCyclicSwitchBackupConnection

Defines if there should be an auto switch to the primary connection in case backup connection is used and it is interrupted.

Valid values:

• true - to enable EnableCyclicSwitchBackupConnection mode;
• false - to disable EnableCyclicSwitchBackupConnection mode.

Monitoring parameters

Monitoring parameters can be defined as defaults (Monitoring.AdminSessionDef.<Name_Of_Parameter>) or for a particular administrative session (Monitoring.AdminSession..<Name_Of_Administrative_Session>.<Name_Of_Parameter>). Below the defining of defaults is presented.

Monitoring.AdminSessionDef.DisableTCPBuffer

When true TCP buffer (Nagle algorithm) will be disabled for the session.

Monitoring.AdminSessionDef.EncryptMethod

The expected value of the encryption method.

Monitoring.AdminSessionDef.ForceSeqNumResetMode

Force SeqNum reset mode.

An option to use 141 tag in Logon message to reset sequence number.

Monitoring.AdminSessionDef.IgnoreSeqNumTooLowAtLogon

When true, session ignore 'SeqNum too low' at incoming Logon message and continue with received SeqNum.

Monitoring.AdminSessionDef.IntradayLogoutToleranceMode

Intraday logout tolerance mode.

An option to reset or not to reset sequence numbers after Logout.

Monitoring.AdminSessionDef.MaxMessagesAmountInBunch

Enqueued outgoing messages could merged and sent as a single buffer.

This parameter controls how many messages could be merged into the bunch. The 0 means an infinite amount.

Monitoring.AdminSessionDef.Password

The expected value of the Password (Tag 554) field in the incoming Logon message.

If the real value is not equal to the expected one then the session is disconnected without sending a message and the error condition is generated in the log output.

Monitoring.AdminSessionDef.SenderLocationID

SenderLocationID (tag 142) - assigned value used to identify specific message originator's location (i.e. geographic location and/or desk, trader).

Monitoring.AdminSessionDef.SocketOpPriority

Priority of the socket SendReceive operations.

Valid values:

• EVEN (default) - share worker thread among all session in the Engine;
• AGGRESSIVE_SEND - use dedicated thread to send outgoing messages;
• AGGRESSIVE_RECEIVE - use dedicated thread to send outgoing messages;
• AGGRESSIVE_SEND_AND_RECEIVE - use dedicated per session threads to send and receive messages;

• DIRECT_SEND - use the current thread for sending, if this would block, performs as "EVEN".

Monitoring.AdminSessionDef.SourceIPaddress

The expected value of the source IP address.

If the real value is not equal to the expected one then the session is disconnected without sending a message and the error condition is generated in the log output.

Monitoring.AdminSessionDef.TargetLocationID

TargetLocationID_ (tag 143) - assigned value used to identify specific message destination's location (i.e. geographic location and/or desk, trader).

Monitoring.AdminSessionDef.TargetSubID

TargetSubID (tag 57) - assigned value used to identify specific individual or unit intended to receive message.

Monitoring.AdminSessionDef.Username

The expected value of the Username (Tag 553) field in the incoming Logon message.

If the real value is not equal to the expected one then the session is disconnected without sending a message and the error condition is generated in the log output.

Monitoring.ListenPort

The engine TCP listen port that is enabled for administrative sessions If port is configured it will be added to set of engine listen ports and administrative sessions will be accepted on this port only If not exists or empty common engine listen ports are used to accept administrative sessions.

Measuring.Enable

Enables/disables Engine measuring.

Valid values:

• true - to enable Engine measuring;
• false - to disable Engine measuring.

If this parameter omitted, it is "false" by default.

Monitoring.Enable

Enables/disables Engine monitoring.

SSL parameters

ListenSSLPort

Optional. Engine's listen SSL port.

Supports multiple values delimited by comma.

Must not contain the value of ListenPort

SSLCACertificate

Optional. Engine's SSL CA certificate file path.

SSLCertificate

Mandatory if ListenSSLPort is not empty. Engine's SSL certificate file path.

SSLPrivateKey

Mandatory if ListenSSLPort is not empty. The path to the file containing certificate private key. Certificate and private key can be the same file.

SSLCheckPrivateKey

Optional. Engine's SSL option whatever to check if the private key matches the certificate.

Default value is false.

SSLProtocols

Mandatory. Engine's SSL protocols to use.

It is a comma-separated list of protocols to use. Valid values are SSLv2, SSLv3, TLSv1, TLSv1_1, TLSv1_2.

