How to Download Chef Workstation and Other Developer Tools

Developer tools are essential for programmers and other software developers. Chef Workstation is one such powerful DevOps software tool used by developers and system administrators for creating, testing, and managing Chef recipes. It allows you to manage your infrastructure as code, making it easier to replicate and deploy.   

In this article, we'll show you how to download and install Chef Workstation as well as several other development tools. We'll also provide links to additional resources that can help you get started with Chef. After following these instructions, you'll be able to start coding like a pro. So whether you're a beginner or an experienced developer, we have something for everyone. 

How to Download Chef Workstation? 

Welcome to our step-by-step guide on downloading one of the best tools for DevOps Chef Workstation. These steps will take you through downloading the Chef Workstation on your computer. 

• Visit the Chef Workstation download page at https://downloads.Chef.io/Chef-workstation/. 
• Select the appropriate operating system and Chef architecture for your system from the drop-down menus. 
• Click on the "Download" button for the selected file. 

• Once the file has finished downloading, open it and follow the prompts to install Chef Workstation on your system.  

After you have got a successful download, Chef is not as easy as it seems. So, seek out assistance with the best Chef online course available and make your learning curve go higher and higher. 

Chef Workstation: Supported Platforms

Chef Workstation is designed to support a wide range of operating systems and hardware architectures. Currently, they are compatible with the following platforms: 

System Requirements

Considering Chef Workstation as one the best tools for DevOps, your computer just needs to meet a few normal system requirements. These include:  

• 4GB of RAM 
• 8GB of disk space 

You may also need extra memory and space for certain features, namely Test Kitchen that creates and manages the virtual test environments.  

For Linux systems, you need a graphical windows manager running that supports the tray icons. Depending on your distribution, you may have to install additional libraries as well.  

How to Install Chef Workstations? 

Installing Chef Workstation gives you everything you need to start with one of the top tools for DevOps - Chef. It includes all the tools necessary to develop, test and run your Chef cookbooks. But before you can start using Chef Workstation, you need to install it on your system. The process is simple and only requires a few steps to get started. Here are the steps below for different supported OS. 

Installation on Windows OS

• Navigate to the Chef Workstation downloads and choose the OS package as per your needs. Hit the option Download. 

• Go through the prompts on the screen and accept the license agreement to install the Chef Workstation. Your default file location is C:\opscode\Chef-workstation\ directory but one can make changes during the installation process. 

• You can even select the default shell. For Windows OS, it is advisable to make use of Windows PowerShell rather than cmd.exe. 

Further, you can also install the Chef Workstation on Windows via the Chocolatey package manager. 

choco install Chef-workstation

Chef Workstation: Installation on Mac OS

• Go to the Chef Workstation downloads site and look out for the desired package as per your macOS version.  
• Next, tap on Download. 

• Go through the on-screen instructions and install the Chef Workstation.  

Moreover, you can also install Chef Workstation via the Homebrew package manager: 

brew install --cask Chef-workstation 

Chef Workstation For Linux

Go to the Chef Workstation downloads and choose the appropriate download package as per your OS. 

1. For Red Hat Enterprise Linux  

Follow wget https://packages.Chef.io/files/stable/Chef-workstation/21.10.640/el/8/Chef-workstation-21.10.640-1.el8.x86_64.rpm 

2. Debian/Ubuntu 

Follow wget https://packages.Chef.io/files/stable/Chef-workstation/21.10.640/ubuntu/20.04/Chef-workstation_21.10.640-1_amd64.deb 

You can install Chef Workstation through your distribution's package manager. Here is how -

1. For Red Hat Enterprise Linux 

Follow yum localinstall Chef-workstation-21.10.640-1.el8.x86_64.rpm 

2. Debian/Ubuntu 

Follow dpkg -i Chef-workstation_21.10.640-1_amd64.deb 

Verify the Installation

To verify the Chef Workstation installation, you need to run the Chef-v command: 

This will return the given versions of the installed Chef tool: 

Upgrading

To upgrade your Chef workstation version, first ensure that you have the latest version of the ChefDK. You can check this by running Chef -v. If you do not have the latest version, you can download it from the Chef website as mentioned above. Once you have the latest ChefDK, you can upgrade your existing cookbooks by running the following Chef execute command: Chef update. This will update all of the dependencies in your cookbooks to the latest version.  

