v13.5 LTS

Minimum Hardware Requirements for Windows 13.5 & 13.5.0-LTS

Customers should make sure the instance types they choose to use meet these minimum requirements. For servers running SQL the memory requirements are in addition to the OS memory requirements.
Minimum Hardware Requirements for 64-bit Windows operating systems and SQL server from Microsoft:

• Windows Server 2008R2 - 512MB, 1.4GHz CPU
• Windows Server 2012 - 512MB, 1.4GHz CPU
• SQL 2008R2 - 1GB Memory, 1.4GHz CPU
• SQL 2012 - 1GB Memory, 1.4GHz CPU

New Windows Features and Changes

• New Windows Azure image types: Windows Server 2008R2/SQL2008R2, Windows Server 2012/SQL 2012, Windows Server 2012/SQL 2012 Enterprise
• OpenStack and Rackspace Private: Removed support for Windows Server 2008R2 (This will be added back once we can generate stable images)
• Update to IIS App Server: failover provided for partner DB connection strings to support mirroring auto failover for application connections to DB

New Firewall Option: "unmanaged"

In v13.5 ServerTemplates, a new option called "unmanaged" has been added to the sys_firewall cookbook. If this option is chosen, no changes will be made to iptables service so the cloud provider can manage the firewall rules. An example for this option would be RackConnect where the cloud provider sets up the firewall rules and RightScale does not manage the firewall rules.

CentOS support for ruby 1.9

Support for CentOS and Red Hat was added to the ruby::install_1_9 recipe so that it would install the Ruby 1.9 packages from the rightscale-epel mirror.

Scheduling Secondary Backup

Secondary backups can now be scheduled to run on all the database servers with this merge: https://github.com/rightscale/rights...ooks/pull/134/

HAProxy Apache Tuning

With the v13.5 release, we have tuned the following parameters in the HAProxy ServerTemplate:
HAProxy

• maxconn - global is set to 4096 and 2000 per client by default.
• httpclose - default is disabled.
• abortonclose - default is disabled.

Apache
Corresponding to the global maxconn value in HAProxy config, the following "worker mpm" parameters are tuned for Apache:

• ServerLimit = 32
• ThreadsPerChild = 128
• StartServers = 8

All default values mentioned above are set in the attributes file in their respective cookbooks. NOTE: They don't exist as inputs on the ServerTemplate.

Comma-separated Firewall Ports in Firewall Rule Port input

As of v13.5, the Firewall Rule Port input will accept comma-separated firewall ports. The sys_firewall::setup_rule can now be used to enable/disable rule on all specified ports. Note that if there are any invalid rules in this input, none of the rules will be setup.

Anonymous Users Removed from MySQL Database

As of v13.5, anonymous users present in the database are removed during the installation so that database access requires a valid username and password. By default, MySQL creates anonymous users to allow users to access the database without a username and password. For more information, see http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.5/...rivileges.html

Public IPs to set DNS records

Added support to the v13.5 ServerTemplates for using public IPs to set DNS records. A new recipe named sys_dns::do_set_public is in sys_dns cookbook which allows the usage of public IP to set the DNS A records.

Git Submodule Support

The submodule feature is enabled in v13.5. The repo::do_update_code recipe automatically downloads submodules when using the Git provider.

Ubuntu Hardy

Canonical's "Ubuntu Hardy (8.04LTS)" distribution is EOL. Packages for Ubuntu 8.04 are no longer available in the RightScale mirrors past the 9/10/2013 "freeze" date.  It is recommended that customer upgrade to the latest Ubuntu 12.04 LTS release to continue to receive the latest bug fixes and security updates, but those who still wish to use the 8.04 images will have to freeze repositories to 9/10/2013 in order for Hardy instances to boot.

Passenger-Rails with Ruby 1.9 App Server

Description: This ServerTemplate configures a Rails application server with the Apache HTTP Server running Phusion Passenger. It is designed to work in a hybrid cloud setting, and with a CLB, ELB, or Load Balancer ServerTemplate and Database ServerTemplate as part of a three-tier web architecture. It also includes iptables management for clouds that do not have firewall services.

