• Home
  • Site Aliases
    • www.cloud-native.info
    • oracle.cloud-native.info
    • Phil-Wilkins.uk
  • About
    • Background
    • Presenting Activities
    • Internet Profile
      • LinkedIn
    • About
  • Books & Publications
    • Logging in Action with Fluentd, Kubernetes and More
      • Logging in Action with Fluentd – Book
      • Fluentd Book Resources
      • Log Generator
    • API & API Platform
      • API Useful Resources
    • Oracle Integration
      • Book Website
      • Useful Reading Sources
    • Publication Contributions
  • Resources
    • GitHub
    • Mindmaps Index
    • Oracle Integration Site
    • Useful Tech Resources …
      • Oracle Tech Resources inc Open Source
      • Useful Tech Resources
      • Python Setup & related stuff
  • Music

Phil (aka MP3Monster)'s Blog

~ from Technology to Music

Phil (aka MP3Monster)'s Blog

Tag Archives: Pulp

Mastering Puppet Review

09 Tuesday Sep 2014

Posted by mp3monster in Books, General, Technology

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

book, EasticSearch, Foreman, Kibana, Logstash, mCollective, Packt, Pulp, Puppet, review, Ruby, Splunk, Thomas Uphill, YAML

Packt’s Mastering Puppet kicks off with substantial first chapter on how to setup Puppet in a manner that can then scale. The core of this is driven by an explanation of the constituent parts of a Puppet solution and where the workload is. In terms of execution this is as much about understanding the configuration of things like Apache, Passenger and Ningx as it is Puppet. As part of the explanation there are indicative numbers in terms of supportable scale which reflects the knowledge of the product.

Looking at configuration distribution for headless deployments with Git is a solid well considered piece and the writing suggests considers all the needs of a solid deployment of a production quality solution such as access control, whilst supporting collaborative working etc. it would be interesting to have seen how that would have stacked against capabilities such as Zookeeper.

As we move through the chapters the books continues with more advanced themes such as using Hiera as a object hierarchical framework for managing configuration and on into leveraging Puppet forge and various Git repositories (and the challenges when linking to git repositories of the latest code vs a release). With the repositories we can draw in additional tooling and how to incorporate these capabilities into a deployment. This includes looking at several modules that practical experience from the author would recommend.

By chapter 6 we’re into writing our own custom modules and facts and deploying them. So you can do things such as create modules to manage your custom solutions.

The next natural step is to look at the reporting aspects of Puppet, orchestration through marionette collective (mCollective). Obviously to report you need to gather the activity information, so the book touches on the out of the box (OOTB) approach and moves onto the idea of using IRC; presentation via Foreman and Puppet Dashboard. Finally then with a reporting view, the next step is to dynamically query the nodes in Puppet environment which uses mcollective to communicate back & forth with the nodes.

So now we have a dynamically configurable set of Nodes, which can report and have dynamic querying against the nodes.  Final chapters cover the use of things like PuppetDB, roles & profiles and developing and debugging your puppet environment.

Reading the book, I get the feeling that a fair grasp of Linux system administration would help (i.e. a bit more than the average developer). There are a few useful touches that I think could have been included, such as external references such as man pages for RPM or site for the Pulp tool mentioned. But, as criticisms go, this as much me being too lazy to Google. The only other refinement would be inclusion of some diagrams to support the words. As they say a picture can tell a 1000 words, even if this was to just show the hierarchy or directory structures involved.

Compared to the recently reviewed Puppet Reporting book, this book isn’t for someone starting out with Puppet (but the Packt site says as much). You atleast need to have got some basic understanding or practical exposure to Puppet,  and exposure to a development environment is an added bonus.  So if you’re setting out with Puppet you might consider starting with the Puppet 3 Beginner’s Guide (Amazon) or Instant Puppet 3 Starter (Amazon).  Having got those under your belt, try this book to to really develop the use of Puppet configuration and deployment.  When it comes to reporting I’d look at this book along with reporting book (reviewed here).  This book feels like more options are on offer, but Puppet Reporting is a lot richer (but you’d expect that given the different book emphasis).

In summary – good solid book, full of practical experience and ideas.  But don’t try to use this as a jumpstart to Puppet.

