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External Web Feature Server

GeoServer has the ability to load data from a remote Web Feature Server (WFS). This is useful if the remote WFS lacks certain functionality that GeoServer contains. For example, if the remote WFS is not also a Web Map Server (WMS), data from the WFS can be cascaded through GeoServer to utilize GeoServer's WMS. If the remote WFS has a WMS but that WMS cannot output KML, data can be cascaded through GeoServer's WMS to output KML.

Adding an external WFS

To connect to an external WFS, it is necessary to load it as a new datastore. To start, navigate to Stores → Add a new store → Web Feature Server.

Adding an external WFS as a store
Option Description
Workspace Name of the workspace to contain the store. This will also be the prefix of all of the layer names created from the store.
Data Source Name Name of the store as known to GeoServer.
Description Description of the store.
Enabled Enables the store. If disabled, no data from the external WFS will be served.
GET_CAPABILITIES_URL URL to access the capabilities document of the remote WFS.
PROTOCOL When checked, connects with POST, otherwise uses GET.
USERNAME The user name to connect to the external WFS.
PASSWORD The password associated with the above user name.
ENCODING The character encoding of the XML requests sent to the server. Defaults to UTF-8.
TIMEOUT Time (in milliseconds) before timing out. Default is 3000.
BUFFER_SIZE Specifies a buffer size (in number of features). Default is 10 features.
TRY_GZIP Specifies that the server should transfer data using compressed HTTP if supported by the server.
LENIENT When checked, will try to render features that don't match the appropriate schema. Errors will be logged.
MAXFEATURES Maximum number of features to retrieve for each featuretype. Default is no limit.
AXIS_ORDER Axis order used in result coordinates (It applies only to WFS 1.x.0 servers). Default is Compliant.
AXIS_ORDER_FILTER Axis order used in filter (It applies only to WFS 1.x.0 servers). Default is Compliant.
OUTPUTFORMAT Output format to request (instead of the default remote service one) e.g. JSON.
GML_COMPLIANCE_LEVEL OCG GML compliance level. i.e. (simple feature) 0, 1 or 2. Default is 0.
GML_COMPATIBLE_TYPENAMES Use GML Compatible TypeNames (replace : by _). Default is no false.
USE_HTTP_CONNECTION_POOLING Use connection pooling to connect to the remote WFS service. Also enables digest authentication.

When finished, click Save.

Configuring external WFS layers

When properly loaded, all layers served by the external WFS will be available to GeoServer. Before they can be served, however, they will need to be individually configured as new layers. See the section on Layers for how to add and edit new layers.

Connecting to an external WFS layer via a proxy server

In a corporate environment it may be necessary to connect to an external WFS through a proxy server. To achieve this, various java variables need to be set.

For a Windows install running GeoServer as a service, this is done by modifying the wrapper.conf file. For a default Windows install, modify C:\Program Files\GeoServer x.x.x\wrapper\wrapper.conf similarly to the following.

# Java Additional Parameters

wrapper.java.additional.1=-Djetty.home=.
wrapper.java.additional.2=-DGEOSERVER_DATA_DIR="%GEOSERVER_DATA_DIR%"
wrapper.java.additional.3=-Dhttp.proxySet=true
wrapper.java.additional.4=-Dhttp.proxyHost=maitproxy
wrapper.java.additional.5=-Dhttp.proxyPort=8080
wrapper.java.additional.6=-Dhttps.proxyHost=maitproxy
wrapper.java.additional.7=-Dhttps.proxyPort=8080
wrapper.java.additional.8=-Dhttp.nonProxyHosts="mait*|dpi*|localhost"

Note that the http.proxySet=true parameter is required. Also, the parameter numbers must be consecutive - i.e. no gaps.

For a Windows install not running GeoServer as a service, modify startup.bat so that the java command runs with similar -D parameters.

For a Linux/UNIX install, modify startup.sh so that the java command runs with similar -D parameters.