Key Features: 

• Firewall management within a three-tier scalable web architecture
• Utilizes RightScale tag-based routing for connecting to load balancers
• Pulls application code from an external repository (Git, SVN, or cloud storage)

OS and Cloud Support: 

MultiCloud Marketplace Link: https://www.rightscale.com/library/s.../lineage/44262

Known Limitations: RHEL Support for Open Cloud

Notes: 

Tomcat7 App Server

Description: This ServerTemplate configures a combined Tomcat 7 and Apache application server, which uses the mod_jk connector plug-in. It creates an HTTP virtual host (vhost) and forwards requests to the specified application port to serve your web application.

OS and Cloud Support: 

MultiCloud Marketplace Link: https://www.rightscale.com/library/s.../lineage/44264

Known Limitations: RHEL Support for Open Cloud

Notes: 

Django App Server

Description: This ServerTemplate configures a Django application server for Apache using mod_wsgi. It is designed to work in a hybrid cloud setting, and with a CLB, ELB, or Load Balancer ServerTemplate and Database ServerTemplate as part of a three-tier web architecture. It also includes iptables management for clouds that do not have firewall services.

Key Features: 

• Firewall management within a three-tier scalable web architecture
• Utilizes RightScale tag-based routing for connecting to load balancers
• Pulls application code from an external repository (Git, SVN, or cloud storage)

OS and Cloud Support: 

MultiCloud Marketplace Link: https://www.rightscale.com/library/s.../lineage/44265

Known Limitations: RHEL Support for Open Cloud

Notes: 

Database Manager for PostgreSQL 9.1

Description: Configures a PostgreSQL 9.1 database server. This ServerTemplate provides a high-availability master/slave database configuration that can be used as the backbone for a variety of applications and workloads.

The ServerTemplate supports multiple clouds, using either instance-based storage or attachable volumes. Instance-based snapshot backups are automatically uploaded to your choice of remote object storage (Amazon S3 or Rackspace Cloud Files). It also includes iptables management for clouds that do not have firewall services.

Key Features: 

• Master or slave roles.
• Uses attachable volumes or instance-based LVM volumes for primary backup.
• Supports a secondary, disaster-recovery backup to S3 or Cloud Files remote object stores.
• Support for striping of external volumes for faster database performance.
• Continuous snapshot backups using a grandfather-father-son paradigm (on clouds with volume support).
• Assisted database restoration, including stripe re-creation.
• Provides scripts for master to slave fail-over, restoration of master, and more.
• Choice of DNS providers (DNS Made Easy, DynDNS, AWS Route53, CloudDNS).
• iptables management within a three-tier scalable web architecture for clouds that do not have firewall services.
• Pre-configured monitoring and alerts.

OS and Cloud Support: 

MultiCloud Marketplace Link: https://www.rightscale.com/library/s.../lineage/44268

Known Limitations: RHEL Support for Open Cloud

Notes: 

Memcached Server

Description: This ServerTemplate installs Memcached, which can be used as a caching layer to improve the performance of your cloud-based multi-tier application.

OS and Cloud Support: 

MultiCloud Marketplace Link: https://www.rightscale.com/library/s.../lineage/44271

Known Limitations: RHEL Support for Open Cloud

Notes: 

Logging with rsyslog

Description: This ServerTemplate can be used as a central logging destination for servers in your deployment. It can replace the RightScale-based lumberjack solution and could be used to integrate with other 3rd party logging providers.

Key Features: 

• Rsyslog based logging server

OS and Cloud Support: 

MultiCloud Marketplace Link: https://www.rightscale.com/library/s.../lineage/44272

Known Limitations: RHEL Support for Open Cloud

Notes: 

Base ServerTemplate for Linux (RSB)

Description: This ServerTemplate is a starting point for custom ServerTemplate development.

