def init(self, n=0, ftype="real", colfac=1.0e-8, lmfac=1.0e-3, fid=0):
        """Set selected properties of the fitserver instance.

        Like in the constructor, the number of unknowns to be solved for;
        the number of simultaneous solutions; the ftype and the collinearity
        and Levenberg-Marquardt factor can be specified. Individual values can
        be overwritten with the :meth:`set` function.

        :param n: number of unknowns
        :param ftype: type of solution
                      Allowed: real, complex, separable, asreal, conjugate
        :param colfac:	collinearity factor
        :param lmfac: Levenberg-Marquardt factor
        :param fid: the id of a sub-fitter
        """
        ftype = self._gettype(ftype)
        self._fitids[fid]["stat"] = False
        self._fitids[fid]["solved"] = False
        self._fitids[fid]["haserr"] = False
        self._fitids[fid]["fit"] = False
        self._fitids[fid]["looped"] = False
        if self._fitproxy.init(fid, n, ftype, colfac, lmfac):
            self._fitids[fid]["stat"] = self._getstate(fid)
        else:
            return False