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Puppet

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What Puppet is

Puppet Enterprise is a configuration management and infrastructure automation platform for organizations managing complex cloud and hybrid environments. It uses policy as code to keep systems aligned with a desired state and detect configuration drift. Teams can manage systems with agents or agentlessly through a web interface with role-based access control. Puppet Enterprise Advanced adds continuous enforcement of CIS Benchmarks and DISA STIGs, self-service automation, AI features, observability integrations, and advanced patching. It can also connect with third-party vulnerability scanners, including Nessus, for remediation. Listed integrations include GitHub, AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, HashiCorp Vault, and ServiceNow. Agents are listed for Linux, Windows, and macOS. A free trial runs on up to 10 nodes with no commitment or time limit. Pricing is custom. Support options range from Monday-to-Friday assistance to priority 24x7 response. Network and edge device management is optional, with licensing available through sales.

Who it suits

Puppet describes Enterprise as suited to medium and large organizations managing complex hybrid environments that need security, compliance, and centralized automation.

What it does well

  • Enforces desired state through policy as code.
  • Supports agent-based and agentless management.
  • Free trial covers up to 10 nodes with no time limit.
  • Advanced includes continuous CIS Benchmark and DISA STIG enforcement.
  • Integrates with major cloud providers and other listed services.

What to know first

  • Pricing is custom and not listed.
  • Network and edge device management is optional.
  • Licensing for network and edge devices requires contacting sales.

Limits

Puppet Enterprise's free trial is limited to 10 nodes, though Puppet states it has no commitment or time limit. The Enterprise plan lists 10 nodes free; network and edge device management is optional and requires contacting sales for licensing.

Plans

PlanBilled and limitsPrice
Puppet Corefree development and testing edition; licensing options vary · open-source Puppet Core · download availableFree
Puppet Enterprise free trialno time limit stated · 10 nodes · no commitmentFree
Puppet Enterprise listing priceper feature · third-party directory starting price; vendor pricing available on request$120 a month
Puppet Enterprisesubscription pricing by node; contact sales · continuous desired-state enforcement · agent or agentless automation · web console · Linux, Windows and macOS agentsOn request
Puppet Enterprise Advancedsubscription pricing by node; contact sales · CIS/DISA STIG enforcement · vulnerability remediation · impact analysis · observability connectors · ServiceNow self-serviceOn request

As puppet.com lists them, read 15 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

  1. Visit Puppet's Puppet Enterprise product page.
  2. Choose Puppet Enterprise or Puppet Enterprise Advanced, both with custom pricing.
  3. Use the free trial on up to 10 nodes, with no commitment or time limit.
  4. Select an agent-based, agentless, or combined management approach.
  5. Deploy in a self-hosted environment and use the web interface with role-based access control.

Verdict

Puppet Enterprise brings policy-driven configuration management and automation together for complex environments. Its free trial covers up to 10 nodes, while pricing and network or edge device licensing require contacting Puppet.

Questions

How is Puppet Enterprise priced?

Puppet Enterprise and Puppet Enterprise Advanced both have custom pricing. Puppet Enterprise lists 10 nodes free.

Is there a free trial?

Yes. The trial runs on up to 10 nodes with no commitment or time limit.

Which platforms does it support?

The plan comparison lists Linux, Windows, and macOS agents. Supported systems include Debian, Fedora, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Windows Server, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Amazon Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, Alma Linux, Rocky Linux, Oracle Linux, and Ubuntu.

What does Puppet Enterprise Advanced add?

It adds continuous CIS Benchmark and DISA STIG enforcement, self-service automation, AI features, observability integrations, and advanced patching. It also integrates with third-party vulnerability scanners, including Nessus, for remediation.

Which integrations are listed?

GitHub, AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, HashiCorp Vault, and ServiceNow are among the listed integrations.

Can Puppet Enterprise manage network and edge devices?

That management is optional. Puppet says to contact sales for licensing those devices.

Facts from Puppet's own pages

Acquisition
Perforce completed its acquisition of Puppet on May 18, 2022; transaction terms were not disclosed. · perforce.com, 15 Oct 2026
Advanced capabilities
Puppet Enterprise Advanced adds continuous CIS Benchmark and DISA STIG enforcement, self-service automation, AI features, observability integrations, and advanced patching. · puppet.com, 29 Sept 2026
Agent models
Deployments can use agent-based or agentless architecture and can combine declarative workflows with imperative tasks. · puppet.com, 15 Oct 2026
API
Puppet and Puppet Enterprise expose HTTP APIs for application integrations, including inventory and orchestration services. · puppet.com, 15 Oct 2026
Company founding
Puppet was founded in 2005 in Portland, Oregon. · news.crunchbase.com, 15 Oct 2026
Company headquarters
Puppet’s historical headquarters was Portland, Oregon; current Perforce company information lists Minneapolis as head office. · gartner.com, 15 Oct 2026
Company legal name
Crunchbase identifies the legal entity as Puppet, Inc., also known as Reductive Labs. · crunchbase.com, 15 Oct 2026
Configuration management
The platform continuously enforces declared configuration state and records audit and correction information. · puppet.com, 15 Oct 2026
Deployment
It supports agent-based and agentless automation and management of complex cloud and hybrid environments. · puppet.com, 29 Sept 2026
Desired state
It continuously enforces desired state through policy as code. · puppet.com, 29 Sept 2026
Documentation
Documentation covers Enterprise, Continuous Delivery, security compliance and Bolt task execution, with versioned installation and administration material. · puppet.com, 15 Oct 2026
Extensibility
The product supports an extensible scanner architecture and open API framework, while Puppet Forge provides more than 7,000 reusable modules. · puppet.com, 15 Oct 2026
Founded
2005 · puppet.com, 23 Sept 2026
Funding
A 2018 Series F raised $42 million led by Cisco, bringing reported aggregate venture funding to $127.5 million at that time. · news.crunchbase.com, 15 Oct 2026
Impact analysis
Enterprise Advanced previews the infrastructure impact of Puppet code before deployment. · puppet.com, 15 Oct 2026
Integrations
Official integration listings include ServiceNow, VMware, Argo CD, Jenkins, Dynatrace, Datadog, New Relic, Splunk, Tenable Nessus and CIS Benchmarks. · puppet.com, 15 Oct 2026
Intended users
Puppet describes Puppet Enterprise as best suited to medium and large organizations managing complex hybrid environments that require security, compliance, and centralized automation. · puppet.com, 29 Sept 2026
Interface and access
The platform includes a web-based interface and role-based access control. · puppet.com, 29 Sept 2026
License
Open-source Puppet is released under Apache-2.0, while Puppet Enterprise adds proprietary commercial components, orchestration, console and support. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
Limit: accessibility
The vendor’s accessibility report says some console controls lack labels, keyboard operation and sufficient focus or contrast support. · puppet.com, 15 Oct 2026
Limit: learning curve
Independent reviewers frequently describe Puppet’s Ruby-based language, setup and implementation as difficult for beginners. · g2.com, 15 Oct 2026
Limits
Puppet states that network and edge device management is optional, and its release notes say to contact sales for licensing those devices. · puppet.com, 29 Sept 2026
Limit: setup complexity
Software Advice reviewers identify setup as more difficult than Ansible and say the broad feature set makes adoption complex. · softwareadvice.com, 15 Oct 2026
Limit: UI gaps
Reviewers report missing or limited visualization, multi-tenancy and in-console code editing compared with their expectations. · trustradius.com, 15 Oct 2026

Where Puppet stands on Freedom251

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