Chef
My New Friend, Cinc-Auditor
April 9, 2021
My New Friend, Cinc-Auditor
My journey with cinc-auditor for CI/CD pipelines, replacing InSpec. Discover how she navigated dependency issues using PackageCloud over RubyGems.
2020 Year in Review
January 22, 2021
2020 Year in Review
Our year in review post talking through how we adapted to the pandemic, migrated to Azure, and helped restaurants stay\ open.
Azure’s Managed Identity in Test Kitchen
April 12, 2019
Azure’s Managed Identity in Test Kitchen
Explore how Azure’s Managed Identity enhances security in Test Kitchen by replacing client secrets with identities to your kitchen nodes for easier testing.
InSpec Basics: Day 11 - Validating Azure Resources with InSpec Azure
January 2, 2019
InSpec Basics: Day 11 - Validating Azure Resources with InSpec Azure
Discover how to use InSpec to scan and validate your Azure resources. A step-by-step guide on how to use the InSpec Azure resource pack to ensure compliance.
Chef Certification Tests
April 7, 2018
Chef Certification Tests
Discover the journey to becoming a Certified Chef Developer. This demystifies the Chef Certification tests and provides useful study materials and tips.
2017 Year in Review
January 17, 2018
2017 Year in Review
The highlights and achievements of 2017 from career advancements to personal growth, leading to an exciting future in Boulder, Colorado.
Your First DevOps Project to Automate Infrastructure
December 21, 2017
Your First DevOps Project to Automate Infrastructure
Start your journey into DevOps with this comprehensive guide. Learn to automate infrastructure by doing with this simple project.
Study Guide for the Basic Chef Fluency Badge Exam
June 16, 2017
Study Guide for the Basic Chef Fluency Badge Exam
Prepare for the Basic Chef Fluency Badge Exam with our comprehensive study guide. Gain insights from my personal experience and access a community-driven study resource. Get ready to ace the test!
Chef is a Community Before It’s a Vendor
May 22, 2017
Chef is a Community Before It’s a Vendor
Explore how Chef Software Inc. values its community, encouraging collaboration and innovation. Learn how this open-source community’s approach led to the adoption of a new feature.
Chef Artifacts with Artifactory
May 19, 2017
Chef Artifacts with Artifactory
Explore how Artifactory is an excellent tool for managing Chef artifacts for deployments. Learn how to install, upload, control access and integrate with Chef. Discover the benefits of Artifactory over other alternatives.
Chef Rollback with Policyfiles
May 18, 2017
Chef Rollback with Policyfiles
Explore the benefits of using Chef Policyfiles for rollback mechanisms in application release automation. Learn how to safely undo changes, simplify deployments, and plan for potential rollbacks.
Policyfile Pipeline with Jenkinsfile
May 15, 2017
Policyfile Pipeline with Jenkinsfile
Discover how to manage Chef changes in all environments using policyfiles. Learn how to create a Jenkins pipeline for your policyfiles, ensuring secure and efficient deployment.
Cookbook Pipeline with Jenkinsfile
May 12, 2017
Cookbook Pipeline with Jenkinsfile
Discover how to create a cookbook pipeline using Jenkinsfile for your CI environment. This blog post provides a detailed guide on setting up Jenkins as your tool of choice for managing deployment pipelines.
Cookbook Development with Rakefiles
May 11, 2017
Cookbook Development with Rakefiles
Explore the process of cookbook development with Rakefiles. Learn how to standardize cookbook quality, implement automated testing, and release cookbooks efficiently. Ideal for Ruby developers.
DevOps Leadership Summit in Dallas
May 9, 2017
DevOps Leadership Summit in Dallas
Join us at the DevOps Leadership Summit in Dallas on August 28, 2017. Network with industry leaders and learn how to facilitate a DevOps transformation in your company.
Why Habitat?
March 27, 2017
Why Habitat?
Explore the journey of a software engineer discovering the benefits of Habitat for application deployment. Learn about the pros and cons of various application automation approaches, and why Habitat stands out as a game-changer in the field.
