Configuratiemanagers
Configuratiemanagers refer to software tools and practices designed to maintain and enforce the configuration of computers, servers, and other devices across an IT environment. They store declarative configuration definitions, automate software installation and settings, and continuously verify that systems remain in compliance with defined policies. The goal is to reduce drift and ensure predictable, reproducible environments.
Common capabilities include a centralized configuration repository, versioning, and automatic application of desired state. They support
Architectures vary: agent-based systems install lightweight agents on managed nodes, while agentless solutions use remote commands
Use cases include OS hardening, software deployment and patch management, configuration drift remediation, and policy enforcement
Prominent examples include Ansible, Puppet, Chef, SaltStack, and Microsoft's Endpoint Configuration Manager (formerly System Center Configuration