Updated March 17, 2023
Difference Between Ansible and Puppet
In this article, we will see an outline of Ansible vs Puppet. These are configuration management tools (CM Tools) through which the deployment and other tasks are handled. Nowadays, DevOps engineers are handling multiple applications, and all the complex tasks are handled by these CM tools. There are many tools, but ansible and puppet are most used among IT corridors. Configuration management is a very vital process, and it needs to support continuous integration. These tools become very handy when the admin is trying to work and deploy on multiple servers with just a click, and this is possible by both the tools which are under this discussion.
Head to Head Comparison Between Ansible and Puppet (Infographics)
Below is the top 10 comparison between Ansible vs Puppet:
Key Differences between Ansible and Puppet
Let’s discuss the top comparison between Ansible vs Puppet:
1. Ansible
- Ansible was introduced by Red Hat in the year 2012, completely developed in python, and its purpose to support fast deployment features. The market share is a bit smaller compared to the puppet since the puppet is much older and popular. Since python is built in Linux and Unix-based systems getting Ansible to run up is a lot easier.
- Ansible can accept command in almost all the available languages, which is a big benefit factor. Ansible has lots of sub-modules that can support a large number of integrations like AWS, etc. Ansible uses YAML syntax to push the changes or the configurations to the different nodes.
2. Puppet
- A puppet was introduced way early in the year 2005 and has significantly raised its market share in the configuration management industry. It is written in Ruby language and written by Luke Kanies.
- It is open-source and can run on all major platforms Unix, Windows, Mac, Linux, etc. Most of the large organizations like Oracle and Google are using puppet for their deployment purpose. There is also an enterprise version available with the Puppet CM tool.
Comparison Table of Ansible vs Puppet
The table below summarizes the comparisons between Ansible vs Puppet:
| Category | Ansible | Puppet |
| Management and Scheduling (Both use push and pull configurations) | In Ansible, the server pushes the configuration to the nodes for better and faster deployment of code. A free version of it does not have a better option when it comes to scheduling, but the enterprise version gives some services but not efficient as its competitor puppet. |
In puppet, configuration gets pulled by the client from the respective server.
For every thirty minutes, it checks on the status of nodes that are performed by the puppet agent. |
| Language | Ansible is completely written in Python, and it uses YAML syntax to express or write configurations. | Puppet is written in Ruby, and it uses its declarative language. It is used by the puppet to form the configurations. |
| Scalability | Scalability is more convenient and simpler when it comes to ansible. | Puppet also supports high scalability but lacks in comparison with ansible. |
| Setting up and Usage | It has a master, and there are no agents that run on the client machine for Ansible and uses YAML syntax to write configurations. Almost all the complex tasks are managed by these configuration files, and the commands can be of any programing language. | It is very easy to install and use. It uses a client-server architecture, and its installation can be done on multiple servers together. |
| Error and Failure Handling | In case of ansible, there will be any notification to the admin regarding any syntax failure until the task runs. Once the task fails, then the admin can validate and perform a rerun. It should be noted that YAML is a bit difficult for the debug. | In puppet, even though it is complicated in a few features compared with ansible, there are many advantages. In case of any syntax errors, the error gets highlighted before the task runs, and it makes it easier for the admin to do the modifications. |
| Availability in Case of Failures | Availability will have lesser concerns in case of ansible as there will secondary node available in case of any nodal failure. | In puppet, there will be multiple master servers, and even if one of the original master fails, it won’t hamper the task, and failure can be handled easily. |
| Repository | Ansible Galaxy is the repository of Ansible. | Puppet forge is the repository of puppet, and it has around 6000 modules that are supported by Puppet. |
| Support | Ansible had its inception in 2012; hence it has restricted the developer community, and also lesser resources are available on the web for any troubleshooting purpose. | Since puppet availability was from 2005, and it has a wider market share, there is better support available in terms of the developer community with a better knowledge base. There are also numerous debug scenarios available on the web that can help the associate to handle the failure or error. There is also standard and premium level professional support that will be provided. |
| User Interface UI | At the time of its inception, Ansible was used only through the command line. Later user interface version got added, but it is not efficient as the puppet, and many have faced sync issues with CLI and UI modes with Ansible. | It has the option of both CLI (Command Line Interface), which is written in Ruby and GUI (Graphical User Interface). GUI feature more interactive than ansible when it comes to viewing and managing complex tasks. |
| Commercial Pricing | At a basic level, the ansible is a free and open-source DevOps tool. But at the enterprise level, ansible has three levels of pricing, with the first being $5000 for 100 nodes per year with self-support and second is $10000 per year for 100 nodes with standard support and last is $13000 per year for 100 nodes and falls under the premium category. | Puppet is also a free DevOps tool, but to use it at the enterprise level, we need to pay some charges. Up to 10 nodes, it is free, but $100 for an extra node for the standard edition and $199 for the premium edition. |
Conclusion
Both Puppet and Ansible configuration tools of DevOps have their advantages and disadvantages, and both are being used by industries for deployment purpose, but the former one has a better market share and is also efficient. Depending on various constraints and programing language used, the industry decide upon using which one.
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