Chef-Solo is an open-source tool that runs locally and allows to provision guest machines using Chef cookbooks without the complication of any Chef client and server configuration. It helps to execute cookbooks on a self-created server.
Before running Chef-Solo on the local machine, one needs to install the following two files on the local machine.
• Solo.rb − This file tells Chef about where to find cookbooks, roles, and data bags.
• Node.json − This file sets the run list and any node-specific attribute, if required.

solo.rb Configuration

Following are the steps to configure solo.rb.

Step 1 − Create a solo.rb file inside the chef repo.
current_dir = File.expand_path(File.dirname(__FILE__))
file_cache_path "#{current_dir}"
cookbook_path "#{current_dir}/cookbooks"
role_path "#{current_dir}/roles"
data_bag_path "#{current_dir}/data_bags"
Step 2 − Add the file to git repo.
$ git add solo.rb
Step 3 − Create a node.json file inside the chef repo with the following content.
{
"run_list": [ "recipe[ntp]" ]
}
Step 4 − Get the ntp cookbook inside the chef repo using knife.
vipin@laptop:~/chef-repo $ knife cookbook site install ntp
Installing ntp to /Users/mma/work/chef-repo/cookbooks
…TRUNCATED OUTPUT…
Cookbook ntp version 1.3.0 successfully installed
Step 5 − Add the node.json file to Git.
$ git add node.json
Step 6 − Commit and push the files to git repo.
vipin@laptop:~/chef-repo $ git commit -m "initial setup for Chef Solo"
vipin@laptop:~/chef-repo $ git push
Counting objects: 4, done.
Delta compression using up to 4 threads.
...TRUNCATED OUTPUT...
To git@github.com:mmarschall/chef-repo.git
b930647..5bcfab6 master -> master
Running the Cookbook on the Node
Step 1 − Login to the node where one wants to provision the Chef-Solo.
Step 2 − Clone the Chef repo on the machine.
$ git clone $URL_PATH
Step 3 − cd to the chef repo.
$ cd chef-repo
Finally, run the Chef-Solo to converge the node −
$ sudo chef-solo -c solo.rb -j node.json
[2017-20-08T22:54:13+01:00] INFO: *** Chef 11.0.0 ***
[2017-20-08T22:54:13+01:00] INFO: Setting the run_list to
["recipe[ntp]"] from JSON
...TRUNCATED OUTPUT...
[2012-12-08T22:54:16+01:00] INFO: Chef Run complete in 2.388374
seconds
[2012-12-08T22:54:16+01:00] INFO: Running report handlers
solo.rb configures Chef-Solo to look for its cookbooks, roles, and data bags inside the current directory: the Chef repository.

Chef-Solo takes its node configuration from a JSON file. In our example, we called it node.json. If you’re going to manage multiple servers, you’ll need a separate file for each node. Then, Chef-Solo just executes a Chef run based on the configuration data found in solo.rb and node.json.
So, this brings us to the end of blog. This Tecklearn ‘How to setup Chef-Solo’ blog helps you with commonly asked questions if you are looking out for a job in DevOps. If you wish to learn Chef and build a career in DevOps domain, then check out our interactive, Continuous Delivery using Chef Training, that comes with 24*7 support to guide you throughout your learning period. Please find the link for course details:

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