7. Config Server - Reload Updated Configuration from GitHub Properties file Without Restarting Microservice by /refresh actuator

After updating a properties file we can reload that configuration without restarting the micro-services.

Two ways we can achieve this  By calling /refresh actuator of that microservice. Another is using Cloud Bus.

Using /refresh Actuator: When we update a properties file for any microservice in the GitHub repository, there’s no need to restart the service to apply the new configuration. Simply call the `/refresh` Actuator endpoint, and the microservice will load the latest configuration instantly.

Development Steps

1. Require to Add Actuator Dependency, [Spring Cloud Dependency, and DependencyManager]
2. Enable the actuator endpoint in the config-file(employee-service.properties in the GitHub repo).

   

   management.endpoints.web.exposure.include=*

Test

Add a property and its value in the config-file(employee-service.properties) and create a Test Controller in Employee-Service to get that configuration value as a response. And check by calling the Test Controller before and after changing that property value.

• Add configuration in employee-service.properties file. Our dummy property name is myName and default value is Roman Sarker. 
• Create a Test Controller(API) that gets that configuration/property value from GitHub and Response.

• Add @RefreshScope annotation
• Take a variable and map with the property name of the configuration file to get the property value using @Value annotation. 
• Remember that the property-name and value of the @Value annotation must be the same. 

• Now call that controller to get the existing value.
• Change the configuration file by modifying the myName value.
• Call the /refresh actuator of Employee-Service to reload the properties file
• Now test by calling the Test Controller to get the updated property value.

Summary:

This blog covered how to reload configuration files (properties file in GitHub repo) after modifying without restarting any services using /refresh actuator.

Done 👍