If you have any cookbooks incompatible with the new version of Chef, they will be outputted to a file called UpdateFailures.log. You can then either fix these cookbooks or delete them. Finally, run Chef-client to update your local copy of the Chef server. Following these steps, you can ensure that your Chef workstation is always up-to-date and ready to use. 

Uninstalling Chef Workstation

Different operating systems have different ways of uninstalling Chef Workstation. Here are the instructions for uninstalling some of the most popular operating systems. 

Windows OS

1. Start the Control Panel. 
2. Click on Programs and Features. 
3. Locate Chef Workstation in the list of installed programs and click on it. 
4. Click on the Uninstall button. 
5. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the uninstallation process. 
6. Restart your computer when prompted. 
7. Chef Workstation should now be uninstalled from your system. 

MacOS

To uninstall Chef Workstation on MacOS, first open a terminal window and enter the following command: uninstall_Chef_workstation 

Linux OS  

Follow the steps below to uninstall Chef Workstation in Linux OS. 

• For Ubuntu and Debian: 

Open the terminal window and type up the following command: sudo dpkg -P Chef-workstation 

• For Red Hat and CentOS: 

Open the terminal window and type up the following command: sudo yum remove Chef-workstation 

Available Versions of Chef Workstation 

The Chef Workstation latest stable version 22.7.1006 is available for different versions of Amazon Linux, Debian GNU/Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux/CentOS, macOS, Ubuntu Linux and Windows. Here is the list of all the different OS versions for a successful Chef Workstation Download.   

For Windows OS

Note: As you access the above download links, you need to choose your version of Windows and then start the download afterwards. 

For Ubuntu Linux  

Note: As you access the above download links, you need to choose your version of Ubuntu Linux and then start the download afterwards. 

For MacOS

Note: As you access the above download links, you need to choose your version of macOS and then start the download afterwards.

For Red Hat Enterprise Linux/CentOS

Note: As you access the above download links, you need to choose your version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux/CentOS and then start the download afterwards. 

For Debian GNU/Linux OS

Note: As you access the above download links, you need to choose your version of Debian GNU/Linux OS and then start the download afterwards. 

For Amazon Linux

As you have figured out everything from installation to download of one of the best tools for DevOps- Chef, it is time to get your hands on online DevOps courses and take a step ahead in your DevOps goals.  

Other Chef Downloads 

Considering Chef as one of the best tools for DevOps, you may need to download some extra Chef agents. We have provided a detailed overview along with the download links below. 

Run-time Agents  

Run-time agents are components installed on a server along with Chef Infra Client. They perform tasks on behalf of the Chef Infra Client, such as gathering node data, executing recipes, and reporting to the Chef Infra Server. The run-time Chef agent is written in Ruby and packaged as a Gem. It is open source and available on GitHub. In addition to the run-time agent, there are several other projects that extend the functionality of Chef Infra. These include:  

Chef Infra Client: The Chef Infra Client is a Ruby-based application that performs all of the actual work of configuring and maintaining your nodes.  

To download the Chef Infra Client, go to the link: https://www.Chef.io/downloads/tools/infra-client and look out for your supported OS platforms. Falling under version 17.10.3, you can make a suitable download for AIX, Amazon Linux, Debian GNU/Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux/CentOS, FreeBSD, macOS, SUSE Linux, Enterprise Server, Solaris, Ubuntu Linux and Windows.

Chef Inspec Client: A testing and auditing tool that helps verify compliance with security and policy requirements.  

