Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Cobbler VS Python Fabric

Compare Cobbler VS Python Fabric and see what are their differences

Cobbler logo Cobbler

Cobbler is a Linux installation server that allows for rapid setup of network installation...

Python Fabric logo Python Fabric

Fabric is a Python library and command-line tool for streamlining the use of SSH for application...
  • Cobbler Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-30
  • Python Fabric Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-05

Cobbler features and specs

  • Automation
    Cobbler automates and simplifies the process of setting up and managing network boot servers, reducing the manual effort involved in deployment.
  • Multi-Distro Support
    It supports multiple Linux distributions, allowing users to deploy various operating systems and configurations through a unified platform.
  • Scalability
    Cobbler can manage a large number of systems efficiently, making it suitable for both small environments and large-scale deployments.
  • Integration
    It integrates well with other configuration management tools like Ansible and Puppet, providing a cohesive infrastructure management solution.
  • Flexible Configuration
    Cobbler offers flexible configuration options, allowing users to customize network boot setups, including advanced features like dynamic DHCP.

Possible disadvantages of Cobbler

  • Complexity
    The initial setup and configuration of Cobbler can be complex and require a steep learning curve for users who are not familiar with network boot operations.
  • Documentation
    Users have reported that the documentation can be sparse or outdated, making it a challenge for newcomers to fully understand and utilize all features.
  • Maintenance
    Managing and maintaining a Cobbler server can be resource-intensive, requiring regular updates and monitoring to ensure ongoing reliability and security.
  • Dependence on Network Infrastructure
    Cobbler heavily relies on the network infrastructure, which means that any network issues can disrupt the deployment process.
  • Limited Windows Support
    While Cobbler excels at Linux deployments, its support for Windows operating systems is limited, which can be a drawback for mixed OS environments.

Python Fabric features and specs

  • Easy to Use
    Fabric provides a simple API that makes it easy to execute remote commands over SSH. Its syntax is clear and straightforward, which simplifies the onboarding process for new users.
  • Python-based
    Being a Python library, Fabric allows leveraging Python's extensive ecosystem, making it easy to integrate with other Python tools and libraries for more complex automation tasks.
  • Task Automation
    Fabric excels at automating deployment tasks, making it easier to manage repetitive tasks like code deployment, system updates, and configuration changes.
  • Strong Community Support
    Fabric has a robust community and extensive documentation, which means you can find a wealth of resources, tutorials, and third-party tools to extend its functionality.
  • SSH-based
    Fabric uses SSH to connect to remote servers, providing a secure and reliable method for executing remote commands.

Possible disadvantages of Python Fabric

  • Limited Windows Support
    Fabric is primarily designed for Unix-based systems, and its support for Windows can be limited and less straightforward to set up.
  • Not as Feature-rich
    Compared to more comprehensive orchestration tools like Ansible, Fabric may lack some advanced features and built-in functionalities, requiring additional scripting for complex tasks.
  • Scalability Issues
    Fabric is more suited for smaller-scale deployments. For larger-scale systems, performance can become an issue, and other tools may be more efficient.
  • Concurrency Constraints
    While Fabric supports parallel execution, its concurrency model can be limiting compared to more advanced systems designed for high concurrency and orchestration.
  • Dependency Management
    Managing dependencies can become cumbersome, especially when working with various environments or configurations, requiring diligent setup and maintenance.

Cobbler videos

Robbie Collin reviews The Cobbler

More videos:

  • Review - Cobbler Union | Shoe Shine & Initial Review
  • Review - The Cobbler Movie Review! // Adam Sandler

Python Fabric videos

No Python Fabric videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Cobbler and Python Fabric)
DevOps Tools
52 52%
48% 48
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Product Deployment
100 100%
0% 0
Monitoring Tools
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Cobbler and Python Fabric. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Cobbler should be more popular than Python Fabric. It has been mentiond 10 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Cobbler mentions (10)

  • WDS equivalent for Linux
    I'm looking for Windows Deployment Services equivalent for my Linux network. At the momment I'm using Cobbler (https://cobbler.github.io/) but I'm are looking for a software where I could place .iso images and PXE boot for any machine. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Deploy Linux Workstations
    Take a look at Cobbler. I've used it for quite a few years & love it. It supports both preseed & kickstart. Source: over 2 years ago
  • [HELP] PXE Boot without data loss
    I haven't setup a PXE server in a long time. There are management tools like MaaS, Collins, Cobbler, etc that deal with the provisioning of systems. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Recommendations to help these fit?
    For users and enthusiasts of the Cobbler System http://cobbler.github.io/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Network Booting 400+ Pi4b's from a Windows 10 Enterprise Workstation
    If you built a Linux Cobbler server you can do this all. Source: almost 3 years ago
View more

Python Fabric mentions (2)

  • What scripts have you built to stand up a new server?
    Thanks, will take a look at that curl thing. We are still using this and been working for us for ~15 years (python 2, ported to python 3) and this is just an example of how to take https://fabfile.org to the extreme but still is not the best way to do it. We only ~50 servers so it is not a massive fleet. The convenience of typing `fab ` to do things under control is still better than nothing :). - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Good tool for automatic setup and deployment of Django projects
    I've used Rake and Fabric for somewhat similar (but less ambitious) stuff in the past and I'm thinking that Fabric might be a pretty good fit for this task as well, but I'd still like your input. Are there other tools I should look into? I've heard goodthings about Puppet but just looking at their site (it contains the word Enterprise ) gives me the feeling that it might be overkill for a one man operation. Source: about 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Cobbler and Python Fabric, you can also consider the following products

Ansible - Radically simple configuration-management, application deployment, task-execution, and multi-node orchestration engine

Android Studio - Android development environment based on IntelliJ IDEA

Salt - Fast, scalable and flexible software for data center automation

Foreman - Foreman is an open source project that helps system administrators manage servers throughout their...

Xcode - Xcode is Apple’s powerful integrated development environment for creating great apps for Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Xcode 4 includes the Xcode IDE, instruments, iOS Simulator, and the latest Mac OS X and iOS SDKs.

FAI - FAI is a non-interactive system to install, customize and manage Linux systems