Bamboo Server

Basic Information

Atlassian Bamboo Server is a continuous integration (CI) and continuous deployment (CD) server designed to automate the build, test, and release processes in software development. Originally released in 2007, it facilitates end-to-end traceability from code commits to deployments.

• Model: Atlassian Bamboo Server
• Version: The latest stable version for the Server product line is effectively superseded by its End of Life. For the successor, Bamboo Data Center, version 11.0 is the latest.
• Release Date: Bamboo was first released in 2007.
• Minimum Requirements: Minimum requirements vary significantly based on the scale and complexity of operations. For small teams with light server use and limited concurrent building, a 4-core CPU and 4 GB RAM are suggested.
• Supported Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows and Linux are supported for server nodes.
• Latest Stable Version: As Atlassian Bamboo Server reached its End of Life, there is no ongoing "latest stable version" for this specific deployment model. The latest version for the actively supported Data Center product is 11.0.
• End of Support Date: Atlassian ended support for Bamboo Server on February 15, 2024.
• End of Life Date: Atlassian Bamboo Server reached its End of Life (EOL) on February 15, 2024.
• Auto-update Expiration Date: With the End of Life on February 15, 2024, no further updates, including auto-updates, are provided for Bamboo Server.
• License Type: Proprietary, paid subscription. Licensing for the Data Center model is typically per-agent.
• Deployment Model: On-premises. Bamboo Data Center, the successor, offers a clustered deployment for high availability and scalability.

Technical Requirements

Atlassian Bamboo Server's technical requirements are dynamic, scaling with the workload and team size. It operates as a pure Java application, necessitating a full Java Development Kit (JDK) installation.

• RAM: Ranges from 4 GB for small teams (10-20 plans, little concurrent building) to 16 GB for large teams/departments (1000s of plans, high concurrency). Remote agents may require additional RAM, with 16 GB per agent proving beneficial for concurrent builds.
• Processor: Recommended from 4 cores for small teams to 16 cores for large teams/departments. Atlassian officially supports x86 and 64-bit x86-derived hardware platforms.
• Storage: The Bamboo installation is approximately 140 MB. An additional 20 GB is recommended for operational data, though actual needs depend on the number of plans, tests, and artifact sizes.
• Display: Standard display resolution suitable for web-based applications.
• Ports: Standard network ports for HTTP/HTTPS communication.
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows and Linux are supported for server nodes. Agents can also run on macOS.

Analysis of Technical Requirements

The technical requirements for Bamboo Server are highly dependent on the specific use case, emphasizing scalability. Organizations must carefully assess their expected build concurrency, number of plans, and artifact storage needs to provision appropriate hardware. The reliance on a full JDK and the strong recommendation for an external, dedicated relational database (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, MSSQL) for production environments highlight its enterprise-grade architecture. The system is designed to run on standard x86-based hardware, making it compatible with most modern server infrastructures.

Support & Compatibility

Atlassian Bamboo Server has transitioned to an End of Life status, impacting its support and compatibility landscape. The focus has shifted to its successor, Bamboo Data Center.

• Latest Version: For Bamboo Server, support has ended. For Bamboo Data Center, version 11.0 is the latest.
• OS Support: Server nodes support Microsoft Windows and Linux. Agents support Microsoft Windows, Linux, and macOS (including Apple silicon for Data Center).
• End of Support Date: February 15, 2024, for Bamboo Server. Specific Data Center versions have varying end-of-support dates, with 11.0 supported until April 30, 2027.
• Localization: Standard enterprise software localization options are available.
• Available Drivers: Requires appropriate JDBC drivers for external databases like Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MSSQL. Some are bundled, while others require separate installation.

Analysis of Overall Support & Compatibility Status

The End of Life for Atlassian Bamboo Server means it no longer receives official support, security patches, or updates, posing significant risks for continued use. Users are strongly encouraged to migrate to Bamboo Data Center, which offers ongoing support, including Long Term Support (LTS) releases, and is actively developed. Compatibility is strong within the Atlassian ecosystem, with native integrations for Jira and Bitbucket. It supports various JDK versions (Java 11, 17, 21 depending on the Bamboo Data Center version) and popular relational databases. Agent support extends to macOS, providing flexibility for build environments.

Security Status

Atlassian Bamboo incorporates several security features to protect sensitive data and operations, though vigilance in applying updates is crucial.

• Security Features: Includes a central encryption service for sensitive data at rest (e.g., variables, shared credentials, repository configurations) using AES-256 with a 256-bit key length. Data in transit is secured via transport-level encryption (SSL for JMS and web interfaces, encrypted tunnels for elastic agents). Manual encryption for sensitive data within Bamboo Specs is also supported. Database and Tomcat server.xml passwords can be encrypted.
• Known Vulnerabilities: Recent high-severity vulnerabilities have been identified and patched, including authenticated remote code execution (CVE-2024-21689), denial-of-service (CVE-2024-29857), and SQL injection (CVE-2024-1597).
• Blacklist Status: No known blacklist status.
• Certifications: Not publicly detailed.
• Encryption Support: AES-256 for data at rest. SSL/TLS for data in transit. Supports various algorithms (AES, DES, DESede) for database password encryption.
• Authentication Methods: Integrates with Atlassian products. Bamboo Data Center supports Single Sign-On (SSO) via SAML, OpenID Connect, and Atlassian Crowd.
• General Recommendations: Prompt application of security patches and updates is critical. Secure the server hosting Bamboo and its database. For Linux installations, running Bamboo under a dedicated user is recommended to mitigate potential abuse.

