Using Remote Build Servers
*Note: A license is required in order to use Remote Build Servers.
Remote Build Server enhance the build to release processes by allowing tasks in the Workflow, such as builds, to be distributed across multiple machines and operating systems. Remote Build Server can be used to support distributed builds, parallel builds, multi-platform builds, multi-language builds and distributed builds.
A distributed build is one in which individual steps in the Workflow are sent to be executed on multiple machines. In doing this you are able to leverage more machine power instead of attempting to run the entire Workflow on a single machine.
Remote Build Servers also support parallel builds. A Parallel build executes Workflows for each unique stage of the development lifecycle including continuous integration builds for developers, pre-production builds for testers and emergency builds for production control. A Remote Build Server can be configured to execute builds according to the location that the binaries will be distributed.
Workflows can be configured to call Remote Build Servers that are running different operating systems and languages. This allows you to execute a Workflow that builds the application across multiple operating systems or build specific components of the application on the appropriate machine. For example, a Workflow that needs to build Windows .Net components as well as AIX Oracle back-end components would use two Remote Build Servers one for Windows and one for AIX.
Remote Build Servers can also be used as 'dedicated build machines'. A dedicated “Build Machine” is often bigger and faster than a regular desktop machine. The dedicated build machine would be configured as a Remote Build Server in which Workflows could be executed in order to improve the workflow processing.
When a Remote Build Server is installed, it is displayed as an "available" machine from the Workflow Explorer. In addition to "My Computer", your local machine, the names of all available Remote Build Servers will be displayed. Workflows can be configured to execute on the Remote Build Server in the same way as on your local computer ( My Computer).
*Note: When Workflows are executed on a Remote Build Server the Remote Build Server must be configured with the specific compilers and development tools as well as have access to all source code and reference libraries needed for the build. For example, if you are executing a script that performs a cd in a mybuild directory, the mybuild directory must exist on the Remote Build machine.
Distributing Builds and
Workflows across multiple Remote Build Servers
Setting up Workflow Activities to run
on Remote Build Servers
Running Remote Workflows From the
Command Line and External Tools