JumpBox saves you time and headaches by building virtual machines that handle all the mundane tasks related to installing and managing server based software. With a JumpBox there's no fiddling with database scripts, no editing configuration files and no worrying about whether or not you have the right version of library X to go with library Y. A JumpBox captures everything required to run an application together to create single unit that just works. This isn't software as a service, it's software that you download and run on computers that you control to give you a private installation of the software. JumpBox makes the process so much easier you'll never want to manually install an application again.

It Just Works

The magic in a JumpBox is in the use of virtualization software (learn more) like VMWare or Parallels (see full list) to deliver a fully pre-installed virtual computer that "just works". And even better, it "just works" regardless of whether you use Mac OS X, Windows or Linux as your host operating system.

For basic installation there's no command line, no installer and it won't interfere with anything else on your system. As a bonus, throwing a JumpBox away is just as easy as getting it running and it won't leave any cruft behind like installer based systems. This makes it trivial to try and evaluate the software without worrying about it mucking up your computer.

Want to install multiple apps or different versions of the same app? Just fire up a new JumpBox and run them side by side on the same computer. There's no worrying about conflicts as each JumpBox is isolated and protected from the others.

The JumpBox Library

We've built a library of JumpBoxes around some of the most powerful Open Source applications available. These applications are well known for their quality and usefulness but are notorious for the difficulty involved in getting them installed and functioning correctly. That pain is doubly true for people using Windows or Mac OS X. JumpBox makes it quick and easy regardless of platform.

Wiki, project management, bug tracking, customer service, blog, CRM, content management, JumpBoxes exist for all kinds of applications and provide a ready collection of tools to help you be more productive. Peruse the library and you're sure to find something that's useful.

Going Beyond Installation

While getting an application installed is a great help, the benefit of using a JumpBox doesn't end there. JumpBoxes also include a web based interface to help you manage the application and a built in backup/restore system so that you can easily protect your data. If something happens to your JumpBox, you just grab another copy of the JumpBox, restore it from the latest backup and you're right back in business.

What Do You Use These Things For

JumpBoxes are a great tool for many uses.

• They're awesome for quick trials of software. They allow you to focus on evaluating the app without worrying about getting it installed. For instance we offer several different Wikis that you can download and try in a fraction of the time normally required. When your evaluation is done, simply pick the one you like the most and put the JumpBox into production.
• They're a great tool for development and experimentation. Have a production deployment of an app but want a local copy to test things out on? Use a JumpBox for a simple isolated installation that you don't have to worry about breaking.
• They're a great solution for people who want to run linux based software on a Mac or Windows. Some of the apps we distribute are almost impossible to get working in those environments, but with a JumpBox it's easy and just takes a few minutes.
• They're perfect for those little uses where taking the time to install an app manually just can't be justified. Getting a JumpBox running takes almost no time so it's a great solution when you just need to get something up quickly.
• They're great for small project usage where there's no permanent server infrastructure available. Just fire up a JumpBox on a desktop computer and everyone in the project can easily access it. If the project takes off and a more robust deployment is required; simply back it up, start a new instance on a server based virtualization system and restore the state to get right back to work.
• They're great for ad-hoc usage where multiple people are involved. Maybe you're working in a coffee shop with some friends and want to coordinate your efforts with a Wiki, just bring up a JumpBox on one of your laptops and you're ready to go. If that person needs to leave you can simply move the JumpBox to another computer. After you're done you can either give everyone a copy of the JumpBox or simply move it to a more permanent location.

These are just a few scenarios to get you thinking. We're sure that once you get used to working with server software in this much simpler format you'll discover many other ways to use JumpBoxes.