By default, Integration Server invokes event handlers that subscribe to events synchronously. Once the event handler is invoked, Integration Server waits for a reply before executing the next step in the flow service. This configuration is useful for environments that do not allow the use of thread or for processes that require immediate responses.

You can configure Integration Server to process the event handlers asynchronously. In this case, once the event handler is invoked, Integration Server executes the next step in the flow service immediately. The server does not wait for a reply before continuing the execution of the service. Each process runs as a separate thread, thereby increasing the performance significantly.

There are server configuration parameters specific to each event type that you can use to specify whether the event handlers (services) that subscribe to the events are to be invoked synchronously or asynchronously. These server configuration parameters will be in the format: watt.server.event.eventType.async.

Set the value of the server configuration parameter specific to the event to true, if you want Integration Server to invoke the event handlers that subscribe to the event asynchronously. Set the value of the server configuration parameter specific to the event to false, if you want Integration Server to invoke the event handlers that subscribe to the event synchronously. The default value is true.

For more information about specifying the server configuration parameters, refer to webMethods Integration Server Administrator’s Guide.