Is Chef considered agent-based or agent-less?

Chef is considered an agent-based configuration management tool. This means that it requires an agent to be installed on the managed nodes (servers) that it will control. The Chef client runs on each node, allowing it to communicate with the Chef server and execute the configurations defined in Chef recipes. This setup allows for real-time monitoring and management of the systems, as the agent can regularly pull configurations from the server and apply them, ensuring that the systems remain in the desired state.

The agent-based approach provides flexibility and allows for more complex interactions between the server and nodes, as it can handle local resources, run specific tasks, and manage the state of the systems autonomously. While some tools may offer agent-less capabilities, Chef's reliance on agents is a fundamental aspect of its architecture, enabling the automation and orchestration of system configurations effectively across various environments.