parse_config resource

Use the parse_config Chef InSpec audit resource to test arbitrary configuration files.

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 parse_config resource block declares the location of the configuration setting to be tested, and then what value is to be tested. Because this resource relies on arbitrary configuration files, the test itself is often arbitrary and relies on custom Ruby code:

output = command('some-command').stdout

describe parse_config(output, { data_config_option: value } ) do
  its('setting') { should eq 1 }
end

or:

audit = command('/sbin/auditctl -l').stdout
  options = {
    assignment_regex: /^\s*([^:]*?)\s*:\s*(.*?)\s*$/,
    multiple_values: true
  }

describe parse_config(audit, options) do
  its('setting') { should eq 1 }
end

where each test

Must declare the location of the configuration file to be tested
Must declare one (or more) settings to be tested
May run a command to stdout, and then run the test against that output
May use options to define how configuration data is to be parsed

Options

This resource supports multiple options to parse configuration data. Use the options in an options block stated outside of (and immediately before) the actual test. For example:

options = {
    assignment_regex: /^\s*([^:]*?)\s*:\s*(.*?)\s*$/,
    multiple_values: true
  }

output = command('some-command').stdout

describe parse_config(output,  options) do
  its('setting') { should eq 1 }
end

assignment_regex

Use assignment_regex to test a key value using a regular expression:

'key = value'

may be tested using the following regular expression, which determines assignment from key to value:

assignment_regex: /^\s*([^=]*?)\s*=\s*(.*?)\s*$/

comment_char

Use comment_char to test for comments in a configuration file:

comment_char: '#'

key_values

Use key_values to test how many values a key contains:

key = a b c

contains three values. To test that value to ensure it only contains one, use:

key_values: 1

multiple_values

Use multiple_values if the source file uses the same key multiple times. All values will be aggregated in an array:

# # file structure:
# key = a
# key = b
# key2 = c
params['key'] = ['a', 'b']
params['key2'] = ['c']

To use plain key value mapping, use multiple_values: false:

# # file structure:
# key = a
# key = b
# key2 = c
params['key'] = 'b'
params['key2'] = 'c'

standalone_comments

Use standalone_comments to parse comments as a line, otherwise inline comments are allowed:

'key = value # comment'
params['key'] = 'value # comment'

Use standalone_comments: false, to parse the following:

'key = value # comment'
params['key'] = 'value'

Examples

This resource is based on the parse_config_file resource. See the parse_config_file resource for examples.

Matchers

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