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CHEF-CLIENT(8) Chef Manual CHEF-CLIENT(8)

NAME

chef-client - Runs a client node connecting to a chef-server.

SYNOPSIS

chef-client (options)
-S, --server CHEFSERVERURL
The chef server URL
-c, --config CONFIG
The configuration file to use
-d, --daemonize
Daemonize the process
-g, --group GROUP
Group to set privilege to
-i, --interval SECONDS
Run chef-client periodically, in seconds
-j, --json-attributes JSON_ATTRIBS
Load attributes from a JSON file or URL
-E, --environment ENVIRONMENT
Set the Chef Environment on the node
-l, --log_level LEVEL
Set the log level (debug, info, warn, error, fatal)
-L, --logfile LOGLOCATION
Set the log file location, defaults to STDOUT - recommended for daemonizing
-V, --verbose
Ensures logging goes to STDOUT as well as to other configured log location(s).
-N, --node-name NODE_NAME
The node name for this client
-o, --override-runlist
Replace current run list with specified items
-K, --validation_key KEY_FILE
Set the validation key file location, used for registering new clients
-k, --client_key KEY_FILE
Set the client key file location
-s, --splay SECONDS
The splay time for running at intervals, in seconds
-u, --user USER
User to set privilege to
-P, --pid PIDFILE
Set the PID file location, defaults to /tmp/chef-client.pid
--once
Cancel any interval or splay options, run chef once and exit
-v, --version
Show chef version
-h, --help
Show this message

DESCRIPTION

The Chef Client is where almost all of the work in Chef is done. It communicates with the Chef Server via REST, authenticates via Signed Header Authentication, and compiles and executes Cookbooks.
A Chef Client does work on behalf of a Node. A single Chef Client can run recipes for multiple Nodes.
Clients are where all the action happens - the Chef Server and Chef Expander are largely services that exist only to provide the Client with information.

SEE ALSO

Full documentation for Chef and chef-client is located on the Chef wiki, http://wiki.opscode.com/display/chef/Home.

AUTHOR

Chef was written by Adam Jacob adam@ospcode.com of Opscode (http://www.opscode.com), with contributions from the community. This manual page was written by Joshua Timberman joshua@opscode.com with help2man. Permission is granted to copy, distribute and / or modify this document under the terms of the Apache 2.0 License.
On Debian systems, the complete text of the Apache 2.0 License can be found in /usr/share/common-licenses/Apache-2.0.
June 2012 Chef 10.12.0