This document discusses using Chef and PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC) together for infrastructure configuration and management. It describes how DSC resources can be included and used from Chef to configure Windows features and packages in a declarative way similar to DSC. It also discusses how Chef resources can be mixed with DSC resources for configuration, and how monitoring and run status can integrate between the tools.

1. Chef and PowerShell DSC
Microsoft TechEd 2014
Julian Dunn
Senior Consultant, Chef
May 12, 2014

2. Chef: Infrastructure as Code
• Declarative (like PowerShell DSC)
• Cross-platform
• Rich toolchain and testing
ecosystem
• Use cases:
• Configuration Management
• Application Deployment
• Continuous Delivery
windows_feature 'Web-Server' do
action :install
end
package 'httpd' do
action :install
end

3. Use PowerShell DSC Resources in Chef
include_dsc 'WindowsFeature'
dsc_windowsfeature 'iis' do
dsc_name 'Web-Server'
dsc_ensure 'Present'
end
Corresponds to DSC
Resource Name
Native Chef resource syntax
with mapping rules to avoid
reserved words in Chef
language (dsc_ prefix)

4. Mix and Match Chef Native Resources & DSC
dsc_windowsfeature 'iis' do
dsc_name 'Web-Server'
dsc_ensure 'Present'
end
iis_pool 'FourthCoffee' do
runtime_version "4.0"
action :add
end
DSC Resource
Non-DSC Chef Resource

5. Monitoring and Run Status Integration

6. Overall Infrastructure Status

7. Chef, Windows, PowerShell DSC and Azure
• PowerShell DSC native support
shipping soon (2014 Q2/Q3 target)
• Native Azure portal integration
• 3 Microsoft Chef Cookbooks
• Technical docs maintained by Chef
• Highlighted at //Build & ChefConf
• Come visit us in booth 747!

8. Thank You
Chef is in booth 747 in the main exhibit hall