Below are a few links I thought might be helpful as they aren’t in the book:

  • YAML – human readable serialization format
  • Pulp – software repository management app
  • Ruby – Open Source OO programming language
  • Foreman – tool capable of extending puppet to deliver PXE capabilities along with capabilities such as reporting
  • Splunk – BigData style analytics on log files etc
  • Elasticsearch / Logstash / Kibana (ELK) – set of tools to provide analytics against log files
  • ActiveMQ – Apache implementation of a JMS compliant messaging solution used my mcollective

Mastering Puppet at Amazon.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Print
  • Pocket
  • Email
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • WhatsApp
  • Skype

Like this:

Like Loading...

Aliases

  • phil-wilkins.uk
  • cloud-native.info
  • oracle.cloud-native.info

I work for Oracle, all opinions here are my own & do not necessarily reflect the views of Oracle

Oracle Ace Director Alumni

TOGAF 9

Logging in Action

Oracle Cloud Integration Book

API Platform Book

Oracle Dev Meetup London

Categories

  • App Ideas
  • Books
    • Book Reviews
    • manning
    • Oracle Press
    • Packt
  • Enterprise architecture
  • General
    • economy
    • LinkedIn
    • Website
  • Music
    • Music Resources
    • Music Reviews
  • Photography
  • Technology
    • APIs & microservices
    • chatbots
    • Cloud
    • Cloud Native
    • Dev Meetup
    • development
      • languages
        • node.js
    • drone
    • Fluentd
    • logsimulator
    • mindmap
    • OMESA
    • Oracle
      • API Platform CS
        • tools
      • Helidon
      • ITSO & OEAF
      • Java Cloud
      • NodeJS Cloud
      • OIC – ICS
      • Oracle Cloud Native
      • OUG
    • TOGAF
  • xxRetired

Twitter

  • RT @Apress: To be a #developer is an ongoing commitment to learning. Stay current and relevant by learning a new language, building somethi…Next Tweet: 1 hour ago
  • Demo Fluentd using Ubuntu with optional inclusion of OpenSearch and OCI Log Analytics blog.mp3monster.org/2022/08/17/dem…Next Tweet: 11 hours ago
  • Experience @OracleCloud services from within a single project and explore #CloudNative services offered by #OCI in… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…Next Tweet: 1 day ago
  • Analyst @holgermu of @ConstellationR reviews @OracleLinux #AutomationManager. See what sets it apart from competito… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…Next Tweet: 1 day ago
  • RT @soacommunity: Bringing it all together – OIC + OHIP + Simphony by Niall Commiskey paascommunity.com/2022/08/15/bri…Next Tweet: 2 days ago
Follow @mp3monster

OraWorld

OraWorld

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 620 other followers

Blogs I Follow

  • Christopher's Blog
  • MiddlewarEArchitecT
  • Site Title
  • All about modern software technologies & architectures
  • Rick's blog
  • A journey in development
  • Phil (aka MP3Monster)'s Blog
  • RedThunder.Blog
  • A millennial's musings
  • Shalindra's Blogs
  • BTplusMore
  • Creativenauts
  • PaaS Community Blog
  • RedStack
  • Musings of an Enterprise Software Technologist
  • The Open Group Blog
  • SutoCom Solutions
  • Rob's Wall Of Music
  • DataCentricSec.com
  • A World of Events

My Other Web Content & Contributions

  • All My Links
  • Amazon Author entry
  • API Platform
  • Dev Meetup (co-managed)
  • Fluentd Book
  • GitHub
  • http://phil-wilkins.uk/
  • ICS Book Website
  • Mindmaps
  • Monster's Photos
  • my Capgemini Profile
  • OMESA
  • Oracle Community Directory
  • Packt Author Bio
  • Phil on Blogs.Oracle.com

RSS

RSS Feed RSS - Posts

RSS Feed RSS - Comments

Calendar

August 2022
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031  
« Jul    

Other Pages

  • About
    • Internet Profile
    • Presenting Activities
  • Books & Publications
    • API & API Platform
      • API Useful Resources
      • Useful Reading Sources
    • Logging in Action with Fluentd, Kubernetes and More
    • Oracle Integration
  • Mindmaps Index
  • Useful Tech Resources
    • Oracle Tech Resources inc Open Source
    • Python Setup & related tips

Speaker Recognition

Open Source Summit Speaker

Flickr Pics

Sound InstallationSound InstallationSound InstallationSound Installation
More Photos

History

Goodreads

OraNA

Aggregated by OraNA

Blogroll

  • A Journey in Development
  • A Neate Blog
  • Amy Simpson Grange blog
  • Blog by Robert van Mölken (co-author on ICS book)
  • Developer Community
  • Exigency In Specie
  • Flexagon (FlexDepoy)
  • GitHub
  • http://phil-wilkins.uk/
  • Ora World
  • PaaS Community
  • SOA4U

