Puppet

What is it

With Puppet automation, administrators can define the desired state of various aspects of their infrastructure, such as operating system configurations, application settings, and security policies. Puppet uses a declarative language called the Puppet DSL (Domain-Specific Language) to define these configurations. Administrators write Puppet manifests, which are sets of instructions that specify how resources should be configured and managed.

Puppet operates on a client-server model, where a central Puppet server manages the configurations and distributes them to the Puppet agents running on individual machines. The agents communicate with the server, retrieve the desired configurations, and apply them to their respective systems. Puppet ensures that the configurations remain in the desired state by periodically checking and enforcing the defined configurations.

Why should you learn it

1. High-demand skill: Puppet is widely used in organizations across industries, making proficiency in Puppet a sought-after skill. By learning Puppet, you position yourself as a valuable candidate for job roles that involve configuration management and infrastructure automation.
2. DevOps integration: Puppet plays a crucial role in DevOps practices, which are highly valued in the IT industry. By mastering Puppet, you become well-equipped to work in collaborative DevOps environments, where the integration of development and operations is essential for efficient software delivery.
3. Increased employability: With Puppet expertise, you expand your employability in various job roles, such as DevOps Engineer, Configuration Manager, Systems Administrator, Infrastructure Engineer, or Cloud Engineer. These positions often offer competitive salaries and growth opportunities.
4. Infrastructure scalability: Puppet enables the management of configurations across large-scale infrastructures. By demonstrating your ability to handle scalable infrastructure management, you become an attractive candidate for positions involving the management of complex IT environments.
5. Industry-standard tool: Puppet is an industry-standard tool for configuration management. Many organizations specifically seek professionals who are skilled in Puppet to maintain consistent and reliable configurations. Learning Puppet allows you to meet this demand and increases your chances of landing jobs with reputable companies.
6. Automation proficiency: Automation is a key aspect of modern IT operations. By learning Puppet, you showcase your proficiency in automating configuration tasks, which is highly valued in the industry. This skill set allows you to streamline processes, increase efficiency, and reduce manual errors.
7. Compliance and security expertise: Puppet assists in ensuring compliance with security policies and regulatory requirements by enforcing standardized configurations. Acquiring knowledge in Puppet enables you to contribute to maintaining a secure and compliant IT infrastructure, making you an appealing candidate for organizations with stringent compliance needs.
8. Continuous integration and deployment: Puppet integrates well with CI/CD practices, enabling automated software deployments and smooth release cycles. By mastering Puppet, you demonstrate your ability to support continuous integration and deployment pipelines, a skill that many organizations value for efficient software delivery.

Syllabus

1. Introduction to Agent-based Configuration Management
2. Introduction to concepts of resources and providers
3. Desired State Configuration Management
4. Managing Puppet Infrastructure as a Code
5. Puppet Code Lifecycle
6. Understanding architecture components
7. Installing puppetmaster and puppet agent
8. Implementing Puppet Enterprise GUI
9. Writing Manifests
10. Running Manifests locally
11. Running Manifests on Server
12. Using common resources – file, service, package
13. Automate anything by executing commands through puppet
14. Understanding non sequential coding style
15. Implementing ordering in puppet
16. Dissecting a puppet code run
17. Understanding how to write platform independent code in puppet
18. Using variables
19. Using facter variables
20. Puppet conditionals
21. Use of embedded ruby templates in puppet
22. Implementing modularity in puppet
23. Using third party modules
24. Creating own modules
25. Applying automation modules on agents
26. Automating web services with Puppet

Project

Title: Automating Web Server Deployment with Puppet

Project Description: As the capstone project for our Puppet course, you will have the opportunity to apply your newly acquired skills to automate the deployment of a web server infrastructure using Puppet. This hands-on project will allow you to demonstrate your understanding of configuration management, infrastructure as code, and automation techniques.

Project Goals:

1. Provision a multi-tier web server infrastructure: Design and configure a web server environment consisting of a load balancer, multiple application servers, and a database server.
2. Define and manage configurations with Puppet: Utilize Puppet to define and enforce the desired state of each component within the web server infrastructure. This includes configuring the web server software, optimizing performance settings, setting up virtual hosts, and managing database connections.
3. Automate software deployments: Utilize Puppet to automate the deployment of web applications to the application servers. Implement a streamlined process to ensure efficient and reliable deployment of updates or new releases.

Project Deliverables:

1. Puppet manifests and modules: Provide well-structured Puppet manifests and modules that define the desired state of the web server infrastructure and enable automated deployment.
2. Deployed and functional web server infrastructure: Demonstrate a fully functional web server infrastructure that can be easily scaled and managed using Puppet.
3. Deployment automation scripts: Showcase the automation of web application deployments, allowing for seamless updates and releases.

By completing this capstone project, you will have a tangible demonstration of your Puppet skills, showcasing your ability to automate the deployment and management of a web server infrastructure. This project will not only solidify your understanding of Puppet but also serve as a valuable addition to your portfolio, demonstrating your proficiency in configuration management and infrastructure automation.