1367545 - Switch updates.bugzilla.org to be a Github pages site

Status: NEW

(Bugzilla :: bugzilla.org, enhancement)

Description

[Gervase Markham [:gerv]]

We currently run a dedicated KVM VM to serve a single file on updates.bugzilla.org. This is because it used to be on Landfill but we were worried about security. In 2017, it would make far more sense for this to be a small dedicated Github repo (with access control) and for the file to be served using Github Pages. That's one fewer VM to maintain and worry about.

The only potential problem with that is that Github Pages does not support HTTPS for custom domains. But then we aren't using HTTPS now, so...

Gerv

Comment 1

[Teemu Mannermaa (:wicked)]

I don't think the original worry was security but rather stability as landfill was (and is) a development server. So the intention was for the KVM VM to be something that would be almost always up and running. Having this XML snippet offline means that all Bugzilla installs all over the world will show an error. I believe only in their admin pages but still.

Please don't forget we also generate "Active Bugzilla Installs" statistics based on the accesses to the XML. There's Perl code running on the server that calculates the graph available at http://updates.bugzilla.org/active/.

Problem for our KVM VMs are that they are on a physical server that needs to be shut down sooner than later. Original plan was to migrate the site to one of our VMWare Cluster VMs (don't remember which, probably the same that runs ours mailing lists) as long as Mozilla allows us to use them still.

Note that I'm not against different migration paths you are suggesting or if that means the stats are no longer generated. After all, it's up to you guys to decide what you want or don't want.

Comment 2

[Dave Miller [:justdave]]

Ah, yeah, I don't think GitHub gives us access stats for the web pages.  Forgot about the stats page.  We could probably host this site on the mail server instead of having a separate VM for it though.  And we can certainly make a git repo to house the file so it can be updated without needing direct access to the machine.

Comment 3

[Gervase Markham [:gerv]]

It's making the file easier to update that is the important thing for me. Although I think that graph doesn't necessarily show Bugzilla in the best light either! :-)

You can get access stats for Github pages by embedding tracking code, but of course that doesn't work for an XML download.

Gerv

Comment 4

[Gervase Markham [:gerv]]

Dylan: do you see value in the stats at http://updates.bugzilla.org/active/?

Gerv