Policyfiles Update
March 23, 2017
Policyfiles Update
Discover the latest updates on Policyfiles and its integration with Chef Automate. Learn about the future of automation and how Policyfiles can enhance your operations.
A Chef Custom Resource
February 10, 2017
A Chef Custom Resource
Explore the process of creating a Chef custom resource for your certification exam preparation. This blog post provides a detailed walkthrough of the process, helping you understand and implement custom resources effectively.
Our Superbowl
February 2, 2017
Our Superbowl
Discover how NCR revolutionized their delivery process with Chef, enabling customers to grow their businesses beyond traditional boundaries. This is our Superbowl story.
Introducing Cafe
January 23, 2017
Introducing Cafe
Discover Cafe, a new project designed to simplify running Chef in a Windows environment. Learn about its features, installation process, and how it can streamline your Chef operations.
7 Options for Implementing Policyfile Attributes in Any Environment
November 14, 2016
7 Options for Implementing Policyfile Attributes in Any Environment
Seven ways to move away from Chef node, environment, or role attributes to Chef policyfile attributes. This can be the hardest part of migrating to Policyfiles.
InSpec Basics: Day 10 - Attributes with Environment Variables
November 8, 2016
InSpec Basics: Day 10 - Attributes with Environment Variables
Explore the final part of our InSpec Basics series, where we delve into using attributes with environment variables for testing different environments in TeamCity. Learn how to create and configure MySQL passwords using these attributes.
Chef Policyfiles—The Preferred Way to Package Chef
November 2, 2016
Chef Policyfiles—The Preferred Way to Package Chef
Discover the benefits of using Policyfiles in Chef for managing dependencies and changes for nodes. Take control over change management, make Chef easier to learn and more secure.
Chef with Windows
October 24, 2016
Chef with Windows
Explore the challenges and benefits of using Chef in a Windows environment. Learn from our experience at NCR and discover how to make a compelling business case for change.
Migrating from Chef Analytics to Chef Visibility
October 16, 2016
Migrating from Chef Analytics to Chef Visibility
Discover how to smoothly transition from Chef Analytics to Chef Visibility. Migrate your existing Chef Analytics Server to a Chef Visibility Server and to ensure a successful transition.
InSpec Basics: Day 9 - Attributes
October 5, 2016
InSpec Basics: Day 9 - Attributes
Discover the basics of InSpec Attributes in this Day 9 tutorial. Learn how to create an InSpec profile, declare attributes, use them in if statements, and run different tests. Ideal for database and webserver roles.
Elasticsearch Network Hosts
September 5, 2016
Elasticsearch Network Hosts
Explore the process of creating a cookbook to spin up three nodes using Test Kitchen and installing Elasticsearch onto said nodes. Learn how to navigate the complexities of using ohai values, node hashes, and IP addresses in an Elasticsearch cluster.
My Chef Workflow
August 16, 2016
My Chef Workflow
Discover how to streamline your Chef workflow in this comprehensive guide. Learn how to set up a connection, bootstrap nodes, install policies, and more. Perfect for beginners and experienced users alike.
InSpec Basics: Day 8 - Regular Expressions
August 1, 2016
InSpec Basics: Day 8 - Regular Expressions
Dive into the basics of InSpec and learn how to write a test to search for regular expressions in this Learning InSpec blog series.
ChefConf 2016: Lessons Learned
July 15, 2016
ChefConf 2016: Lessons Learned
Explore key takeaways from ChefConf 2016, including the role of security in DevOps, the future of the industry, and personal insights on career development in tech.
InSpec and Me
July 2, 2016
InSpec and Me
Explore my journey learning Ruby and experimenting with InSpec and Chef. Discover how InSpec bridges the gap between Security and DevOps, and how I aim to fill a new role in this space.
Finding Habitat
June 15, 2016
Finding Habitat
Explore the world of Habitat, a disruptive technology that revolutionizes configuration management. Learn about its integration with Chef’s ecosystem and how it can streamline your workflow.
