Ansible vs Puppet

Struggling to choose between Ansible and Puppet? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Ansible is a Network & Admin solution with tags like automation, configuration-management, deployment.

It boasts features such as Agentless architecture, Uses YAML playbooks to define automation tasks, Idempotent execution of tasks, Large library of modules for interacting with different systems, Push-based model for deploying configuration changes, Supports parallel execution of tasks and pros including Very simple to set up and use, Powerful automation capabilities, Agentless model reduces resource usage, Playbooks provide infrastructure as code, Active open source community.

On the other hand, Puppet is a Network & Admin product tagged with configuration-management, automation, infrastructure-automation.

Its standout features include Configuration Management, Infrastructure Automation, Continuous Delivery, and it shines with pros like Powerful DSL for infrastructure automation, Large ecosystem of modules and plugins, Agentless architecture, Cross-platform support.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

Ansible

Ansible

Ansible, an open-source automation tool for configuration management, application deployment, and task orchestration. Using a simple, human-readable language, Ansible enables efficient automation of IT infrastructure. It streamlines complex tasks, promotes consistency, and empowers teams to manage infrastructure as code.

Categories:
automation configuration-management deployment

Ansible Features

  1. Agentless architecture
  2. Uses YAML playbooks to define automation tasks
  3. Idempotent execution of tasks
  4. Large library of modules for interacting with different systems
  5. Push-based model for deploying configuration changes
  6. Supports parallel execution of tasks

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Very simple to set up and use

Powerful automation capabilities

Agentless model reduces resource usage

Playbooks provide infrastructure as code

Active open source community

Cons

Limited Windows support compared to Linux

Steeper learning curve than some other tools

Not ideal for large, complex environments without additional orchestration

Upgrades can sometimes break playbooks


Puppet

Puppet

Puppet is an open source configuration management and automation tool. It helps system administrators manage IT infrastructure by automating repetitive tasks, enforcing desired state configuration, and increasing efficiency.

Categories:
configuration-management automation infrastructure-automation

Puppet Features

  1. Configuration Management
  2. Infrastructure Automation
  3. Continuous Delivery

Pricing

  • Open Source
  • Commercial License

Pros

Powerful DSL for infrastructure automation

Large ecosystem of modules and plugins

Agentless architecture

Cross-platform support

Cons

Steep learning curve

Can be complex to set up and manage

Limited UI and reporting capabilities

Not ideal for small environments