Run `apt-get update` before installing other packages with Puppet

Question

I\'m trying to create puppet module which automates installation of zend server CE, this is not important here, but steps are as following

1. update /etc/apt/sour

Answer 1

Since Puppet 2.6.0 a new feature "relationship syntax" was introduced.

An example in Puppet 2.6.0 and above would look like this:

exec { "apt-update":
    command => "/usr/bin/apt-get update"
}

Exec["apt-update"] -> Package <| |>

Every time a package command is executed, the dependency (in our case 'apt-update') will be triggered fist. You can even define longer chains.

Answer 2

Package that needs updating APT lists should require Class['apt::update']

package { "zend-server-ce-php-5.2":
   ensure => "latest",
   require => Class['apt::update']
}

If you're using custom APT source, just ensure correct ordering:

Apt::Source['my_source'] 
-> Class['apt::update']