Start With Foreman and Chef

Hi All,

I am new trying to use Foreman and chef.
I try to know the best way to start.

In our organisation, we have more than 4500 nodes (Linux and Windows),
actually we use Puppet to manage Linux Node, but nothing for Windows.
We have choice to use CHEF and foreman as ENC, because we went to use
Foreman to deploy Nodes and we want to use manageIQ witch is full integrate
with Chef.
We have a many différent network configuration, and we have an external
configuration database.

So I have many questions like :

  • We have to install a main Foreman serveur and one proxy for
    the différent Network ?
  • Is it possible to create Dynamically with an external tools the
    différentes rôles / configuration / variables in Foreman with will be apply
    on chef to choose withch cookbook have to be apply on the nodes ? (Based on
    our configuration Database).
  • Is there a number max of nodes by foreman proxy or cookbook to apply ?

But my main question is do you Know if exist consulting on Chef and Foreman
in France ?

Regard's
Grégory

> Hi All,
>
> I am new trying to use Foreman and chef.
> I try to know the best way to start.

Welcome to the community :slight_smile:

> In our organisation, we have more than 4500 nodes (Linux and Windows),
> actually we use Puppet to manage Linux Node, but nothing for Windows.
> We have choice to use CHEF and foreman as ENC, because we went to use
> Foreman to deploy Nodes and we want to use manageIQ witch is full integrate
> with Chef.
> We have a many différent network configuration, and we have an external
> configuration database.
>
> So I have many questions like :
>
> We have to install a main Foreman serveur and one proxy for the différent
> Network ?

Correct, in general. Foreman Proxies represent services to Foreman, so
you generally have one installed on your DNS/DHCP/TFTP host, your
puppetmaster etc. Check the infrastructure diagram [1] for more detail

> Is it possible to create Dynamically with an external tools the différentes
> rôles / configuration / variables in Foreman with will be apply on chef to
> choose withch cookbook have to be apply on the nodes ? (Based on our
> configuration Database).

Generally speaking, yes. Foreman has a solid API [2] which you can
work with, or even just script using our CLI tool, hammer. I'm not
familiar with the chef plugin though, so I can't comment on it's API -
although I'm sure it works :slight_smile:

> Is there a number max of nodes by foreman proxy or cookbook to apply ?

Can you clarify this question? Are we discussing technical limits,
quotas, or staggered execution?

Do feel free to join us on IRC [3] where I'm sure the chef folks will
help you out with further questions!

Regards

··· On 15 September 2015 at 13:49, Grégory Roger wrote: -- Greg "gwmngilfen" Sutcliffe

[1] Foreman :: Manual
[2] Foreman :: API v2
[3] Foreman :: Support