---
name: "puppet-master"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "puppet"
version: "5.5.22-2"
release: "Debian 11 (Bullseye)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/puppet-master"
---

# puppet-master(8)

The puppet master daemon

## NAME

**puppet-master** - The puppet master daemon

## SYNOPSIS

The central puppet server. Functions as a certificate authority by default.

## USAGE

puppet master \[-D\|--daemonize\|--no-daemonize\] \[-d\|--debug\] \[-h\|--help\] \[-l\|--logdest syslog\|*FILE*\|console\] \[-v\|--verbose\] \[-V\|--version\] \[--compile *NODE-NAME*\]

## DESCRIPTION

This command starts an instance of puppet master, running as a daemon and using Ruby's built-in Webrick webserver. Puppet master can also be managed by other application servers; when this is the case, this executable is not used.

## OPTIONS

Note that any Puppet setting that's valid in the configuration file is also a valid long argument. For example, 'server' is a valid setting, so you can specify '--server *servername*' as an argument. Boolean settings translate into '--setting' and '--no-setting' pairs.

See the configuration file documentation at https://puppet.com/docs/puppet/latest/configuration.html for the full list of acceptable settings. A commented list of all settings can also be generated by running puppet master with '--genconfig'.

- \--daemonize

  Send the process into the background. This is the default. (This is a Puppet setting, and can go in puppet.conf. Note the special 'no-' prefix for boolean settings on the command line.)

- \--no-daemonize

  Do not send the process into the background. (This is a Puppet setting, and can go in puppet.conf. Note the special 'no-' prefix for boolean settings on the command line.)

- \--debug

  Enable full debugging.

- \--help

  Print this help message.

- \--logdest

  Where to send log messages. Choose between 'syslog' (the POSIX syslog service), 'console', or the path to a log file. If debugging or verbosity is enabled, this defaults to 'console'. Otherwise, it defaults to 'syslog'.

-

  A path ending with '.json' will receive structured output in JSON format. The log file will not have an ending '\]' automatically written to it due to the appending nature of logging. It must be appended manually to make the content valid JSON.

- \--masterport

  The port on which to listen for traffic. The default port is 8140. (This is a Puppet setting, and can go in puppet.conf.)

- \--verbose

  Enable verbosity.

- \--version

  Print the puppet version number and exit.

- \--compile

  Compile a catalogue and output it in JSON from the puppet master. Uses facts contained in the $vardir/yaml/ directory to compile the catalog.

## EXAMPLE

puppet master

## DIAGNOSTICS

When running as a standalone daemon, puppet master accepts the following signals:

- SIGHUP

  Restart the puppet master server.

- SIGINT and SIGTERM

  Shut down the puppet master server.

- SIGUSR2

  Close file descriptors for log files and reopen them. Used with logrotate.

## AUTHOR

Luke Kanies

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright (c) 2012 Puppet Inc., LLC Licensed under the Apache 2.0 License