This learning path explores how to configure cloud services with cloud configuration management tools. 

Cloud configuration management tools enable you to manage your infrastructure deployments through the design, implementation, testing, building, release, and maintenance phases. Finding the right tool for your needs is a major part of ensuring your DevOps run smoothly in the cloud, but it can be hard to get a sense of how each of the available tools differs, and which one would best meet your needs. 

This learning path gives you an overview of configuration management, and then introduces you to three of the most common tools used today: Ansible, Puppet, and Chef. You will also get hands-on, practical experience of using these tools thanks to our hands-on labs.

You'll get insight from experts who have experience with all of them, as well as a chance to test your knowledge and try some of the tools out using our hands-on labs. Whether you're trying to find the tool that best meet's your organization's needs, or looking to advance your DevOps skills, this is the learning path for you.

Learning Objectives

• Learn to manage infrastructure deployments
• Understand the principles of configuration management

Intended Audience

This learning path is ideal for those looking to get to grips with cloud configuration management tools and their basic principles.

Prerequisites

To get the most out of this learning, you should have development and DevOps experience. 

FAQs

What is cloud configuration management?

Cloud configuration is the action of configuring hardware and software settings for cloud-based elements to verify they will work together and communicate efficiently between them. Cloud configurations are based on one of the three major cloud provision elements: Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).

What are configuration management tools?

Software Configuration Management (SCM) is the management of a software project as it becomes a software product or system. This process encompasses the technical aspects, communication between business units, the overall organization of the project, and any changes to the project plan.

What are the best configuration management tools?

There are many configuration management (CM) tools available, however, the most popular are:

• Ansible: Software for automating provisioning, CM, and deployment of the application
• Chef: Platform for automating infrastructure into code; handles the configuration, deployment, and management of the infrastructure
• Puppet: Open source CM tool to handle your organization’s IT inventory in your data center or cloud.
• SaltStack: Uses event-driven automation of compute, storage, and network complexities via time-saving configuration and control 

What is AWS OpsWorks?

The Amazon Web Services OpsWorks web services handle the deployment of infrastructure systems for the cloud by automating deployment, configuration, and operations of distributed applications.

What is Jenkins Docker?

Jenkins is an open-sourced automation tool that schedules software builds to run, while Docker houses running applications on your computer’s primary operating system. These two systems are designed to run together.