config.XO vs Rex

config.XO extends Microsoft PowerShell Desired State Configuration to manage Windows and Linux node configurations. It evaluates managed servers and clients against their intended state and corrects drift automatically. Teams can assign configurations to groups or individual hosts, create their own configurations and modules, or use a web wizard to build DSC configurations without writing code. It supports on-premises physical hosts and virtual machines, as well as internet-connected public-cloud virtual machines; proxy configuration is possible. Listed Windows versions are Server 2022, 2019 and 2016, plus Windows 11 and 10. Configuration runs can install packages through application.XO. The cloud service is agent-based and lists patch management, policy as code and compliance reporting alongside drift detection. Uploaded DSC configurations are encrypted with an XOAP-provided certificate, but user-uploaded compiled MOF files are not encrypted. XOAP says its service is hosted in Europe, is GDPR compliant, encrypts management connections and does not store actual user credentials. Free includes three managed systems; Standard is €449.00 per month or €4,999 billed annually.

Rex is a free, open-source automation framework for managing local computers and remote machines over SSH. It runs self-hosted and agentless on Linux and Windows, with support also listed for RHEL/CentOS, Fedora, OpenWRT, BSDs, and Solaris. Projects keep inventory, environments, authentication details, and tasks in a Rexfile. You can combine local or remote execution, push or pull management, and imperative or declarative styles. Tasks can install packages, upload configuration files, start services, and trigger actions when files change. Rex uses a DSL compatible with Perl syntax and can be extended with Perl modules or custom code. Authentication documentation covers passwords, SSH keys, passphrases, external credential sources, and ssh-agent. The control host needs Perl and dependencies; managed hosts need Perl 5 and a valid SSH account. Installation is recommended through CPAN, with package-manager and source options. Apache 2.0 licensing applies to Rex and its parts.