Question
· Mar 26, 2018

Multiple installs of Eclipse/Atelier with different server connections

Is is possible to install multiple copies of Eclipse/Atelier, and have each instance maintain it's own distinct list of server connections? I thought I had figured it out, uninstalled everything, and reinstalled without using bundle pools.  I think this keeps projects separate, along with allowing different Eclipse settings and plug-ins. After installing the second instance, no server connections from the first were showing in the second. I added connections to the second instance, and after closing Eclipse and opening the first instance, that instance was showing the second instances connections, not the ones I had setup for that instance.

Discussion (8)1
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I know I can work with multiple servers in one workspace.  Yes, settings are stored in workspaces, so if you create more than one workspace, you can have different settings. But, plug-ins installed are shared with a single install. I have a plug-in that is causing problems, but I'm required to use it for a specific task. I'd like to have a separate install, without that plug in. Additionally, I want different server connections for each install.

"The location of the secure storage file depends on the directory in which Eclipse was installed."

I checked both installs, and they both have the same storage location. Both installs are in separate distinct install locations, like C:\FirstInstall\eclipse and C:\SecondInstall\eclipse\

The secure storage for both installs are pointing to C:\Users\{username}\.eclipse\org.eclipse.equinox.security\secure_storage

This directory did not exist before the installs. I see in the Secure Storage settings page I can delete, but not sure if that is going to delete it from that installs settings, or the actual directory location. 

I guess the question is, why did it put the storage in that location, and can it be changed?

I know this is sort of making an end-run around the issue, but my needs are such that it works well for me.

I run all of my development environments in virtual machines on my laptop. Spinning up a new (or cloning an existing) VM to support a distinct environment gives me the flexibility you appear to need without jeopardizing other software installations.

I'm not sure exactly how Eclipse decides where your secure storage file should be located. I thought it had to do with where the application was installed, but after doing a bit more research I think it may be a hard-coded location. I Googled "changing eclipse secure storage location" and found this in the Eclipse documentation:

http://help.eclipse.org/oxygen/index.jsp?topic=%2Forg.eclipse.platform.doc.user%2Freference%2Fref-securestorage-options.htm&cp=0_4_3_3

The runtime option works as I need. To clarify for anyone else wanting this use, note the following.

If you use one eclipse install, with multiple workspaces, you can set some setting separate for each workspace. What is shared between all workspaces is server connections and installed plug-ins. You may be able to configure the plug-ins different for each workspace, or not use the plug-in in some workspaces, but it's still there. In my case, a plug-in in interfering with parts of Eclipse, it's actually blocking somethings, like the marketplace.

If you use two (or more) separate installs of eclipse, each install has it's own plug-ins, and doesn't see plug-ins from the other installs. But, by default, all installs share the same secure_storage, meaning, server connections are shared and display the same on all installs.

To use separate server connections, and whatever else secure_storage is used for, edit the shortcut that launches eclipse. You can do this with a single installation of eclipse (and one or more workspaces) or with multiple installs. In Windows, change the shortcut that launches eclipse to this:

The following 2 examples will create a file named secure_storage in the folder c:\install1\eclipse\configuration\

C:\install1\eclipse\eclipse.exe -eclipse.keyring configuration\secure_storage

C:\install2\eclipse\eclipse.exe -eclipse.keyring configuration\secure_storage

You can also use absolute paths:

C:\install1\eclipse\eclipse.exe -eclipse.keyring C:\install1\eclipse\configuration\secure_storage

If you already have connections setup, the secure_storage file by default exist here:

C:\Users\{username}\.eclipse\org.eclipse.equinox.security\secure_storage

You can copy that file to the location you want to use, then when you edit the shortcut, it will start with previous settings.

Note, when I Googled it originally, some of the sites indicating using the eclipse.keyring option by adding it to the eclipse.ini. That did not work.

Your Atelier server connection information is stored in Eclipse's secure storage file. The secure storage file is shared among different workspaces created in the same Eclipse client. You can see the location of this file in your Eclipse preferences under General > Security > Secure Storage > Contents > Storage location.

The location of the secure storage file depends on the directory in which Eclipse was installed. If you want a second install with an independent list of server connections, you will need to install the second Eclipse client in a new directory.