Download the Chef Inspec Client

and make your download as per your supported OS. Falling under version 5.18.14, you can download this run-time agent for Amazon Linux, Debian GNU/Linux, Red Hat Enterprise, Linux/CentOS, macOS, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, Ubuntu Linux and Windows. 

Chef Habitat:  A Chef automation platform that enables developers to build, deploy, and manage applications across any infrastructure.  

Download this run-time agent, and choose the download option among Linux, MacOS and Windows. 

Each of these tools provides additional functionality that can be used to further automate your infrastructure. 

Servers and Management Tools 

In addition to the core Chef downloads, there are several additional CM tools that can be used to manage Chef environments.  

• Chef Automate: It provides a web-based interface for managing Chef Infra Server and all of its associated data. This tool is only compatible with Linux and for an easy download, you need to just follow this link. 
• Chef Infra Server: This is a standalone server that provides all of the core functionality of Chef Automate, including recipe management, node management, and integration with external systems. This tool falls under the version 15.0.9. To download Chef infra server, tap on this link. Moreover, you need to choose from different OS including Amazon Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux/CentOS, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and Ubuntu Linux. 
• Chef Habitat Builder: It is one of the best configuration management tools for building and managing containers using the Habitat package manager. It includes a web-based user interface and Command line interface (CLI) for managing containers, and integrates with popular container orchestration platforms such as Kubernetes and Mesosphere. To get a successful download of this tool, follow this link. Further, you need to choose the download option from Linux, macOS and Windows OS.  

Compliance and Security Tools

As any system administrator knows, compliance and security are essential considerations when managing any network. There are a variety of tools available to help meet these objectives, and Chef offers a comprehensive suite of products to help meet the challenges of compliance and security.   

• Chef Cloud Security: It is designed to help organizations secure their cloud environments and meet compliance standards. It provides various features, including the ability to automatically assess and remediate compliance issues, deploy security controls, and monitor activity in the cloud. To download this security tool, follow this link and start your download.  
• Chef Automate: This provides a central platform for managing compliance and security across your entire infrastructure. For an easy download, you just need to follow this link. 
• Chef Infra Server: This provides a central repository for all of your compliance and security configurations. To download Chef infra server, tap on this link. 
• Chef InSpec Client: It helps you to verify and enforce compliance policies across your network. To download the Chef Inspec Client, follow this link. 

Deprecated Tools

While Chef is no longer releasing new versions of its Backend and Manage tools, they are still available for download.  

• Chef Backend: It is a server provisioning tool that allows you to manage your infrastructure automation using code. It is compatible with a variety of platforms, including Linux, Windows, and macOS. Download this tool under version 3.1.1, and choose your version of OS.  
• Chef Manage: it is a web-based interface that provides a turnkey solution for managing your Chef infrastructure. It includes a recipe builder, node management, and role-based access control. While these tools are no longer supported by Chef, they can still be useful for managing your infrastructure. Download this tool under version 3.3.66 and choose your version of OS.  

We have got ourselves sorted out and got Chef in your systems but becoming an expert in Chef isn't easy. We need an easy road map with comprehensive details on Chef, and the KnowledgeHut Chef Online course is the perfect solution for all such needs. Get Started today! 

Conclusion

Chef Workstation is a powerful tool for developers that allows you to manage your code, configure tools, files, and applications. In this post, we’ve shown you how easy it is to download and install Chef Workstation on your computer. We’ve also highlighted some of the key features of the software so you can start using it right away. If you have any questions about Chef Workstation or other developer tools, please let us know. Our team is happy to help! For Red Hat Enterprise Linux  

Follow wget https://packages.Chef.io/files/stable/Chef-workstation/21.10.640/el/8/Chef-workstation-21.10.640-1.el8.x86_64.rpm 

1. Debian/Ubuntu 

Follow wget https://packages.Chef.io/files/stable/Chef-workstation/21.10.640/ubuntu/20.04/Chef-workstation_21.10.640-1_amd64.deb 

