bash resource

Use the bash Chef InSpec audit resource to test an arbitrary command that is run on the system using a Bash script.

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

A command resource block declares a command to be run, one (or more) expected outputs, and the location to which that output is sent:

describe bash('command') do
  it { should exist }
  its('property') { should eq 'expected value' }
end

where

• 'command' must specify a command to be run
• 'property' is one of exit_status, stderr, or stdout
• 'expected value' tests the output of the command run on the system versus the expected output stated in the test

For example:

describe bash('ls -al /') do
  its('stdout') { should match /bin/ }
  its('stderr') { should eq '' }
  its('exit_status') { should eq 0 }
end

Properties

exit_status

The exit_status property returns the exit status for the command.

its('exit_status') { should eq 0 }

stderr

The stderr property returns results of the command as returned in standard error (stderr).

its('stderr') { should eq '' }

stdout

The stdout property returns the results of the command as returned in standard output (stdout).

its('stdout') { should match /bin/ }

Matchers

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

This resource has the following special matchers.

exist

If an absolute path is provided, the exist matcher tests if the command exists on the filesystem at the specified location. Otherwise, the exist matcher tests if the command is found in the PATH.

it { should exist }