diff --git a/server/README.md b/server/README.md
index 8061fd7..8a003b7 100644
--- a/server/README.md
+++ b/server/README.md
@@ -18,6 +18,12 @@ pipenv shell
 
 ## Configuration
 
+Specify a settings file
+
+```bash
+export SERVER_SETTINGS='<path to settings python file>'
+```
+
 ## Running
 
 ### Docker
@@ -29,12 +35,20 @@ docker run -d corvus:local-test
 
 ### Local Development Version
 
+Run a local version
+
 ```bash
 FLASK_APP=corvus:corvus flask db upgrade
 python manage.py user register-admin
 FLASK_APP=corvus:corvus flask run
 ```
 
+Set log level
+
+```bash
+export SERVER_LOGLEVEL=DEBUG
+```
+
 ## FAQ
 
 ## Development
@@ -52,6 +66,14 @@ pipenv install --dev
 
 * If everything passes follow contributing guide.
 
+## Testing
+
+To run the pytests directly, use the following command
+
+```bash
+PYTHONPATH=$(pwd) pipenv run py.test
+```
+
 ## Contributing
 
 See ../CONTRIBUTING.md
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/server/server/__init__.py b/server/server/__init__.py
index ce90f9a..cd42896 100644
--- a/server/server/__init__.py
+++ b/server/server/__init__.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from server.errors import BaseError, handle_base_error, \
     handle_404_error
 from server.utility import json_utility, session_utility
 
+LOGLEVEL = os.environ.get('SERVER_LOGLEVEL', 'INFO').upper()
 dictConfig({
     'version': 1,
     'formatters': {'default': {
@@ -21,7 +22,7 @@ dictConfig({
         'formatter': 'default'
     }},
     'root': {
-        'level': 'INFO',
+        'level': LOGLEVEL,
         'handlers': ['wsgi']
     }
 })
@@ -48,11 +49,18 @@ def create_app(test_config: dict = None) -> Flask:
         TRAP_HTTP_EXCEPTIONS=True,
     )
 
+    config_directory = os.getenv('SERVER_CONFIG_DIRECTORY', 'config')
     if test_config is None:
         app.logger.debug('Loading configurations')
-        app.config.from_object('server.default_settings')
-        app.config.from_pyfile('config.py', silent=True)
+        default_settings = 'server.default_settings'
+        app.logger.debug('Loading configuration from ' + default_settings)
+        app.config.from_object(default_settings)
+        config_file = config_directory + '/config.py'
+        if os.path.exists(config_file):
+            app.logger.debug('Loading config from ' + config_file)
+            app.config.from_pyfile(config_file, silent=True)
         if os.getenv('SERVER_SETTINGS', None):
+            app.logger.debug('Loading config from SERVER_SETTINGS=' + os.getenv('SERVER_SETTINGS', ''))
             app.config.from_envvar('SERVER_SETTINGS')
     else:
         app.logger.debug('Loading test configuration')
diff --git a/server/tests/conftest.py b/server/tests/conftest.py
index f33dabd..aaf2e48 100644
--- a/server/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/server/tests/conftest.py
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ def app() -> Generator[Flask, Any, Any]:
         'TESTING': True,
         'SQLALCHEMY_DATABASE_URI': test_database_uri,
     })
+    test_settings = 'tests.test_settings'
+    server_app.logger.debug('Loading configuration from ' + test_settings)
+    server_app.config.from_object(test_settings)
     register_blueprints(server_app)
     register_error_handlers(server_app)
 
diff --git a/server/test_settings.py b/server/tests/test_settings.py
similarity index 100%
rename from server/test_settings.py
rename to server/tests/test_settings.py