diff --git a/tools/ws/Dockerfile b/tools/ws/Dockerfile
index 8a67448..0bb777b 100644
--- a/tools/ws/Dockerfile
+++ b/tools/ws/Dockerfile
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ FROM python:latest
 LABEL Maintainer="Wolfgang Hottgenroth wolfgang.hottgenroth@icloud.com"
 
 ARG APP_DIR="/opt/app"
+ARG CONF_DIR="${APP_DIR}/config"
 
 RUN \
     apt update && \
@@ -15,19 +16,21 @@ RUN \
 
 RUN \
     mkdir -p ${APP_DIR} && \
+    mkdir -p ${CONF_DIR} && \
     useradd -d ${APP_DIR} -u 1000 user
 
 COPY *.py ${APP_DIR}/
 COPY swagger.yaml ${APP_DIR}/
-COPY server.ini ${APP_DIR}/
+COPY server.ini ${CONF_DIR}/
 
 USER 1000:1000
 WORKDIR ${APP_DIR}
+VOLUME ${CONF_DIR}
 
 EXPOSE 5000
 EXPOSE 9191
 
-CMD [ "uwsgi", "server.ini" ]
+CMD [ "uwsgi", "./config/server.ini" ]
 
 
 
diff --git a/tools/ws/dbpool.py b/tools/ws/dbpool.py
index 79405fa..712b03a 100644
--- a/tools/ws/dbpool.py
+++ b/tools/ws/dbpool.py
@@ -2,15 +2,15 @@ import mariadb
 
 pool = None
 
-def createConnectionPool():
+def createConnectionPool(config):
     global pool
 
     pool = mariadb.ConnectionPool(
-        user = 'heroes',
-        password = 'test123',
-        host = '172.16.10.18',
-        database = 'heroes',
-        pool_name = 'wep-app',
+        user = config['user'],
+        password = config['password'],
+        host = config['host'],
+        database = config['database'],
+        pool_name = 'heroes-wep-app',
         pool_size = 5
     )
 
diff --git a/tools/ws/server.ini b/tools/ws/server.ini
index 81f216b..d7f5ca8 100644
--- a/tools/ws/server.ini
+++ b/tools/ws/server.ini
@@ -5,3 +5,9 @@ processes = 4
 threads = 2
 stats = :9191
 
+[database]
+host = 172.16.10.18
+user = heroes
+password = test123
+database = heroes
+
diff --git a/tools/ws/server.py b/tools/ws/server.py
index c6aeb4c..4a43071 100644
--- a/tools/ws/server.py
+++ b/tools/ws/server.py
@@ -1,9 +1,15 @@
 import connexion
 from flask_cors import CORS
 from dbpool import createConnectionPool
+import configparser
+
+
+# load configuration
+config = configparser.ConfigParser()
+config.read('./config/server.ini')
 
 # prepare database connections
-createConnectionPool()
+createConnectionPool(config['database'])
 
 # instantiate the webservice
 app = connexion.App(__name__)