InSpec Basics: Day 7 - How to Inherit a Profile from Chef Compliance Server
June 14, 2016
InSpec Basics: Day 7 - How to Inherit a Profile from Chef Compliance Server
Learn how to inherit a profile from Chef Compliance Server with our InSpec Basics tutorial. Modify controls to suit your needs and enhance your Chef Compliance usage.
Disruption is Uncomfortable
June 10, 2016
Disruption is Uncomfortable
Explore how disruption can lead to discomfort in a DevOps environment, and learn how to navigate change effectively. Discover the importance of empathy and communication in managing disruptive changes.
InSpec Basics: Day 6 - Ways to Run It and Places to Store It
June 9, 2016
InSpec Basics: Day 6 - Ways to Run It and Places to Store It
Explore the different ways to run InSpec and the various places to store it in this comprehensive guide. From running and storing InSpec locally to using Chef Compliance, this blog post covers it all.
InSpec Tutorial: Day 5 - Creating a Profile
May 25, 2016
InSpec Tutorial: Day 5 - Creating a Profile
Master the art of creating a profile in InSpec with our comprehensive tutorial. Learn from the basics to advanced techniques, and take your InSpec skills to the next level. Start now!
InSpec Tutorial: Day 4 - Custom Matchers
May 23, 2016
InSpec Tutorial: Day 4 - Custom Matchers
Master the basics of InSpec with our Day 4 tutorial. Learn how to use custom matchers, understand file resources, and construct a regex in Rubular. Perfect for beginners!
InSpec Tutorial: Day 3 - File Resource
May 20, 2016
InSpec Tutorial: Day 3 - File Resource
Learn how to use the file resource in InSpec in this tutorial. Understand how to write a control that looks for specific text within a file. Perfect for beginners in InSpec.
InSpec Tutorial: Day 2 - Command Resource
May 15, 2016
InSpec Tutorial: Day 2 - Command Resource
Deepen your understanding of InSpec with our Day 2 tutorial. Learn how to create a command resource, use Nathen Harvey’s InSpec workshop, set up a CentOS 6 VM, and more. Perfect for beginners.
InSpec Tutorial: Day 1 - Hello World
May 13, 2016
InSpec Tutorial: Day 1 - Hello World
Start your journey with Chef Compliance and InSpec framework through this beginner-friendly tutorial. Learn how to set up and run a simple ‘Hello World’ test, and gain a deeper understanding of Compliance. No prior coding experience required.
Tour of Chef Compliance
May 9, 2016
Tour of Chef Compliance
Explore the basics of Chef Compliance in this easy-to-follow guide. Learn how to add a node, scan your server, fix compliance failures, and more. Get started with Chef Compliance today!
Tutorial for Setting Up Chef Compliance Server on Azure
May 5, 2016
Tutorial for Setting Up Chef Compliance Server on Azure
Learn how to set up a Chef Compliance Server on Azure with our easy-to-follow tutorial. Ideal for beginners, we break down the process into simple steps.
Promoting Cookbooks into a Private Chef Supermarket with TeamCity
April 29, 2016
Promoting Cookbooks into a Private Chef Supermarket with TeamCity
Discover how to promote cookbooks into a private chef supermarket with TeamCity. Learn to control version dependencies, ensure cookbook availability, and streamline the approval process for external cookbooks.
Orchestration Maturity Model with Chef
April 22, 2016
Orchestration Maturity Model with Chef
Explore the orchestration maturity model with Chef, a configuration management tool. Understand the three phases of orchestration, from modeling existing processes to managing state declaratively, and finally, decoupling nodes for scalability.
Chef Cookbook Builds in TeamCity
April 15, 2016
Chef Cookbook Builds in TeamCity
Explore how to standardize your Chef Cookbook builds in TeamCity. Learn how to set up project structure, version control settings, build steps, and more. Ensure quality gates for your infrastructure creation.
chef-vault - Tutorial from Beginner to Expert
April 6, 2016
chef-vault - Tutorial from Beginner to Expert
chef-vault is the build-in secrets management system for Chef. Become an expert with this post, and learn when to use this vs. Hashicorp Vault.
