What is the initial step required to start using Puppet?

To begin using Puppet, the initial step is to define the desired state of the system you wish to manage. This involves specifying how you want the systems to be configured in terms of packages, services, and files. The desired state serves as a blueprint for Puppet to understand what configurations should be applied to the systems.

Defining this desired state is crucial because Puppet operates on a model called "declarative configuration management." In this model, you articulate the end result rather than the steps needed to get there. Puppet then ensures that the actual state of the system matches the desired state you've defined.

Moving forward from this step, installation of the Puppet agents, deployment of configurations, and running configuration verification are all subsequent actions that depend on having a well-defined desired state. Without this foundational step, the configuration management process cannot proceed effectively.