BuildBoxHosting

From Develop

Contents 1 Problem 2 Discussion Points 2.1 Local Host vs. Cloud 2.1.1 Cloud 2.2 Using the machine when it's not required for a build 2.3 Building Windows 4.1 and 4.0.4 3 Proposed Solution 3.1 Linux 3.2 OS X 3.3 Windows 3.4 Other needs

Problem

Will Hosts the Build Boxes - Will is leaving PCF. We have a generous window of time, but we need to decide on a new home for the build boxes.

Discussion Points

Local Host vs. Cloud

Cloud

• Possible for Linux
• Seemingly impossible for osx and windows for different reasons
  • os x: No known (economical / trustworthy) sites for osx cloud exists
    • Go Daddy no longer has any links on site for os x
    • X-cloud - 149 CHF (~180 USD)
  • windows
    • Amazon has Windows 2008 servers available for AMI
    • Windows build requirement is Visual Studio 2008 Express WindowsBuildDocs#Requirements
    • Visual studio requirement is windows 2003, windows XP, windows Vista [[1]]

• I can host any combo of windows / os x / linux build boxes in Vela Luka at MILs house
  • 10 minute drive (30 mins on bike) from home
  • I'm there regularly anyway
  • Significantly faster internet than what I have at home

Using the machine when it's not required for a build

Glee says: Keeping around dedicated boxes is a real waste, these day we have so much computing power but having to leave stuff 'always-on' means we underutilize the machines pretty much all of the time.

Can we find a solution to make more use of the always on machines.

• A related ticket is bz:18132 - we need to rehost the selenium tests
  • Selenium tests use browsers - and shouldn't interfere with building miro at any time.

• Running Sikuli tests on the build boxes after each nightly.
  • Current full test run takes 2 hrs.
  • Could run a quick test (30 mins) with each build
  • Set up scheduled full test run 2 - 3times weekly

• Running more frequent builds and unit tests
  • Add a script to build and run unitests on linux with each check-in - email dev team on failure.
  • Look into using Jenkins to build and run tests on checkin - send the nasty-grams to irc channel.

Building Windows 4.1 and 4.0.4

• Currently build boxes at Will's house can build both Miro 4.1 and Miro 4.0.4.
• When the windows overhaul changes land, then it'll be master-only.
• If we are still pre-4.0.4 when windows changes land we will either have to choose what to build or use two boxes.
• Will says we can keep one at his place - the new new box could then build the other version

Proposed Solution

Linux

• Host the linux build box in the cloud on Amazon AMI generating nightlies and running unittests like now
• Add additional builds on commit that also run unittest and provide feedback
  • modify build script or look into using jenkins.
• Use box for running selenium nightly tests for MC and Unisubs

• Requires
  • Setup on Amazon
  • Possibly script modification for build/test on commit (no upload) or jenkins integration - whichever is better
  • Setup for running FF headless for selenium testing and results posting

OS X

• Host w/ Janet in Vela Luka
• Modify build scripts to run unittests with nightly builds
• Run Sikuli quicktests on nighlty builds
• Create scheduled task to run full test suite 2-3x / week

• Requires
  • ssh access for on-the-fly build generation (like Will has now)
  • Allow remote access to run selenium or sikuli tests in down time
  • build script modification for running nightly builds

• Hardware
  • I have macbook with broken screen (works fine when connected to monitor)
  • Would need replacement mac for daily testing

Windows

• Host w/ Janet in Vela Luka
• Modify build scripts to run unittests with nightly builds (is this possible?)
• Run Sikuli quicktests on nighlty builds
• Create scheduled task to run full test suite 2-3x / week

• Requires
  • ssh access for on-the-fly build generation (like Will has now)
  • Allow remote access to run selenium or sikuli tests in down time
  • build script modification for running nightly builds

• Hardware
  • I have a PC that I don't have a monitor for. Old lightening machine, single cpu, new motherboard, new disk

• Software
  • Probably should use Windows XP
  • My good PC came with Windows XP and Vista license. I can put XP on build box and use Vista at home

Other needs

• 1 monitor (I have an older one, but I'd need to replace it at home if I used it for build boxes)
• Maybe a good power surge protector