1. Getting started with OrderCloud

Regions and environments

This reference provides a comprehensive overview of OrderCloud API servers across all supported regions and environments. Each combination offers specific capabilities and considerations for your implementation.

Regional availability

OrderCloud operates in these Azure regions:

Environment types

Each region supports three distinct environments, each accessible through a unified Portal interface:

  • Sandboxes for development and testing
  • Staging for pre-production validation
  • Production for live business operations

Implementation considerations

Region selection

Consider these factors:

  • Geographic location
  • Data residency
  • Network latency
  • Compliance requirements

Production environment

Production environments serve live applications with real business transactions. These environments provide:

Performance features

  • High-performance infrastructure
  • Maximum availability
  • Geo-redundant data protection
  • Optimized resource allocation

Access control

  • Reserved exclusively for live applications
  • Created after contract finalization
  • Managed creation process
  • No self-service provisioning

Implementation recommendations

  • Begin data loading well before go-live
  • Establish sustainable data migration pace
  • Enable thorough Staging environment testing
  • Support comprehensive UAT processes

Sandbox environment

Sandbox environments provide development and testing capabilities:

Access details

  • Free environment access
  • Expandable for active customers
  • Flexible usage options

Ideal use cases

  1. New application development:

    • Initial setup
    • Feature testing
    • Integration validation
  2. Persistent testing:

    • Long-term test data
    • No automatic overwrites
    • Consistent test scenarios
  3. Subset testing:

    • Focused data sets
    • Specific feature validation
    • Performance testing

When to use Staging instead

  • Full production data testing
  • Complete system validation
  • Integration testing
  • UAT processes

Staging environment

Staging provides a testing environment with weekly restores:

Synchronization details

  • Weekly restore at 3
    UTC Sunday
  • Complete data refresh
  • Overwrites weekly changes
  • Requires explicit access request

Modified resource handling

  1. Message Senders:

    • Nullified URL property
    • Removed assignments
    • Prevents unintended notifications
  2. Webhooks:

    • Preserved configurations
    • Disabled functionality
    • Empty ApiClients array
    • Prevents external system triggers
  3. Integration Events:

    • Complete removal
    • Prevents integration conflicts
    • Maintains system isolation
  4. API Clients:

    • Nullified integration references
    • Affects multiple event types:
      • OrderCheckout
      • OrderReturn
      • AddToCart
    • Prevents unintended integrations

Post-restore automation

  • Configure automated setup
  • Use Staging Post-Restore webhook
  • Restore test configurations
  • Maintain consistent environment

Performance considerations

Staging and Sandbox environments operate with scaled resources:

Resource allocation

  • Reduced computing power
  • Limited storage capacity
  • Optimized for development
  • Cost-effective operation

Performance expectations

  • Lower response times
  • Reduced concurrent capacity
  • Basic availability guarantees
  • Development-appropriate performance

Usage guidelines

  • Avoid production-level loads
  • Plan for lower performance
  • Consider resource limitations
  • Monitor system usage

Rate limits

OrderCloud implements marketplace-wide rate limiting:

Current implementation

  • Automated enforcement
  • 403 Forbidden responses
  • Marketplace-level application

Error handling

  • Verify 403 error sources
  • Check error response data
  • Monitor usage patterns

Future considerations

  • Potential endpoint-specific limits
  • More granular control
  • Enhanced monitoring
  • Updated enforcement rules
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