What does Hiera primarily manage in Puppet?

Hiera primarily manages variables and data in Puppet. It is a key component that enables separation of data from the Puppet code, allowing users to define data in a structured way. This separation facilitates better management, especially in large infrastructures, where configurations might need to vary based on different environments, nodes, or other hierarchies.

By utilizing Hiera, Puppet users can retrieve data defined in YAML or JSON files, making it easier to manage configuration values without hardcoding them into manifests. This approach promotes reusability and enhances the maintainability of the Puppet code because changes to data can be made independently of the code itself.

For instance, instead of reworking the entire Puppet manifest to change a variable value, you can simply update the data in Hiera, which is then automatically incorporated into the Puppet runs. This dynamic data management plays a crucial role in Puppet’s ability to manage complex deployments effectively.