This ServerTemplate uses RightScript technology; for a Chef-based version of this ServerTemplate, see: Base ServerTemplate for Linux

Key Features: 

• Basic set of scripts for a RightLink-based server with logging, monitoring, alerts, etc.
• MultiCloud Images that reference the latest supported images with a frozen software repository date that has been tested.
• Basic set of alerts for most server type monitoring.
• Examples of system-required input variables.

OS and Cloud Support: 

MultiCloud Marketplace Link: http://www.rightscale.com/library/se.../lineage/44252

Known Limitations: RHEL Support for Open Cloud

Notes: 

Base ServerTemplate for Linux

Description: This ServerTemplate is a starting point for custom ServerTemplate development in Linux.

This ServerTemplate uses Chef; for a RightScript based ServerTemplate, see: Base ServerTemplate for Linux (RSB)

Key Features: 

• Basic set of recipes for a RightLink-based server with logging, monitoring, alerts, etc.
• MultiCloud Images that reference the latest supported images with a frozen software repository date that has been tested.
• Basic set of alerts for most server type monitoring.
• Examples of system-required input variables.

OS and Cloud Support: 

MultiCloud Marketplace Link: http://www.rightscale.com/library/se.../lineage/44177

Known Limitations: RHEL Support for Open Cloud

Notes: 

LAMP All-In-One with MySQL 5.1

Description: Basic all-in-one LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) server designed to work in a hybrid cloud setting. This server takes regular backups of the MySQL 5.1 database and saves them to public cloud storage. Suitable for single-server test, development, and production (non-redundant) purposes.

For the latest version of MySQL, see: LAMP All-In-One with MySQL 5.5

OS and Cloud Support: 

MultiCloud Marketplace Link: http://www.rightscale.com/library/se.../lineage/44288

Known Limitations: RHEL Support for Open Cloud

Notes: 

LAMP All-In-One with MySQL 5.5

Description: Basic all-in-one LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) ServerTemplate designed to work in a hybrid cloud setting. This ServerTemplate takes regular backups of the MySQL 5.5 database and saves them to public cloud storage. Suitable for single-server test, development, and production (non-redundant) purposes.

OS and Cloud Support: 

MultiCloud Marketplace Link: http://www.rightscale.com/library/se.../lineage/44251

Known Limitations: RHEL Support for Open Cloud

Notes: 

LAMP All-In-One Trial with MySQL 5.5

Description: Launches a complete LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) stack on a single server in any of the supported cloud infrastructures. It includes default values for all required inputs so you can launch a server in less than 15 minutes. This ServerTemplate is designed for demonstration purposes only and is not recommended for production use.

If you want to launch a LAMP stack with your own application code and database, please see: LAMP All-In-One with MySQL 5.5

OS and Cloud Support: 

MultiCloud Marketplace Link: http://www.rightscale.com/library/se.../lineage/44253

Known Limitations: RHEL Support for Open Cloud

Notes: 

Load Balancer with HAProxy

Description:  This ServerTemplate configures an HAProxy load balancer and Apache server. It is designed to work in a hybrid cloud setting, and with application server and database ServerTemplates as part of a three-tier web architecture. It also includes iptables management for clouds that do not have firewall services.

Key Features: 

• Supports both HTTP and HTTPS
• Firewall management within a three-tier scalable web architecture
• Utilizes RightScale tag-based routing for connecting to application servers
• Routes to multiple application servers based on subdomain

OS and Cloud Support: 

MultiCloud Marketplace Link: https://www.rightscale.com/library/s.../lineage/44258

Known Limitations: RHEL Support for Open Cloud

Notes: 

PHP App Server

Description: This ServerTemplate configures a PHP application server with Apache. It is designed to work in a hybrid cloud setting, and with a CLB, ELB, or Load Balancer ServerTemplate and Database ServerTemplate as part of a three-tier web architecture. It also includes iptables management for clouds that do not have firewall services.

