chef only_if attribute equals true

Question

Problem: I have a chef statement that should only run if the attribute is "true". But it runs every time.

Expected Behavior: When default[:QuickBase_Legacy_Stack][:dotNetFx4_Install] = "false" dotnet4 should not be installed.

Actual Behavior: No matter what the attribute is set to, it installs dotnet4.

My code:

attribute file:

default[:QuickBase_Legacy_Stack][:dotNetFx4_Install] = "false"

recipe file:

windows_package "dotnet4" do
    only_if node[:QuickBase_Legacy_Stack][:dotNetFx4_Install]=='true'
    source "#{node[:QuickBase_Legacy_Stack][:dotNetFx4_URL]}"
    installer_type :custom
    action :install
    options "/quiet /log C:\\chef\\installLog4.txt /norestart /skipmsuinstall"
end

Vaas

I really like the format of your question. You clearly identified the problem, given outcome, and desired outcome. You must be an engineer :) – Hideandseek

Yes I am, perhaps you can reward it with an upvote... :) – Vaas

Answer 1

Guards that run Ruby must be enclosed in a block {} otherwise Chef will try to run the string in the default interpreter (usually bash).

windows_package "dotnet4" do
    only_if        { node[:QuickBase_Legacy_Stack][:dotNetFx4_Install] == 'true' }
    source         node[:QuickBase_Legacy_Stack][:dotNetFx4_URL]
    installer_type :custom
    action         :install
    options        "/quiet /log C:\\chef\\installLog4.txt /norestart /skipmsuinstall"
end

Check if you need boolean true instead of "true"

Also, use the plain variable name (for source) unless you need to interpolate other data with the string quoting.

Extragalactic

Answer 2

That is a Ruby conditional, so you need to use a block for your not_if:

only_if { node[:QuickBase_Legacy_Stack][:dotNetFx4_Install]=='true' }

(Please take note of the added {}). You can also use the do..end syntax for multiline conditions:

only_if do
  node[:QuickBase_Legacy_Stack][:dotNetFx4_Install]=='true'
end

Finally, please make sure your value is the String "true" and not the value true (see the difference). In Ruby, true is a boolean (just like false), but "true" is a string (just like "foo") Checking if true == "true" will return false.

Hideandseek

I am having a similar issue.. I have "sync_db": "true" in json config and in my chef recipe I cannot get it to work unless I check if only_if { sub_site['sync_db'] != nil } and remove it from attributes. only_if { sub_site['sync_db'] == "true"} or true does not work. Any idea? – Flameproof