chef-server-populator cookbook

Creates both admin and validation clients. Installs the public key set within the data bag item. This vastly simplifies the management and recreation process of erchef nodes.

Usage

When bootstrapping with the chef-server cookbook and chef-solo:

• Download and unpack chef-server and chef-server-populator cookbooks
• Upload public keys to be used by clients
• Create json to add client and key information
• Run chef-solo

When converging with chef-client:

• Create data bag to hold data bag item with client information
• Create data bag item with client information
• Set data bag related attributes

Applicable attributes:

• node[:chef_server_populator][:databag] - name of the data bag

Structure of the data bag item:

{
  "id": "client_name",
  "chef_server": {
    "client_key": "public key contents",
    "enabled": true
  }
}

Restoring from a backup:

• Set path to restore file with node[:chef_server_populator][:restore][:file]
• The restore recipe is run if a restore file is set
• The restore file can be remote or local

When enabling backups:

• Include chef-server-populator::restore recipe
• Set backup cron interval with node[:chef_server_populator][:schedule]
• Optionally set a remote storage location with node[:chef_server_populator][:backup][:remote][:connection]
• Backups include both a pg_dump of the entire chef database and a tarball of the bookshelf data directory

Extras

Need to use the IP address of the node for a bit, or another name instead of having node[:fqdn]?

• node[:chef_server_populator][:servername_override]

Keep chef server configured via chef client:

• node[:chef_server_populator][:chef_server]

If the hash is non-empty, it will write the chef-server dna.json and trigger a reconfigure when ever the attributes are updated.

Examples

Take a look in the examples directory for basic bootstrap templates that will build a new erchef server, using existing keys and client, and register itself, or restore an existing chef server from a backup.

Info

• Repository: https://github.com/hw-cookbooks/chef-server-populator
• IRC: Freenode @ #heavywater