Key Features: 

• Firewall management within a three-tier scalable web architecture
• Utilizes RightScale tag-based routing for connecting to load balancers
• Pulls application code from an external repository (Git, SVN, or cloud storage)

OS and Cloud Support: 

MultiCloud Marketplace Link: https://www.rightscale.com/library/s.../lineage/44259

Known Limitations: RHEL Support for Open Cloud

Notes: 

Apache-Rails-Passenger App Server

Description: This ServerTemplate configures a Rails application server with the Apache HTTP Server running Phusion Passenger. It is designed to work in a hybrid cloud setting, and with a CLB, ELB, or Load Balancer ServerTemplate and Database ServerTemplate as part of a three-tier web architecture. It also includes iptables management for clouds that do not have firewall services.

Key Features: 

• Firewall management within a three-tier scalable web architecture
• Utilizes RightScale tag-based routing for connecting to load balancers
• Pulls application code from an external repository (Git, SVN, or cloud storage)

OS and Cloud Support: 

MultiCloud Marketplace Link: https://www.rightscale.com/library/s.../lineage/44261

Known Limitations: RHEL Support for Open Cloud

Notes: 

Tomcat6 App Server

Description: This ServerTemplate configures a combined Tomcat 6 and Apache application server, which uses the mod_jk connector plug-in. It creates an HTTP virtual host (vhost) and forwards requests to the specified application port to serve your web application.

OS and Cloud Support: 

MultiCloud Marketplace Link: https://www.rightscale.com/library/s.../lineage/44263

Known Limitations: RHEL Support for Open Cloud

Notes: 

Database Manager for MySQL 5.1

Description: Configures a MySQL 5.1 database server. This ServerTemplate provides a high-availability master/slave database configuration that can be used as the backbone for a variety of applications and workloads.

The ServerTemplate supports multiple clouds, using either instance-based storage or attachable volumes. Instance-based snapshot backups are automatically uploaded to your choice of remote object storage (Amazon S3, Rackspace Cloud Files, or SoftLayer Object Storage). It also includes iptables management for clouds that do not have firewall services.

Key Features: 

• Master or slave roles.
• Uses attachable volumes or instance-based LVM volumes for primary backup.
• Supports a secondary, disaster-recovery backup to S3, Cloud Files, or SoftLayer Object Storage remote object stores.
• Support for striping of external volumes for faster database performance.
• Continuous snapshot backups using a grandfather-father-son paradigm (on clouds with volume support).
• Assisted database restoration, including stripe re-creation.
• Provides scripts for master to slave fail-over, restoration of master, and more.
• Choice of DNS providers (DNS Made Easy, DynDNS, AWS Route53, CloudDNS).
• iptables management within a three-tier scalable web architecture for clouds that do not have firewall services.
• Pre-configured monitoring and alerts.

OS and Cloud Support: 

MultiCloud Marketplace Link: https://www.rightscale.com/library/s.../lineage/44266

Known Limitations: RHEL Support for Open Cloud

Notes: 

Database Manager for MySQL 5.5

Description: This ServerTemplate is on the LTS Lineage. For the latest Infinity version, see the Infinity Lineage

For a description of the Infinity and LTS lineages, see ServerTemplate Release Methodology

Configures a MySQL 5.5 database server. This ServerTemplate provides a high-availability master/slave database configuration that can be used as the backbone for a variety of applications and workloads.

The ServerTemplate supports multiple clouds, using either instance-based storage or attachable volumes. Instance-based snapshot backups are automatically uploaded to your choice of remote object storage (Amazon S3, Rackspace Cloud Files, or SoftLayer Object Storage). It also includes iptables management for clouds that do not have firewall services.

Key Features: 

• Master or slave roles.
• Uses attachable volumes or instance-based LVM volumes for primary backup.
• Supports a secondary, disaster-recovery backup to S3, Cloud Files, or SoftLayer Object Storage remote object stores.
• Support for striping of external volumes for faster database performance.
• Continuous snapshot backups using a grandfather-father-son paradigm (on clouds with volume support).
• Assisted database restoration, including stripe re-creation.
• Provides scripts for master to slave fail-over, restoration of master, and more.
• Choice of DNS providers (DNS Made Easy, DynDNS, AWS Route53, CloudDNS).
• iptables management within a three-tier scalable web architecture for clouds that do not have firewall services.
• Pre-configured monitoring and alerts.

