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Xserve and JSS v9

  • November 13, 2013
  • 3 replies
  • 21 views
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  • Sandy
  • Esteemed Contributor

Hi All, for those of you still using Xserves for your JSS:
When upgrading to Casper Suite 9.x.x did you upgrade server to 10.9.0, or to 10.8.5?

Are you running other services on that box or other XServes?
For my main boxes I've got 2 2009 Xserves, w/ 24 gb ram

One will be JSS master and a secondary (failover backup) DP,
the other a limited JSS, master DP and Netboot (one of 2).
I have 2 older Xservs that will stay at 10.6.8 as DP and netboot.

I'm mostly concerned with Netboot in 10.8 or 10.9 as it is so fussy...
Any advice or experience you might share?

Thanks!
Sandy

    3 replies

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    • bjbechd
    • Contributor
    • November 13, 2013

    If at all possible I would transition to Linux as the JSS server either as a physical or a virtual machine. We are currently running Early 2009 Xserves now for file server, OD master, etc. We have one Xserve that is our JSS with 96GB of RAM. Its 10.8.5 with Server 2.2. We have had nothing but issues with the Mac servers. They are way more trouble then they are worth.

    Like I said, I would move to Linux if you can. Ubuntu or Redhat is supported. I wouldrecommand Ubuntu.

    Can I ask how you are doing the failover backup to the second Xserve?

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    • Sandy
    • Author
    • Esteemed Contributor
    • November 13, 2013

    Hi Beau
    Thanks for the feedback!
    My Xserves have been rock solid so far (10.6.8), though now over three years old so I get what you're saying....
    I'll have to explore my options with Linux....if I have any... $$ is always an issue

    I replicate my D.P. (not my database) to my JSS box, but do not scope that DP to any clients...
    So as it is on a separate raid and also my third DP, I consider it an emergency backup which I could easily scope to if needed.
    S

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    • rich.trouton
    • Hall of Fame
    • November 13, 2013

    If these Xserves do not have the Apple RAID card, a possible option may be to repurpose them as VMware vSphere or ESXi servers. That would allow you to host Casper in either Linux VMs or OS X Server VMs (whichever suits your environment better) while avoiding having to invest in new hardware.

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