You can install Chef Workstation through your distribution's package manager. Here is how -

1. For Red Hat Enterprise Linux 

Follow yum localinstall Chef-workstation-21.10.640-1.el8.x86_64.rpm 

1. Debian/Ubuntu 

Follow dpkg -i Chef-workstation_21.10.640-1_amd64.deb 

Verify the Installation

To verify the Chef Workstation installation, you need to run the Chef-v command: 

This will return the given versions of the installed Chef tool: 

Upgrading

To upgrade your Chef workstation version, first ensure that you have the latest version of the ChefDK. You can check this by running Chef -v. If you do not have the latest version, you can download it from the Chef website as mentioned above. Once you have the latest ChefDK, you can upgrade your existing cookbooks by running the following Chef execute command: Chef update. This will update all of the dependencies in your cookbooks to the latest version.  

If you have any cookbooks incompatible with the new version of Chef, they will be outputted to a file called UpdateFailures.log. You can then either fix these cookbooks or delete them. Finally, run Chef-client to update your local copy of the Chef server. Following these steps, you can ensure that your Chef workstation is always up-to-date and ready to use. 

Uninstalling Chef Workstation

Different operating systems have different ways of uninstalling Chef Workstation. Here are the instructions for uninstalling some of the most popular operating systems. 

Windows OS

1. Start the Control Panel. 
2. Click on Programs and Features. 
3. Locate Chef Workstation in the list of installed programs and click on it. 
4. Click on the Uninstall button. 
5. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the uninstallation process. 
6. Restart your computer when prompted. 
7. Chef Workstation should now be uninstalled from your system. 

MacOS

To uninstall Chef Workstation on MacOS, first open a terminal window and enter the following command: uninstall_Chef_workstation 

Linux OS  

Follow the steps below to uninstall Chef Workstation in Linux OS. 

• For Ubuntu and Debian: 

Open the terminal window and type up the following command: sudo dpkg -P Chef-workstation 

• For Red Hat and CentOS: 

Open the terminal window and type up the following command: sudo yum remove Chef-workstation 

Available Versions of Chef Workstation 

The Chef Workstation latest stable version 22.7.1006 is available for different versions of Amazon Linux, Debian GNU/Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux/CentOS, macOS, Ubuntu Linux and Windows. Here is the list of all the different OS versions for a successful Chef Workstation Download.   

For Windows OS

Note: As you access the above download links, you need to choose your version of Windows and then start the download afterwards. 

For Ubuntu Linux  

Note: As you access the above download links, you need to choose your version of Ubuntu Linux and then start the download afterwards. 

For MacOS

Note: As you access the above download links, you need to choose your version of macOS and then start the download afterwards.

For Red Hat Enterprise Linux/CentOS

Note: As you access the above download links, you need to choose your version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux/CentOS and then start the download afterwards. 

For Debian GNU/Linux OS

Note: As you access the above download links, you need to choose your version of Debian GNU/Linux OS and then start the download afterwards. 

For Amazon Linux

As you have figured out everything from installation to download of one of the best tools for DevOps- Chef, it is time to get your hands on online DevOps courses and take a step ahead in your DevOps goals.  

Other Chef Downloads 

Considering Chef as one of the best tools for DevOps, you may need to download some extra Chef agents. We have provided a detailed overview along with the download links below. 

Run-time Agents  

Run-time agents are components installed on a server along with Chef Infra Client. They perform tasks on behalf of the Chef Infra Client, such as gathering node data, executing recipes, and reporting to the Chef Infra Server. The run-time Chef agent is written in Ruby and packaged as a Gem. It is open source and available on GitHub. In addition to the run-time agent, there are several other projects that extend the functionality of Chef Infra. These include:  

Chef Infra Client: The Chef Infra Client is a Ruby-based application that performs all of the actual work of configuring and maintaining your nodes.  

