What will happen if a node is included in more than one role?

When a node is included in more than one role, the most recently declared role will take precedence. This behavior is rooted in how Puppet processes manifests and the order of resource declaration. Puppet compiles the catalog for the node, and if multiple roles are assigned, any conflicting resources or parameters will be overridden by those in the last role declared.

This precedence ensures that the final configuration for that node reflects the most updated intentions of the manifest's authors. The flexibility of this design allows administrators to easily manage and change roles without needing to remove those previously assigned, which may not be feasible in a dynamic environment.

Understanding this precedence model is crucial for Puppet practitioners. It informs decisions on designing Puppet environments, particularly regarding role definition and resource management.