Node:Control files, Neste:Network interface, Forrige:Key concepts, Opp:Key concepts
One of the endearing characteristics of BSD and system 5 systems is
that they are configured through human-readable text files. To add a
new user to the system you edit /etc/passwd
, to add a new
disk you must edit /etc/fstab
etc. Many applications are also
configured with the help of text files. When installing a new system
for the first time, or when changing updating the setup of an old system
you are faced with having to edit lots of files. In some cases you will
have to add precisely the same line to the same file on every system in
your network as a change is made, so it is handy to have a way of
automating this procedure so that you don't have to load every file into
an editor by hand and make the changes yourself. This is one of the
tasks which cfengine will automate for you.