A beginner’s guide to configuration management

Imagine trying to fix a car when you’re not sure which parts have been swapped or removed. That’s what managing IT systems can feel like without configuration management.

Configuration management is all about keeping track of your systems — what’s installed, how it’s set up, and what changes have happened along the way. Instead of guessing when it comes to fixes, you have a clear record of your setup. This gives you a way to manage changes without breaking things.

Whether you’re managing a single server or a massive cloud environment, configuration management is essential for security and efficiency. Let’s take a closer look! 

What is configuration management?

Configuration management (CM) is all about setting up rules and tools to keep track of changes in an IT system. This includes hardware and software, databasis, networks, applications and services. 

What does it do? 

It helps teams manage, review, and track changes while also keeping an inventory of system documents and updates. 

CM plans (the documentation that goes with CM) guide the steps teams need to create and support a complex system or systems. During system development, CM helps everyone stay on top of requirements, making sure everything runs smoothly from start to finish, including when the system is up and running.

The goal is to keep everything stable, even during times of change. This means teams can make updates without breaking things, and if something does change something, you can see what and why. 

Configuration management: 

• Tracks and controls changes to software code
• Helps components work together
• Maintains a baseline of approved versions of a system
• Monitors and evaluates changes to a system
• Determines who made changes to a system.

Where did it come from?

Configuration management has its roots in the 1950s. The US Department of Defense had complex IT systems to manage, so it developed a system for tracking changes. After several evolutions, the process became officially known as configuration management in 2001.

Since then, the practice has spread beyond defense into software development, IT, civil engineering, and other industries, helping teams manage changes in their systems efficiently.

Why is configuration management important? 

Configuration management keeps systems stable and organized. As IT systems get more complex, they tend to spawn multiple components, each with its own configuration. 

Managing all of this is tricky. For example, imagine a microservice setup. Each service needs configuration data — like how much memory it should use, where it connects to other services, and what security credentials it needs.

Without a solid approach to handling all this data, things can get chaotic fast.  This is where configuration management steps up. It creates a single, organized place for all your configuration data, making it easier to track and manage. 

The importance of version control 

Tools like Git are key here. By moving configuration data into a Git repository, teams can take advantage of version control. Every change is recorded and tracked. If something goes wrong, it’s easy to roll back to a previous version.

Version control also stops unexpected changes from causing issues. For example, if someone tweaks a setting to optimize performance on their own machine, it might work fine for them but cause a snag in the production environment. 

With version control, the team can track these changes, so everyone can see what’s been done and when. This visibility makes it easier to catch problems.

What happens if you don’t use configuration management?

Without configuration management, your system is at risk. 

• Inconsistency: Changes made by different team members may not align, causing mismatched settings across environments.
• Unexpected breakages: Small tweaks, like adjusting memory, can cause problems when applied in other environments without tracking.
• Difficult troubleshooting: Without version control, it’s hard to track changes. This makes it hard to locate an issue’s cause. 
• No easy rollback: If something goes sideways, there’s no simple way to revert to a working version.

How configuration management fits in

Here’s how it fits into each:

• DevOps: Simply put, DevOps is a work philosophy founded on software automation to deliver apps and services faster. Configuration management supports that by helping teams keep infrastructure and environments consistent.
  
• CI/CD: Continuous integration and continuous delivery need configuration management for stability. Thanks to version-controlled repositories, teams can automate deployments, keeping things running as expected. 

• Agile: Agile emphasizes iterations and adaptability. Configuration management helps by keeping systems stable so teams change parts of the system without wider disruption.
  
• IT Operations (IT Ops): IT Ops teams are responsible for keeping infrastructure stable. Configuration management offers a clear, organized way to manage systems.
  
• CMDB (Configuration Management Database): A CMDB stores information about the components that make up an IT system. And configuration management keeps this data up-to-date and accurate.

Common configuration management tools

Each tool is built with easy tracking and control in mind. Here’s a selection of the most popular. 

• Git: Git is a version control tool for managing code. Storing all your data in Git means you get the benefits of version control plus you can roll back to a stable version if something goes wrong.

• Ansible: Ansible, along with Chef and Puppet handle infrastructure as code (IaC) and configuration management. Ansible is agentless, uses YAML playbooks, and is simple to set up. It’s best for configuration management and automation.
  
• Chef: Uses a Ruby-based DSL. It needs an agent (a server, virtual machine, or container) and is powerful but has a steeper learning curve. It’s best for configuration management at scale.
  
• Puppet: Uses its own declarative language. It also needs an agent. it’s best for applying system state across large infrastructures.
  
• Terraform: Terraform is another infrastructure-as-code tool. It focuses on infrastructure provisioning rather than configuration management, so it’s best defining and managing cloud resources.

• SaltStack: SaltStack is an automation tool that lets you manage configurations and monitor systems. It’s fast and scalable, making it a top choice for environments with multiple systems.
  

How to get started with configuration management

Let’s get down to it! Breaking the task down into clear steps makes it more manageable. Here’s how to begin:

1. Define your configuration needs

Start by understanding what you need to manage. This could include software, hardware, network settings, or even credentials. Write down what you need to track and organize.

Top tip: You may not know what to track at first. Start with the most critical parts of your system, then add more as you go.

2. Choose the right tools

Pick a tool (or combination of tools) that answers your needs. Git is the ideal place to start for version control, while tools like Ansible or Chef can help you automate your setups. Factor in your team size and project complexity too.

Top tip: It can be overwhelming to choose. Start simple, and as your needs grow, explore other offerings that might better fit your setup.

3. Create a centralized configuration repository

Set up a central location (like a Git repository) to store all your configuration files. This is your “source of truth.” Having everything in one place makes it easier to manage and track changes.

Top tip: Everyone needs to use the central repository. Train your team to always refer to this source and make updates there.

4. Implement version control

Like leaving breadcrumbs in a forest, version control helps you track every metaphorical turn. This helps you see who did what and when, and if needed, roll back to an earlier version without causing chaos.

Top tip: Team members sometimes forget to commit changes. Set clear rules and review them regularly.

5. Automate updates and deployment

Once you’ve organized and tracked your configuration, use automation tools like Ansible or Puppet to apply changes. Automating the process keeps your systems consistent and minimizes human mistakes. 

Top tip: Setting up automation can take time and effort. Start small by automating simple tasks and scale as you go.

6. Monitor and review configurations regularly

Periodically check your configurations to make sure they’re still working as expected. Over time, systems change, and so should your configurations. Regular reviews will keep things organized and up to date.

Top tip: Set up regular audits or reminders to make this a habit.

7. Train your team

Make sure everyone on your team understands the configuration management process. This includes knowing how to update configurations, commit changes, and use the tools. Proper training stops mistakes and confusion down the line.

Top tip: Resistance to change is a challenge. Keep training sessions simple and highlight the benefits of the new system to get team buy-in.

Use diagramming tools for smarter configuration 

Databases, apps, networks — it’s complex stuff. By presenting systems visually, it’s easier to understand how things connect. Diagrams also keep teams aligned, acting as a go-to reference for system structure — something that’s essential in Agile environments. 

With Cacoo, our own tool, you can map out service architecture, network setups, and system interactions with ease, thanks to templates and a drag-and-drop interface. Its cloud-based setup lets your team collaborate in real-time, helping everyone stay informed. Keep your configuration management organized, up-to-date, and easy to understand with Cacoo. Try it for free today!