Updated March 24, 2023
Introduction to Puppet Alternatives
Puppet is used to manage many servers at a time and uses infrastructure as a code. Also, it is open-source for the configuration and deployment of software and applications. It can be used in Windows and Linux. It makes the system administrators and developers work together with its power of automation. Puppet uses the master-slave configuration, and hence it requires a certificate for client system configuration. This certificate signing is not an easy process. We cannot use puppets in remote areas. Puppet is mostly for administration purposes. Also, other tools are faster than Puppet. These make users reconsider other alternatives for Puppet.
Top 10 Puppet Alternatives
Following are the top 10 and trending alternatives to Puppet.
1. Gitlab
A repository used for hosting and managing web technologies is called Gitlab. A user interface or terminal emulator is not needed in Gitlab as it makes the user perform the tasks inside the browser. Also, the user can access a version control system from a remote location using Gitlab. Complex software is not needed for this tool, and hence storage space can be utilized for other purposes. Also, the user can use a system with limited resources. The codes are written in Ruby or Go language, and hence it has maximum portability. UNIX permission problems will not create an issue over here as it allows the users to bypass the UNIX. There is an integrated text editor, and the user need not use any specific IDE. An issue tracking log can be easily created using Gitlab.
2. Ansible
Ansible tool is created for easy IT automation and configuration. Since the solution is automated, time and resources are saved, and many companies use Ansible. The process is made simple and efficient. Ansible self-documents the process, and anyone can read the process. Coding skills are not required in automating the applications. Agents are not present in Ansible, and hence the tool is secure and reliable. Ansible is one of the popular tools for automation. Simple tasks are done without configuration files. Many built-in modules are present in the tool. Ansible automation is controlled by a framework called Ansible tower. Auditing, access control, and delegation are done in Ansible using Ansible tower. The coding language written in Python is simple and easily understandable by anyone. Less maintenance is required, and the format YAML is written for configuration files. The language is consistently updated, and hence there are no updating problems.
3. Chef
Any complex automation is done in Chef for the system configuration. Chef Infra automates the infrastructure configuration, and hence it makes sure that the system is configured consistently. Codes are written describing the infrastructure development, and the servers enforce the codes into action. Thus fully automated configuration is built. New servers can also be added here. There is a large community supporting Chef, and it provides support to Windows and Linux. The chef is written in Ruby. It can do version control for many applications. Configuration management is done to the entire infrastructure using Chef.
4. Saltstack
Security is provided, and configuration management is done for complex applications. The servers are administered and provisioned with the tool. The open community is very impressive for Salt as it provides a solution for almost all the problems and welcomes changes. We can run Salt with or without an agent. Some services are managed without SSH agents. Salt is scalable to an extent as it can have any number of masters and is known for its redundancy. The configuration files are written in YAML files, which are known for their readability. Client communication is done either via SSH or agents. Saltworks in Windows, Linux, and UNIX and supports Linux and UNIX more.
5. Rudder
The rudder is mostly used for production, and hence continuity is not a property of the tool. We can either use codes to run the tool or through the user interface. Another option to run the tool is through APIs. The tool is very light, and there is no problem in using any number of applications in the tool. Performance is not affected by the number of applications. A plugin is available to connect Rudder with Ansible, and hence the user can be improved. The user interface can run without codes, and hence the user who does not know coding can use Rudder.
6. Cfengine
The tool is written in C, and hence the application is faster than any other tool. Thousands of nodes are easily scaled in the tool due to its decentralized architecture. The tool is very secure, and the records are tracked easily. The users cannot share the codes easily, and hence the things cannot be done fast. The community of Cfengine is supportive and helps the user to be in the correct direction.
7. Nanobox
Developers find it easy to work with Nanobox. The infrastructure tasks are automated inside the tool, which does the creation, configuration, and management of the applications. The environments created in Nanobox can be easily shared with anyone and can be used in any host. There is no downtime in the tool, and the production applications are managed easily. Nanobox produces logs that help in tracking.
8. DCImanager
The servers provisioning is automated, which makes the users manage and control data center equipment. There is a recovery mode for the servers, and the server diagnostics is also done well. Network devises management is done in this tool with VLAN configuration. The server search is done automatically within the tool.
9. Fabric
The tool uses python language, and the command-line tool is used for streamlining purposes. Application deployment and system administration tasks are done easily using this tool.
10. Foreman
The tool helps system administrators to manage the servers throughout the lifecycle of servers. All tasks from provisioning and automation, and configuration management are done with the tool. Orchestration of applications is done faster. Though there is a number of alternatives for Puppet, each tool serves its own purpose. A careful study reveals which tool is necessary for the user application to wither for system admins or developers. the tasks in an easy manner.
Recommended Articles
This is a guide to Puppet Alternatives. Here we discuss the Introduction and various puppet alternatives, including Gitlab, Ansible, Chef, Saltstack, etc. You may also look at the following articles to learn more –
