Cobbler vs Tinkerbell
Cobbler
cobbler.github.io
Tinkerbell
tinkerbell.orgSide by side
| Figure | Cobbler | Tinkerbell |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 0 |
| Spec score · Bare Metal Provisioning Software | 8.1 (#7) | 7.1 (#25) |
| Spec score · Bare Metal as a Service (BMaaS) Software | 8.2 (#3) | 7.1 (#11) |
| Spec score · OS Deployment Software | 8.0 (#8) | 7.1 (#23) |
| Purpose | Cobbler is a Linux installation server for setting up and automating network installation environments. | Tinkerbell is a bare-metal provisioning engine maintained by the Tinkerbell Community. |
| Support | The project directs users to its mailing list, GitHub issues and community chat for help. | The community page directs users to documentation, GitHub for bugs and feature ideas, and the CNCF Slack #tinkerbell channel for discussion. |
| Templates | Templates and reusable snippets can be used to generate automated installation files and manage services such as DNS and DHCP. | Templates contain sequential tasks and actions, including actions such as streaming an image to disk, writing files, and partitioning disks. |
Plans
In their own words
Cobbler
Cobbler is free, self-hosted Linux server software for creating and automating network installation environments. It supports PXE deployments, virtualization with Xen, QEMU/KVM, or VMware, and reinstallation of existing Linux systems. Administrators can coordinate DNS, DHCP, package updates, power management, and configuration-management orchestration. Interfaces include a command line, WebUI, and Python and XML-RPC APIs. Automated installation formats include AutoYaST for SUSE and openSUSE, Kickstart, and Preseed for Debian and Ubuntu. Templates and reusable snippets generate installation files and manage services such as DNS and DHCP. Cobbler integrates with cfengine3, Puppet, bcfg2, and Chef, or its internal lightweight system. It can be installed from distribution packages or source; pip installation is documented but not recommended. Python 3 is required, and server setup needs Apache, certificate, and administration knowledge. Security guidance notes broad network control and no SELinux or AppArmor profile. The project describes use in small and large installations.
Tinkerbell
Tinkerbell has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.