Continuous configuration automation

Continuous configuration automation is the methodology or process of automating the deployment and configuration of settings and software for both physical and virtual data center equipment.

Overview

Continuous configuration automation is marketed for data center and application configuration management. CCA tools use a programmable framework for configuration and orchestration through coding, planning, and incrementally adopting policies.

Relationship to DevOps

CCA tools are used for what is called DevOps, and are often included as part of a DevOps toolchain. CCA grew out of a push to develop more reliable software faster. Gartner describes CCA as “Embodying lean, agile and collaborative concepts core to DevOps initiatives, CCA tools bring a newly found level of precision, efficiency and flexibility to the challenges of infrastructure and application configuration management.”

Tools

CCA tools support administrators and developers to automate the configuration and Orchestration of physical and virtual infrastructure in a systematic way that give visibility to state of infrastructure within an enterprise. Generally thought of as an extension of infrastructure as code frameworks. CCA tools include Ansible, Chef,, Puppet, Rudder and Salt. Each tool has a different method of interacting with the system some are agent-based, push or pull, through an interactive UI. Similar to adopting any DevOps tools, there are barriers to bring on CCA tools and factors that hinder and accelerate adoption.
Notable CCA tools include:

Tool	Developed by	Initial release	Method	Approach	Written in
Ansible	Red Hat		Push	Declarative and imperative	Python
CFEngine	Northern.tech		Pull	Declarative	C
Chef	Progress		Pull	Imperative	Ruby
OpenTofu	Linux Foundation		Push	Declarative	Go
	Inedo		Push	Declarative and imperative
Puppet	Puppet		Pull	Declarative	C++, Clojure since 4.0, Ruby
Salt	VMware		Push and Pull	Declarative and imperative	Python
Terraform	HashiCorp		Push	Declarative	Go

Evaluation factors

Evaluations of CCA tools may consider the following:

Skills, training, and cost required to implement and maintain tool
Content and support of the Platform and Infrastructure – tool specified for Windows or Linux etc.
Delivery method and likening flexibility – important for scalability
Method of interacting with managing system
Support and training availability and cost
Incorporation of orchestration with configuration management
Security and compliance reporting