code: @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
      private <T> T getProperty(Map<String, Object> properties, String name, T deflt) {
          T value = deflt;
          try {
              T prop = (T) properties.get(name);
              if (prop != null) {
                  value = prop;
              }
          } catch (ClassCastException e) {
              //auto FFDC and allow the default value to be returned so that the server still starts
          }
          return value;
      }
docs: get a property and if not set, use the supplied default