SSLRequireClientCertificate

Optional. Whatever client's certificate is mandatory.

Decline clients without a valid certificate if true. The default value is false.

SSLCertificatePassword 

Optional. A certificate's password.

SSLPrivateKeyPassword 

Optional. A private key's password.

SSLValidatePeerCertificate

Optional.  If set to "true" then client connections without a certificate will be rejected.

The default value is false.

SSLCiphersList 

The parameter is optional. The default OpenSSL built-in configuration is used in case of the parameter absence.

The list is passed as is  to OpenSSL during engine initialization in case of acceptor sessions (acceptor sessions are sharing the same configuration) and during session initialization in case of initiator sessions. See a list of the supported ciphers and list format is at official OpenSSL site: https://www.openssl.org/docs/man1.0.2/apps/ciphers.html

TCP Protection parameters

ProtectionTCP.Enabled

The property enables TCP protection.

Valid values: true/false. Default value is  false.

ProtectionTCP.WaitLogon

The property to specify connection timeout (in milliseconds) of waiting for logon.

Disable when equal to 0. Default value is  0

The property will be enabled only if ProtectionTCP.Enabled = true

ProtectionTCP.SizeWaitHostMax

The property to specify a maximum of connections waiting for logon from one host. When the number of connections from the same host exceeds specified value of the property, new connections will be rejected.

Disable when equal to 0. Default value is 0

The property will be enabled only if ProtectionTCP.Enabled = true

ProtectionTCP.SizeBufferMax

Specifies the maximum size (in bytes) of the buffer to be able to avoid the situation when users end high-loaded garbage. 

When the limit is exceeded, the connection will be closed and corresponding reason will be written to the log.

The minimum size of the property which can be specified is 262144. If a lower value is specified in the property, it will be replaced with 262144 on the start of the FIXEdge.

If 0 is specified, there is no limit for the size of the buffer.

The default value is 0.

The property will be enabled only if ProtectionTCP.Enabled = true

Other parameters

AnchorFile

Myricom.Dbl.TcpListenAddresses

Optional. DBL TCP listen address and port.

Format: <XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX>:<port>.

Myricom.Dbl.UseSocketAdaptor

Optional. This property tells how will be initialized Myricom DBL TCP API.

If true it will be used SocketAdaptor to emulate DBL API via generic sockets. Default value is false.

EnableDnsEntrySpoofingDetection

When it's set to true there is being enabled backward resolve based DNS entry spoofing detection mechanism in DNS related functions.

KeepMillisecondsInUTCTimeFields

Defines how to serialize UTCTimestamp or UTCTimeOnly field values:

0 - default mode -  if the value of milliseconds is not equal to 0 then it will be serialized.
1 - always serialize milliseconds
2 - always truncate milliseconds

 By default, this parameter is 0.

Threads configuration

Linux

After upgrading to FIX Antenna v2.10.16 Linux users should check engine.properties file. Threads related to data sending/receiving are isolated from each other and from other tasks. Therefore two new optional settings in the engine.properties has been added:

• Dispatcher.RecvWorkersCount (default = 3). Defines number of workers to handle incoming messages.

• Dispatcher.SendWorkersCount (default = 1). Defines number of workers to handle outgoing messages.

Also each send/receive thread pool can operate in busy loop. Therefore two optional settings has been added to define epoll request timeout.

• Dispatcher.SendWorkersTimeout (default = -1 (no busy loop)). Defines millisecond timeout to wait for readiness of the socket to send data.

• Dispatcher.RecvWorkersTimeout (default = -1 (no busy loop)). Defines millisecond timeout to wait for readiness of the socket to receive data.

The meaning of the NumberOfWorkers has been changed. Now it defines number of general purpose workers. General purpose workers maintain heartbeats, reconnects, rejecting and other functionality not related to sending/receiving data.

Example

Following engine.properties settings will make FixEngine to create 5 threads. 3 threads for data processing, 1 thread to send data, 1 thread for general purpose stuff.

Dispatcher.RecvWorkersCount = 3 Dispatcher.SendWorkersCount = 1 NumberOfWorkers = 1

Windows

On Windows number of threads which serve FIX sessions is defined by NumberOfWorkers parameter. The recommended value is 10. It is suitable for most systems. But if your application handles more than 6 sessions which actively send/receive data and your server has more than 6 CPU Cores, try to increase number of threads. Suitable parameter value should be distinguished during testing.