cdist vs Ansible

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

cdist is a System & Hardware solution with tags like configuration-management, automation, python.

It boasts features such as Configuration management, Infrastructure as code, Agentless architecture, Parallel execution, Python-based manifests, Customizable via plugins and pros including Lightweight and fast, Easy to get started, Powerful templating capabilities, Good for bootstrapping, Active open source community.

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

Its standout features include 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 it shines with pros like Very simple to set up and use, Powerful automation capabilities, Agentless model reduces resource usage, Playbooks provide infrastructure as code, Active open source community.

Feature	cdist	Ansible
Overall Score	N/A	1
Primary Category	System & Hardware	Network & Admin

Product Overview

cdist

Description: cdist is an open source configuration management tool written in Python. It allows system administrators to define the configuration of servers and deploy it to multiple machines in parallel. cdist works by running small scripts called 'manifests' on remote hosts.

Ansible

Description: 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.

Key Features Comparison

cdist Features

• Configuration management
• Infrastructure as code
• Agentless architecture
• Parallel execution
• Python-based manifests
• Customizable via plugins

Ansible Features

• 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

Pros & Cons Analysis

cdist

Pros

• Lightweight and fast
• Easy to get started
• Powerful templating capabilities
• Good for bootstrapping
• Active open source community

Cons

• Limited adoption and support
• Steep learning curve
• Not ideal for large environments
• No graphical interface

Ansible

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

Pricing Comparison

cdist

• Open Source

Ansible

• Open Source