Possible to sync 2 OSX Servers via VPN?

[bschm]

Recently there was a thread regarding synchronizing 2 OSX Servers (see “Wich is the best way to sync two servers?”). Unfortunately, a final solution has not yet been posted. So, I decided to reopen the question. Here is my situation:

Locations: (connected via VPN over the Internet)
Chicago, IL
– DSL Internet
– 6 users
– OSX Server v10.2.8
– Power Mac G4 tower

New York City (NYC), NY
– DSL Internet
– 12 users
– OSX Server v10.2.8
– XServe

Questions:
1) Is it possible to automatically synchronize the servers so that either the Chicago or NYC server could act as the primary for all users in the event of a server failure?

2) Same as #1, except, in the event the connection between Chicago and NYC fails, can the Chicago server act as primary for the Chicago users and the NYC server as primary for the NYC users?

Any suggestions and/or pointing to the appropriate pages/topics in the Admin Manual would be extremely helpful. I have tried going thru the Admin Manual to no avail.

THX!

-Bruce

[bschm]

I think of the primary server as the master. The place where all of the user settings and home directories are stored and accessed. After thinking about it some more, what I really want to accomplish is to have the users typically login to their local server machine (Chicago -> tower and NYC -> XServe). But, when a server failure occurs, have them login to the remote server.

For example, Chicago users would typically login to the Power Mac G4 tower machine located in the Chicago office. However, the Chicago server’s hard drive fails. While the server is being repaired, the Chicago users’ login requests auto-failover to the NYC XServe.

Obviouisly, the problem is 2 fold:
– Keeping the appropriate files and directories synchronized for things like email, files, etc
– Automatically rerouting login requests.

Does that clarify the situation?

THX!

-Bruce

[bschm]

I agree that the net connection would become *extremely* slow if the users are accessing their home folder content remotely. However, it is preferable to being down.

So the question becomes: Is there any good way to automatically synchronize the “User” folders overnight? Silverkeeper, Carbon Copy Cloner, psync, other?

And what are the gotchas that I need to look out for? E.g. does it require root access to each server to execute properly? BTW, we are behind a NAT with pptp access.

At least this way, we could limp along until the failed server could be recovered. Then the User folders could be re-synced as soon as the failed server is back online. Ugly, but survivable.

Thoughts?

THX!

-Bruce

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