If a specific node is classified in both a node group and site.pp, what is the expected behavior during a Puppet agent run?

When a specific node is classified in both a node group and site.pp, the expected behavior is that the Puppet agent will encounter a conflict that leads to a compilation error. This situation arises because Puppet is designed to avoid ambiguity in configuration management. If there are conflicting definitions for the same resource or class in both the node group and site.pp, Puppet cannot determine which one to prioritize, resulting in a compilation error.

In Puppet's classification system, node groups are generally considered to provide a higher level of organization and management than the site.pp file. However, when both configurations apply to the same node with conflicting details, it creates an inconsistency that Puppet cannot resolve automatically.

Thus, encountering such a conflict will prevent the Puppet agent from successfully compiling the catalog, ultimately leading to the failure of the configuration run. Understanding this behavior is crucial for optimal Puppet management and organization, as it emphasizes the importance of ensuring that node definitions are consistent across all classification strategies.