Syncing User Created Bookmarks without a cluster?

[Clarke1984_]

I have two SA-4000s that are NOT part of a cluster. They sit behind a load balancer (Netscaler, for the curious). Essentially, we make admin changes on one 4000 and then push the config over to other 4000. However, not everything pushes over easily.

For example, if a user is logged into one of my load balanced SA-4000s and creates some personal bookmarks, and then comes back later and ends up on the OTHER SA-4000 and creates some other bookmarks, the bookmarks clearly will be out of sync. The only method I know of syncing is the export/import "User Accounts" with the user.cfg file. But since the file is binary, there isn't an easy way to merge configurations..... or am I missing something here?

What would be better is if ALL of the config info can move via XML. That would save a lot of hassle.

Anyone have any recommendations on how to sync user settings between two SA-4000s in a non-clustered environment?

The main motivation for not having a cluster is to occasionally take one of the SA-4000s out of the load balanced pool for testing purposes since we do not have a dedicated test unit.

Thanks.

Clarke

[bcampbell3_]

Why not just use one all the time? Keep the other for failover only if necessary. Then, you can push config or do a user/xml sync to the second device and only use it as backup. This way all the user configs reside on one box... and those configs are all pushed to the second for a DR/BC scenario. There is no messing with xml or other code... which created another level of complexity and point of failure for your setup.

The 4000 device is capable of handling quite a few concurrent users granted your connection can handle it.

During business hours, this will free you to test code version, changes, etc. You can always save your work in terms of a user/system config save. When you're done testing, dump the prod system config back on your "dev/backup" device.

Message Edited by bcampbell3 on 08-21-2009 06:00 AM

[muttbarker_]

You certainly could use XML for this. The XML export is selective in that you can choose the catagories of exports (IE User Roles only) - and the import does not "replace" simply "updates."

However - I am not sure if XML provides for export / import of personal bookmarks. I would want to test that. I have worked a lot with XML and can't recall seeing that value.

[kenlars_]

I'm pretty sure you cannot export the user bookmarks using XML.

There is some stuff coming up in upcoming releases. Talk with your SE or salesperson.

[muttbarker_]

You are so right! Just did a quick test - No export of user bookmarks in XML.

[bcampbell3_]

Check out code version 6.5. I think it might address your issue.

[muttbarker_]

Hey Clarke - you need to check out 6.5 as mentioned below. It contains updates that specifically address your issue of syncing of user defined bookmarks in a non-cluster environment.

It will handle what you need.

[SonicBoom_]

6.5R1 addresses this, i am currently running an SA4500 production and an SA2500 as a test box which i configured with a little help from JTAC to receive synched user records, now here is where it gets a little confusing and im still not sure how it works but it does, prior to 6.5R1 on the status page, next to user records i had 1400+ user records, that was the total count of all the users that had logged on to the box at one time or another, now in 6.5R1, that number is any where from 200-450 throughout the day and seems to every night go back to around 200. according to jtac this is the synchronization working and moving the records to the synch box and only retaining a count for whats cached.