[Gllug] Configuration file sharing

[Walter Stanish]

> Currently I am sharing configurations across a NFS mount on each web
> server obviously this isn't ideal as there is a single point of failure,
> I was going to shift these to having a central repository like NFS but
> instead use Rsync to copy these configurations to each server. Is there
> any alternatives I should be looking at?

I highly recommend investing the time to change over to a VCS, as you then
get properly versioned deployments and simple updates, without breaking
'quick fix' functionality (which you can then resolve via a simple 'commit'
or 'revert').  You can also easily fork and merge (if, say, you need
a related but slightly different set of servers down the line).

For me SVN works is pretty well, but for maximum SPOF-aversion points you
may wish to investigate some of the decentralised VCS systems such as git.

> I have just come across HA-NFS which looks ideal

This is the first I've heard of HA-NFS.  Although it could be one route
to solving the problem, I always weight heavily against any solution that
requires the use of kernel-level components and has a smallish userbase.
(Just for example - I'm not sure if this is even technically valid - but
with widespread NFSv4 deployment on the horizon, how quickly if ever will
HA-NFS be ported forward?)  Perhaps more importantly, any network-facing
service with a smallish userbase is a bit of a security risk straight
up.  My gut feeling is - "always stick with better known tools and 
userland where possible.".

Best of luck however you decide to tackle it!

- Walter
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