10.4 vs 10.5 server for test environment

My test environment is a G5 tower running Tiger Server. Works great. I attempted to use Parallels server for my test environment Leopard server, but performance was an issue for some reason (haven't gotten back around to that yet), and this wasn't even on the same Xserve as my main JSS.

In production I used teamed NICs on my Xserve.

I don't think it's convenient or even easy/possible to run a second instance of the JSS on the same system without some heavy modification.

Craig E

I would think that since the JSS uses MYSQL and Tomcat that using 10.4
wouldnt be an issue

My test and live is very similar so that i can full replicate the live
environment,

My test lab is a dual core 2.0ghz XServe with 2gb ram and bonded NIC's
with 10.5.6 My live server (ATM) is a quad core 2.8ghz XServe with 32gb ram and
bonded NIC's with 10.5.6

But i have 2 new 8 core 3ghz XServe with 32gb of ram and fiber channel
cards and 10.5.6 which i will soon be testing for performance on fiber
over ethernet

As the JSS uses MYSQL and Tomcat i would think it very difficult to have
2 mysql databases on the 1 server, ud have to make a virtual server then
i guess it would be possible to have as many as you need for different
domains, but im not a mysql expert, the web side would be easy but not
sure about the mysql side

Criss

Criss Myers
Senior Customer Support Analyst (Mac Services)
Apple Certified Technical Coordinator v10.5
LIS Business Support Team
Library 301
University of Central Lancashire
Preston PR1 2HE
Ex 5054
01772 895054

What would happen if you create 2 domain entries with different ip's hosted them on the same server,

youd have jss1.mydomain.com and jss2.mydomain.com and have two different
ip's resolving via your dns

Then using the JSS Setup utility connected to jss1 and installed the JSS
and then conencted to jss2 and installed a second JSS

Both would be hosted on your server via the same NIC but have different
databases under different domains and ip's ????

Criss

Criss Myers
Senior Customer Support Analyst (Mac Services)
Apple Certified Technical Coordinator v10.5
LIS Business Support Team
Library 301
University of Central Lancashire
Preston PR1 2HE
Ex 5054
01772 895054

That's good to know. The test box I'm looking at using is a G5 Xserve with Tiger Server. Looks like I'll go that route.

Thanks!

j

My test environment is a G5 tower running Tiger Server. Works great. I attempted to use Parallels server for my test environment Leopard server, but performance was an issue for some reason (haven't gotten back around to that yet), and this wasn't even on the same Xserve as my main JSS.

In production I used teamed NICs on my Xserve.

I don't think it's convenient or even easy/possible to run a second instance of the JSS on the same system without some heavy modification.

Craig E

The issue is the name of the database and how the components connect to it. The database is jamfsoftware, you need to be able to change everything that points to that to a second database with a different name.

I personally would never want to mix test and production on the same box regardless of whether or not it's possible, with the exception of if the second instance was virtualized.

Craig E

I agree on not mixing, you need a test lab separate so you can reboot it
or flatten it at any time without disruption

Criss Myers
Senior Customer Support Analyst (Mac Services)
Apple Certified Technical Coordinator v10.5
LIS Business Support Team
Library 301
University of Central Lancashire
Preston PR1 2HE
Ex 5054
01772 895054

It is absolutely possible to run multiple JSSes on the same box. I'm almost
absolutely sure this isn't supported, and I agree wholeheartedly with Craig
that such experimentation shouldn't be done on production boxes.
I would recommend picking up VMWare and running your test box(es) on a VM. What I've done is spec out two beefy Xserves and installed VMWare on them
for my testing environment. This should be more cost effective than
purchasing and maintaining a bunch of low to mid-range boxes and certainly
less headaches than scrounging old hardware (which I've found to be PPC
these days, and most of the stuff I want to test requires Intel).

If you are a Developer Connection member, you can download install media for
Tiger, Leopard and prerelease Snow Leopard builds (of course you'd be under
an Apple NDA, as I am, so don't ask me about Snow Leopard. Sign up and find
out for yourself). and a serial number that's good for a few months, which
should be long enough to get through any testing.

----------
Miles A. Leacy IV

? Certified System Administrator 10.4
? Certified Technical Coordinator 10.5
? Certified Trainer
Certified Casper Administrator
----------
voice: 1-347-277-7321
miles.leacy at themacadmin.com
www.themacadmin.com

It is totally possible to run multiple JSS on one machine. When you
launch casper admin, and hold down the option key, you can expand the
window to another path. You can run multiple instances of the JSS on
one server, how do you think they do the CCA training? It runs multiple
JSS off of one laptop for the certification. Attached is a screen shot
of where you would put it in. If I recall from last years CCA training
when you run the JSS setup utility you can add a custom path, thus
installing another instance and you can do that repeatedly .

Also, for your test environemnts all you need is a few Mac Minis. That
is what I do. Run NAT or use a router that runs NAT, then one mini has
server, DNS, hosts the JSS etc. Then Have two mini clients. Separate
from everything else.

Even though my previous email about this said it was indeed very much
possible to do so, and you could even have different clients checking
into the different instances of the JSS, but I would have to agree with
Miles, this is probably not recommended.

Unless perhaps you split the load between two separate JSS servers, then
had all your VLANs chopped up and pointed one network segment to one JSS
and other segment to the other JSS. Then all you have to do is edit the
/etc/jamf.conf file on the client to point to the right server.

My new xserve though handles about 6,000+ clients checking in every 15
minutes just fine for the most part. My database is chunky and tends to
need some maintenance from time to time but for the most part one server
handles it OK. We then have building level distribution points which
helps also.