1. chef-client(8)
2. Chef Manual
3. 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

-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.

1. Chef 11.0.0.beta.1
2. January 2013
3. chef-client(8)