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os resource

Use the os Chef InSpec audit resource to test the platform on which the system is running.

Availability

Install

This resource is distributed with Chef InSpec and is automatically available for use.

Version

This resource first became available in v1.0.0 of InSpec.

Syntax

An os resource block declares the platform to be tested. The platform may specified via matcher or control block name. For example, using a matcher:

describe os.family do
  it { should eq 'platform_family_name' }
end
  • 'platform_family_name' (a string) is one of aix, bsd, darwin, debian, hpux, linux, redhat, solaris, suse, unix, or windows

The parameters available to os are:

  • :name - the operating system name, such as centos
  • :family - the operating system family, such as redhat
  • :release - the version of the operating system, such as 7.3.1611
  • :arch - the architecture of the operating system, such as x86_64

Examples

The following examples show how to use this Chef InSpec audit resource.

Test for RedHat

describe os.family do
  it { should eq 'redhat' }
end

Test for Ubuntu

describe os.family do
  it { should eq 'debian' }
end

Test for Microsoft Windows

describe os.family do
  it { should eq 'windows' }
end

Matchers

For a full list of available matchers, see our Universal Matchers page.

This resource has the following special matchers.

os.family? Helpers

The os audit resource includes a collection of helpers that enable more granular testing of platforms, platform names, architectures, and releases. Use any of the following platform-specific helpers to test for specific platforms:

  • aix?
  • bsd? (including Darwin, FreeBSD, NetBSD, and OpenBSD)
  • darwin?
  • debian?
  • hpux?
  • linux? (including Alpine Linux, Amazon Linux, ArchLinux, CoreOS, Exherbo, Fedora, Gentoo, and Slackware)
  • redhat? (including CentOS)
  • solaris? (including Nexenta Core, OmniOS, Open Indiana, Solaris Open, and SmartOS)
  • suse?
  • unix?
  • windows?

For example, to test for Darwin use:

describe os.bsd? do
   it { should eq true }
end

To test for Windows use:

describe os.windows? do
   it { should eq true }
end

and to test for Redhat use:

describe os.redhat? do
   it { should eq true }
end

Use the following helpers to test for operating system names, releases, and architectures:

describe os.name do
   it { should eq 'foo' }
end

describe os.release do
   it { should eq 'foo' }
end

describe os.arch do
   it { should eq 'foo' }
end

os.family names

Use os.family to enable more granular testing of platforms, platform names, architectures, and releases. Use any of the following platform-specific names to test for specific platforms:

  • aix
  • bsd For platforms that are part of the Berkeley OS family darwin, freebsd, netbsd, and openbsd.
  • debian
  • hpux
  • linux. For platforms that are part of the Linux family alpine, amazon, arch, coreos, exherbo, fedora, gentoo, and slackware.
  • redhat. For platforms that are part of the Redhat family centos.
  • solaris. For platforms that are part of the Solaris family nexentacore, omnios, openindiana, opensolaris, and smartos.
  • suse
  • unix
  • windows

For example, both of the following tests should have the same result:

if os.family == 'debian'
  describe port(69) do
    its('processes') { should include 'in.tftpd' }
  end
elsif os.family == 'redhat'
  describe port(69) do
    its('processes') { should include 'xinetd' }
  end
end

if os.debian?
  describe port(69) do
    its('processes') { should include 'in.tftpd' }
  end
elsif os.redhat?
  describe port(69) do
    its('processes') { should include 'xinetd' }
  end
end
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