Analysis on the Overall Security Rating

Atlassian Bamboo provides robust security mechanisms, including strong encryption for data at rest and in transit, and support for enterprise authentication methods. However, like any complex software, it is subject to vulnerabilities, as evidenced by recent high-severity issues. Atlassian actively releases patches, making timely updates essential for maintaining a secure environment. The End of Life status for Bamboo Server means it no longer receives these critical security updates, rendering it highly vulnerable. Therefore, migrating to the actively supported Bamboo Data Center is imperative for a secure CI/CD pipeline.

Performance & Benchmarks

Atlassian Bamboo is designed for scalable performance, particularly in its Data Center offering, to handle diverse CI/CD workloads.

• Benchmark Scores: Specific, publicly available benchmark scores are not provided.
• Real-world Performance Metrics: Supports parallel builds and a scalable agent architecture, allowing for increased throughput as demand grows. Performance is directly influenced by the underlying hardware, the number of concurrent builds, and the complexity of build plans. Bamboo Data Center offers high availability and improved performance for demanding enterprise workloads.
• Power Consumption: Not publicly available.
• Carbon Footprint: Not publicly available.
• Comparison with Similar Assets: Compared to Jenkins, Bamboo is often cited for its user-friendly interface and seamless integration with other Atlassian products (Jira, Bitbucket). Jenkins, being open-source, offers greater customization through a vast plugin ecosystem and has a larger community. Bamboo's proprietary nature comes with licensing costs, unlike the free Jenkins.

Analysis of the Overall Performance Status

Bamboo's performance is highly scalable and configurable, adapting to various team sizes and project complexities. Its Data Center edition is specifically engineered for enterprise-level performance, offering high availability and resilience. While direct benchmark figures are not readily available, its architecture supports efficient parallel processing and distributed builds. The tight integration with the Atlassian suite can streamline workflows, potentially leading to performance gains within that ecosystem. However, the performance of its UI can degrade under heavy load. For optimal performance, careful hardware provisioning based on anticipated load is crucial.

User Reviews & Feedback

User reviews and feedback for Atlassian Bamboo highlight its strengths in integration and ease of use, alongside some limitations.

• Strengths: Users frequently praise its seamless integration with other Atlassian products like Jira, Bitbucket, and Confluence, providing excellent traceability and a unified development workflow. The user-friendly interface and built-in deployment projects are also considered significant advantages, simplifying setup and configuration. Its scalability, support for parallel builds, and robust deployment management are valued, especially for teams already embedded in the Atlassian ecosystem. The Data Center edition is noted for its enterprise-grade resilience and high availability features.
• Weaknesses: A primary concern is its proprietary nature and associated per-agent licensing costs, which can be a barrier for smaller teams or open-source projects, especially when compared to free alternatives like Jenkins. The absence of a fully managed SaaS offering (requiring on-premises or Data Center deployment) is also a point of feedback. Users note that its plugin marketplace is smaller than Jenkins', limiting third-party extensions. Some feedback indicates that the UI can be slower under large-scale builds or heavy configurations, and test reporting/log exploration might feel rudimentary. The End of Life for the Server product line is a critical weakness, forcing migration.
• Recommended Use Cases: Atlassian Bamboo is highly recommended for organizations and teams that are already heavily invested in the Atlassian product suite (Jira, Bitbucket, Confluence) and seek deep, native integration for their CI/CD pipelines. It is particularly suitable for enterprises requiring built-in high availability, disaster recovery, centralized upgrades, and predictable licensing with vendor SLAs. It also serves projects with strict compliance needs due to its native security scans and audit logs.

Summary

Atlassian Bamboo Server, a continuous integration and continuous deployment tool, has been a key component for automating software release processes since 2007. Its primary strengths lie in its deep, native integration with other Atlassian products like Jira and Bitbucket, offering a streamlined and traceable development workflow. Users appreciate its intuitive interface and built-in deployment capabilities, which simplify the management of complex release pipelines. The Data Center version, which has superseded the Server product, further enhances these capabilities with enterprise-grade resilience, high availability, and scalability, making it suitable for demanding environments.

However, the Atlassian Bamboo Server product reached its End of Life on February 15, 2024, meaning it no longer receives official support, security updates, or bug fixes. This critical status renders continued use of the Server edition highly risky due to potential security vulnerabilities and lack of maintenance. Other weaknesses include its proprietary licensing model, which entails costs per agent, contrasting with open-source alternatives. Its plugin ecosystem is also less extensive compared to competitors like Jenkins, and some users report that the UI can experience performance degradation under heavy loads.

For organizations currently using or considering Atlassian Bamboo, the recommendation is unequivocally to migrate to or adopt Atlassian Bamboo Data Center. This transition is essential to ensure ongoing support, receive critical security patches, and benefit from continuous development and new features. Bamboo Data Center is particularly well-suited for teams deeply integrated into the Atlassian ecosystem, offering a robust and scalable solution for enterprise CI/CD needs. For those not tied to the Atlassian suite, alternatives offering greater flexibility or open-source benefits might be more appropriate.

The information provided is based on publicly available data and may vary depending on specific device configurations. For up-to-date information, please consult official manufacturer resources.