Configuration Management Tools

Configuration Management Tools.

What is configuration Management?

• Resolves configuration drift
• Maintaining desired state
• The process of systematically handling chnages to a system
• Maintain integrity of a system over time
• Automation plays an key role
  • Puppet
  • Ansibel
  • Chef
  • Salt

Examples

Ansible

• Open Source
• Declarative configuration
• YAML configuration files
• No control server needed - but ansible tower available
• No agents needed, just python and ssh

Puppet

• Declarative configuration
• Manage state through a UI
• Custom modules use puppet DSL
• Pushes chnages to clients using control server and agents installed on clients.

Chef

• Procedural configuration
• Agent/Server
• Uses chef DSL

Salt

• Declarative configuration
• Agent (minions) /Server (Master) - but can support agentless
• Uses YAML
• Support for event-driven automation

Note:
Idempotent Behavior - is an operation that can be applied multiple times without changing the result beyound the initial application. E.g. 1 x 1 = 1
- Configuration management tools will avoid reapeating tasks.
- The desired state is maintained even if you run it multiple times.

Why use Configuration Management?

• Quick provisioning of New servers
• Quick Recovery from Critical Events
• No more snowflake
• Version controlfor the server Envirnment
• Replaced Environment