Calendar

August 2022
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031  
« Jul    

Categories

  • App Ideas
  • Books
    • Book Reviews
    • manning
    • Oracle Press
    • Packt
  • Enterprise architecture
  • General
    • economy
    • LinkedIn
    • Website
  • Music
    • Music Resources
    • Music Reviews
  • Photography
  • Technology
    • APIs & microservices
    • chatbots
    • Cloud
    • Cloud Native
    • Dev Meetup
    • development
      • languages
        • node.js
    • drone
    • Fluentd
    • logsimulator
    • mindmap
    • OMESA
    • Oracle
      • API Platform CS
        • tools
      • Helidon
      • ITSO & OEAF
      • Java Cloud
      • NodeJS Cloud
      • OIC – ICS
      • Oracle Cloud Native
      • OUG
    • TOGAF
  • xxRetired

Twitter

  • RT @Apress: To be a #developer is an ongoing commitment to learning. Stay current and relevant by learning a new language, building somethi…Next Tweet: 1 hour ago
  • Demo Fluentd using Ubuntu with optional inclusion of OpenSearch and OCI Log Analytics blog.mp3monster.org/2022/08/17/dem…Next Tweet: 11 hours ago
  • Experience @OracleCloud services from within a single project and explore #CloudNative services offered by #OCI in… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…Next Tweet: 1 day ago
  • Analyst @holgermu of @ConstellationR reviews @OracleLinux #AutomationManager. See what sets it apart from competito… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…Next Tweet: 1 day ago
  • RT @soacommunity: Bringing it all together – OIC + OHIP + Simphony by Niall Commiskey paascommunity.com/2022/08/15/bri…Next Tweet: 2 days ago
Follow @mp3monster

Flickr Pics

Sound InstallationSound InstallationSound InstallationSound Installation
More Photos

My Other Web Content & Contributions

  • All My Links
  • Amazon Author entry
  • API Platform
  • Dev Meetup (co-managed)
  • Fluentd Book
  • GitHub
  • http://phil-wilkins.uk/
  • ICS Book Website
  • Mindmaps
  • Monster's Photos
  • my Capgemini Profile
  • OMESA
  • Oracle Community Directory
  • Packt Author Bio
  • Phil on Blogs.Oracle.com

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 620 other followers

History

Other Pages

  • About
    • Internet Profile
    • Presenting Activities
  • Books & Publications
    • API & API Platform
      • API Useful Resources
      • Useful Reading Sources
    • Logging in Action with Fluentd, Kubernetes and More
    • Oracle Integration
  • Mindmaps Index
  • Useful Tech Resources
    • Oracle Tech Resources inc Open Source
    • Python Setup & related tips

RSS

RSS Feed RSS - Posts

RSS Feed RSS - Comments

Social

  • View @mp3monster’s profile on Twitter
  • View philwilkins’s profile on LinkedIn
  • View mp3monster’s profile on GitHub
  • View mp3monster’s profile on Flickr
  • View philmp3monster’s profile on Twitch
Follow Phil (aka MP3Monster)'s Blog on WordPress.com

Blog at WordPress.com.

Christopher's Blog

MiddlewarEArchitecT

Site Title

All about modern software technologies & architectures

Cloud-native, technology and software architecture

Rick's blog

End-to-End OIC to SAP integration

A journey in development

A blog-post by blog-post journey of a ERP Cloud Solutions Degree Apprentice

Phil (aka MP3Monster)'s Blog

from Technology to Music

RedThunder.Blog

Demystifying cloud technologies...

A millennial's musings

Shalindra's Blogs

Technofunctional Blogs

BTplusMore

Business, Technology and more

Creativenauts

Personal, design, inspiration, interests.

PaaS Community Blog

by Jürgen Kress

RedStack

Oracle Database and Cloud Stuff

Musings of an Enterprise Software Technologist

My thoughts on Enterprise Software Technologies...and more.

The Open Group Blog

Achieving business objectives through technology standards

SutoCom Solutions

Success & Satisfaction with the Cloud

Rob's Wall Of Music

Thoughts of a lifelong music hoarder...

DataCentricSec.com

A World of Events

A Blog for Event and Data Analytics

  • Follow Following
    • Phil (aka MP3Monster)'s Blog
    • Join 620 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Phil (aka MP3Monster)'s Blog
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Our Cookie Policy
%d bloggers like this: