Comparison tables

Everyone likes coming up with new words for old concepts. While the different concepts in various products don't always match, it's tempting to make a dictionary that maps the configuration systems' different terminology with each other.

Here is such a terminology comparison chart:

System

Puppet

Ansible

Pallet

Salt

Client

Agent

Node

Node

Minion

Server

Master

Server

Server

Master

Configuration

Catalog

Playbook

Crate

Salt State

Also, here is a technology comparison chart:

System

Puppet

Ansible

Pallet

Chef

Salt

Agentless

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Both

Client dependencies

Ruby

Python, sshd, bash

sshd, bash

Ruby, sshd, bash

Python

Language

Ruby

Python

Clojure

Ruby

Python

Get Practical DevOps now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.