OS and Cloud Support: 

MultiCloud Marketplace Link: https://www.rightscale.com/library/s.../lineage/44267

Known Limitations: RHEL Support for Open Cloud

Notes: 

Storage Toolbox

Description: This ServerTemplate contains several useful recipes to set up and back up storage within a variety of contexts. It is used within other ServerTemplates to support runbook operations like backup and restore of databases. 

OS and Cloud Support: 

MultiCloud Marketplace Link: https://www.rightscale.com/library/s.../lineage/44269

Known Limitations: RHEL Support for Open Cloud

Notes: 

Database Manager for Microsoft SQL Server

Note: There is a maintenance release for this LTS release. See the latest revision here.

Description: This ServerTemplate configures a Microsoft SQL Server standalone database server or pair of servers in a high-availability (HA) configuration (synchronous mirroring). It supports graceful (no data loss) and forceful (possible data loss) manual failover, with the latter to be used for disaster-recovery situations. This can also be used with our SQL Server Witness ServerTemplate to provide automatic failover. Also included are built-in monitoring and alerts on CPU, memory, and disk.

Key Features: 

• MS Best Practices for disk and database configuration.
• Cloud-agnostic data storage on dynamic volumes or equivalent.
• Striped data and log volumes (on supported clouds).
• Automatically scheduled backups with data consistency.
• Backup and restore to/from remote storage to enable data migration between clouds.

OS and Cloud Support: 

MultiCloud Marketplace Link: http://www.rightscale.com/library/se.../lineage/44143

Known Limitations: Rackspace Performance Cloud Servers are not supported.

Notes: 

Microsoft IIS App Server

Description: This ServerTemplate configures an IIS (Internet Information Services) web application server. It is designed to work in a hybrid cloud setting and with a CLB, ELB or Load Balancer ServerTemplate and Database ServerTemplate as part of a three-tier web architecture.

Key Features: 

• Built-in monitoring and alerts on CPU, memory, and disk
• Utilizes RightScale tag-based routing for connecting to load balancers
• Pulls application code from an external repository (Git, SVN, or cloud storage)

OS and Cloud Support: 

MultiCloud Marketplace Link: http://www.rightscale.com/library/se.../lineage/44090

Known Limitations: 

Notes: 

Microsoft Active Directory

Description: Configures a Microsoft Active Directory server or additional Directory Controllers leveraging Microsoft best practices.

Key Features: 

• Standalone or multiple AD server configurations
• Volume-based AD database
• Scheduled, continuous backups

OS and Cloud Support: 

MultiCloud Marketplace Link: http://www.rightscale.com/library/se.../lineage/44113

Known Limitations: Rackspace Performance Cloud Servers are not supported.

Notes: 

Base ServerTemplate for Windows

Description: This ServerTemplate is a starting point for custom ServerTemplate development in Windows.

Key Features:

• Basic set of PowerShell scripts for setting up an Administrator password, common monitoring, and alerts.
• MultiCloud Images that reference the latest supported images.
• Examples of system-required input variables.

OS and Cloud Support: 

MultiCloud Marketplace Link: http://www.rightscale.com/library/se.../lineage/44065

Known Limitations: 

Notes: 

RHEL Support for Open Cloud

RHEL is not supported for Rackspace Open Cloud due to subscription manager issues. It is currently being worked on and will be released as a Maintenance release soon. Please contact support if you have any questions.

Sync for Postgres Database Manager ServerTemplate

If the sync state for the database is changed from its default using the "db_postgres::do_set_slave_sync_mode" recipe, it will get reset after reboot. It is only a known limitation for v13.5 because of the new code change. All prior versions are not affected by this limitation.