Tutorial for Test Kitchen with Azure
March 4, 2016
Tutorial for Test Kitchen with Azure
Learn how to run Test Kitchen with Azure in this step-by-step tutorial. Discover the benefits of using Azure, how to set up, and the commands to use. Ideal for those seeking a hassle-free testing environment.
Test Kitchen: Required, not Optional
February 26, 2016
Test Kitchen: Required, not Optional
Explore the importance of Test Kitchen in Chef workflow. Learn how it’s not just for testing, but an essential part of coding with Chef. Don’t miss out on this essential tool for your infrastructure.
Technology < Partnership
January 22, 2016
Technology < Partnership
Explore why our organization chose Chef over other configuration management tools. It’s not just about the technology, but the partnership and cultural changes that lead to success.
Why Before What
January 20, 2016
Why Before What
Explore the importance of establishing a shared vision before implementing change in an agile transformation. Learn why understanding the ‘why’ is crucial before jumping to the ‘what’.
Don’t Start with Tools
January 15, 2016
Don’t Start with Tools
Explore why it’s crucial to start with identifying business problems before choosing the right tools. Learn from real-life experiences and shift your focus for effective problem-solving.
The Inferior “Right” Way
November 20, 2015
The Inferior “Right” Way
Explore the pitfalls of blindly following the “right” solution in tech and organizational success. Learn how to align strategies with key stakeholders and find the truly effective tools for your business.
Three Essential Components to Compliance at Velocity in the Enterprise
November 6, 2015
Three Essential Components to Compliance at Velocity in the Enterprise
Discover the three essential components to achieving compliance at velocity in the enterprise: focusing on the workflow, making it real, and empowering security. Learn from a Chef initiative.
My Advice For Chef in Large Corporations
September 23, 2015
My Advice For Chef in Large Corporations
Explore practical advice for people in large corporations on how to effectively use configuration management. Learn from real-life examples and implement simple strategies to transform your organization’s ability to react to change.
Intrinsic Motivators Leading to Chef
May 4, 2015
Intrinsic Motivators Leading to Chef
Explore how intrinsic motivators such as autonomy, mastery, and purpose can lead to successful implementation of Chef in an organization. Discover the power of these motivators over traditional bonuses.
Is Continuous Delivery Needed in Our Organization?
February 13, 2015
Is Continuous Delivery Needed in Our Organization?
Explore the need for Continuous Delivery in your organization. Learn how it can help fix defects quickly and deliver features faster, building trust with your customers.
The Phoenix Project Book Review
February 2, 2015
The Phoenix Project Book Review
Explore my insights on the transformative power of ‘The Phoenix Project’ in my latest book review. Discover how this book can change your perspective on devops and your career.
Programming Ruby (Pickaxe) Book Review
January 26, 2015
Programming Ruby (Pickaxe) Book Review
Discover how the Programming Ruby (Pickaxe) book can help you master Ruby programming. This comprehensive guide demystifies Ruby, making it an essential tool in your coding arsenal. Perfect for beginners and experts alike.
Customizing Chef Book Review
January 16, 2015
Customizing Chef Book Review
Explore our in-depth review of Customizing Chef by Jon Cowie. Discover how this book can help you understand Chef’s extensibility and tackle complex organizational challenges. Perfect for those with basic Chef knowledge.
Learning Chef Book Review
January 9, 2015
Learning Chef Book Review
Discover the world of Chef with the Learning Chef book. Understand and use Chef, including testing techniques and Windows-friendly commands.
Solving SSL Validation failure with knife
January 5, 2015
Solving SSL Validation failure with knife
Solve SSL Validation failure issues with knife after moving to a hosted version of the Chef server. Discover short-term and long-term solutions for your blog or website.