Provided by: chef_12.3.0-3ubuntu1_all 
NAME
knife-diff - The man page for the knife diff subcommand.
The knife diff subcommand is used to compare the differences between files and directories on the Chef
server and in the chef-repo. For example, to compare files on the Chef server prior to an uploading or
downloading files using the knife download and knife upload subcommands, or to ensure that certain files
in multiple production environments are the same. This subcommand is similar to the git diff command that
can be used to diff what is in the chef-repo with what is synced to a git repository.
Syntax
This subcommand has the following syntax:
$ knife diff [PATTERN...] (options)
Options
This subcommand has the following options:
-c CONFIG_FILE, --config CONFIG_FILE
The configuration file to use.
--chef-repo-path PATH
The path to the chef-repo. This setting will override the default path to the chef-repo. Default:
same as specified by chef_repo_path in config.rb.
--chef-zero-port PORT
The port on which chef-zero will listen.
--[no-]color
Use to view colored output.
--cookbook-version VERSION
The version of a cookbook to be downloaded.
--concurrency
The number of allowed concurrent connections. Default: 10.
-d, --disable-editing
Use to prevent the $EDITOR from being opened and to accept data as-is.
--defaults
Use to have knife use the default value instead of asking a user to provide one.
--diff-filter=[(A|D|M|T)...[*]]
Use to select only files that have been added (A), deleted (D), modified (M), and/or have had
their type changed (T). Any combination of filter characters may be used, including no filter
characters. Use * to select all paths if a file matches other criteria in the comparison. Default
value: nil.
-e EDITOR, --editor EDITOR
The $EDITOR that is used for all interactive commands.
-E ENVIRONMENT, --environment ENVIRONMENT
The name of the environment. When this option is added to a command, the command will run only
against the named environment.
-F FORMAT, --format FORMAT
The output format: summary (default), text, json, yaml, and pp.
-h, --help
Shows help for the command.
-k KEY, --key KEY
The private key that knife will use to sign requests made by the API client to the Chef server.
--name-only
Use to show only the names of modified files.
--name-status
Use to show only the names of files with a status of Added, Deleted, Modified, or Type Changed.
--no-recurse
Use --no-recurse to disable listing a directory recursively. Default: --recurse.
--print-after
Use to show data after a destructive operation.
--repo-mode MODE
The layout of the local chef-repo. Possible values: static, everything, or hosted_everything. Use
static for just roles, environments, cookbooks, and data bags. By default, everything and
hosted_everything are dynamically selected depending on the server type. Default: everything /
hosted_everything.
-s URL, --server-url URL
The URL for the Chef server.
-u USER, --user USER
The user name used by knife to sign requests made by the API client to the Chef server.
Authentication will fail if the user name does not match the private key.
-v, --version
The version of the chef-client.
-V, --verbose
Set for more verbose outputs. Use -VV for maximum verbosity.
-y, --yes
Use to respond to all confirmation prompts with "Yes". knife will not ask for confirmation.
-z, --local-mode
Use to run the chef-client in local mode. This allows all commands that work against the Chef
server to also work against the local chef-repo.
knife.rb File Settings
In addition to the default settings in a knife.rb file, there are other subcommand-specific settings that
can be added. When a subcommand is run, knife will use:
1. A value passed via the command-line
2. A value contained in the knife.rb file
3. The default value
A value passed via the command line will override a value in the knife.rb file; a value in a knife.rb
file will override a default value.
The following knife diff settings can be added to the knife.rb file:
knife[:chef_repo_path]
Use to add the --chef-repo-path option.
knife[:concurrency]
Use to add the --concurrency option.
knife[:name_only]
Use to add the --name-only option.
knife[:name_status]
Use to add the --name-status option.
knife[:recurse]
Use to add the --recurse option.
knife[:repo_mode]
Use to add the --repo-mode option.
Examples
To compare the base.json role to a webserver.json role, enter:
$ knife diff roles/base.json roles/webserver.json
To compare the differences between the local chef-repo and the files that are on the Chef server, enter:
$ knife diff
To diff a node named node-lb and then only return files that have been added, deleted, modified, or
changed, enter:
$ knife diff --name-status node-lb
to return something like:
node-lb/recipes/eip.rb
node-lb/recipes/heartbeat-int.rb
node-lb/templates/default/corpsite.conf.erb
node-lb/files/default/wildcard.node.com.crt
node-lb/files/default/wildcard.node.com.crt-2009
node-lb/files/default/wildcard.node.com.key
node-lb/.gitignore
node-lb/Rakefile
AUTHOR
Chef
Chef 12.0 KNIFE-DIFF(1)