To download the Chef Infra Client, go to the link: https://www.Chef.io/downloads/tools/infra-client and look out for your supported OS platforms. Falling under version 17.10.3, you can make a suitable download for AIX, Amazon Linux, Debian GNU/Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux/CentOS, FreeBSD, macOS, SUSE Linux, Enterprise Server, Solaris, Ubuntu Linux and Windows.

Chef Inspec Client: A testing and auditing tool that helps verify compliance with security and policy requirements.  

Download the Chef Inspec Client

and make your download as per your supported OS. Falling under version 5.18.14, you can download this run-time agent for Amazon Linux, Debian GNU/Linux, Red Hat Enterprise, Linux/CentOS, macOS, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, Ubuntu Linux and Windows. 

Chef Habitat:  A Chef automation platform that enables developers to build, deploy, and manage applications across any infrastructure.  

Download this run-time agent, and choose the download option among Linux, MacOS and Windows. 

Each of these tools provides additional functionality that can be used to further automate your infrastructure. 

Servers and Management Tools 

In addition to the core Chef downloads, there are several additional CM tools that can be used to manage Chef environments.  

• Chef Automate: It provides a web-based interface for managing Chef Infra Server and all of its associated data. This tool is only compatible with Linux and for an easy download, you need to just follow this link. 
• Chef Infra Server: This is a standalone server that provides all of the core functionality of Chef Automate, including recipe management, node management, and integration with external systems. This tool falls under the version 15.0.9. To download Chef infra server, tap on this link. Moreover, you need to choose from different OS including Amazon Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux/CentOS, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and Ubuntu Linux. 
• Chef Habitat Builder: It is one of the best configuration management tools for building and managing containers using the Habitat package manager. It includes a web-based user interface and Command line interface (CLI) for managing containers, and integrates with popular container orchestration platforms such as Kubernetes and Mesosphere. To get a successful download of this tool, follow this link. Further, you need to choose the download option from Linux, macOS and Windows OS.  

Compliance and Security Tools

As any system administrator knows, compliance and security are essential considerations when managing any network. There are a variety of tools available to help meet these objectives, and Chef offers a comprehensive suite of products to help meet the challenges of compliance and security.   

• Chef Cloud Security: It is designed to help organizations secure their cloud environments and meet compliance standards. It provides various features, including the ability to automatically assess and remediate compliance issues, deploy security controls, and monitor activity in the cloud. To download this security tool, follow this link and start your download.  
• Chef Automate: This provides a central platform for managing compliance and security across your entire infrastructure. For an easy download, you just need to follow this link. 
• Chef Infra Server: This provides a central repository for all of your compliance and security configurations. To download Chef infra server, tap on this link. 
• Chef InSpec Client: It helps you to verify and enforce compliance policies across your network. To download the Chef Inspec Client, follow this link. 

Deprecated Tools

While Chef is no longer releasing new versions of its Backend and Manage tools, they are still available for download.  

• Chef Backend: It is a server provisioning tool that allows you to manage your infrastructure automation using code. It is compatible with a variety of platforms, including Linux, Windows, and macOS. Download this tool under version 3.1.1, and choose your version of OS.  
• Chef Manage: it is a web-based interface that provides a turnkey solution for managing your Chef infrastructure. It includes a recipe builder, node management, and role-based access control. While these tools are no longer supported by Chef, they can still be useful for managing your infrastructure. Download this tool under version 3.3.66 and choose your version of OS.  

We have got ourselves sorted out and got Chef in your systems but becoming an expert in Chef isn't easy. We need an easy road map with comprehensive details on Chef, and the KnowledgeHut Chef Online course is the perfect solution for all such needs. Get Started today! 

Conclusion

Chef Workstation is a powerful tool for developers that allows you to manage your code, configure tools, files, and applications. In this post, we’ve shown you how easy it is to download and install Chef Workstation on your computer. We’ve also highlighted some of the key features of the software so you can start using it right away. If you have any questions about Chef Workstation or other developer tools, please let us know. Our team is happy to help!