[chef] Re: High availability for chef

[Adam Jacob < >]

On Mon, Jul 4, 2011 at 7:30 AM,  
<
 >
 wrote:
> As we move configuration  of more critical components to our chef server, we
> need to implement some sort of high availability solution for our chef
> server.
>
> Any one has experience in that matter ?
>
> a)      Is replication of couchdb, solr index viable ? or

It depends on what level of HA you require. For both CouchDB and Solr,
you can handle this with DRBD and passive failover for what is usually
sub-second takeover on failure - this is also good for things like
cookbook uploads (stick /var/chef on the DRBD drives.)

You can also make each component HA on their own, using the mechanisms
the upstream recommends - Replication in both cases you list above.

> b)      it is  more simple to just re-create the database from source code
> of cookbook, roles and databags ? in that case how to make sure that we
> don´t have to re-register each node

You likely want to be keeping an active replica (either with app
replication or disk-level replication) for your failover - this helps
in DR, but that's what backups are for.

Best,
Adam

-- 
Opscode, Inc.
Adam Jacob, Chief Product Officer
T: (206) 619-7151 E: