What is the default node name for Puppet agents?

The default node name for Puppet agents is referred to as the "certname." This is the identifier that Puppet uses to uniquely recognize and communicate with each agent connected to the Puppet master. The certname is typically derived from the host's domain name or can be set to match the hostname, but it serves as the designation that Puppet uses to manage configurations and resources for that specific node.

While other terms like "hostname" and "hostcert" have their specific usages within the context of Puppet, they do not define the agent's node name. "hostname" generally refers to the machine's name as recognized in the network, while "hostcert" pertains to the certificate associated with the host. The term "node_name" is not typically used as a default setting; Puppet uses "certname" explicitly for the identification of nodes. Therefore, "certname" is the most accurate and relevant answer for the default node name assigned to Puppet agents.