The Chef Infra Client is an agent that runs locally on every node that is under management by Chef Infra. When the Chef Infra Client runs, it will bring the node into the expected state and prevent configuration drift. This article will serve as an informative guide and give you a clear understanding of how to perform a silent installation of the Chef Infra Client from the command line using the MSI installer.
How to Install the Chef Infra Client Silently
Chef Infra Client 32-bit Silent Install (MSI)
- Navigate to: https://downloads.chef.io/products/infra-client
- Select the version of your choice
- Download the MSI to a folder created at (C:\Downloads)
- Open an Elevated Command Prompt by Right-Clicking on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator
- Navigate to the C:\Downloads folder
- Enter the following command:
MsiExec.exe /i chef-client-x.y.z-x86.msi ADDLOCAL="ChefClientFeature" /qn
- Press Enter
After a few moments you will find Chef Infra Client entries in the Installation Directory and Programs and Features in the Control Panel.
| Software Title: | Chef Infra Client (32-bit) |
| Vendor: | Chef Software, Inc. |
| Architecture: | x86 |
| Installer Type: | MSI |
| Silent Install Switch: | MsiExec.exe /i chef-client-x.y.z-x86.msi ADDLOCAL="ChefClientFeature" /qn |
| Silent Uninstall Switch: | MsiExec.exe /x chef-client-x.y.z-x86.msi /qn |
| Repair Command: | MsiExec.exe /fa chef-client-x.y.z-x86.msi /qn |
| Download Link: | https://downloads.chef.io/products/infra-client |
| PowerShell Script: | https://silentinstallhq.com/chef-infra-client-install-and-uninstall-powershell/ |
Chef Infra Client 64-bit Silent Install (MSI)
- Navigate to: https://downloads.chef.io/products/infra-client
- Select the version of your choice
- Download the MSI to a folder created at (C:\Downloads)
- Open an Elevated Command Prompt by Right-Clicking on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator
- Navigate to the C:\Downloads folder
- Enter the following command:
MsiExec.exe /i chef-client-x.y.z-x64.msi ADDLOCAL="ChefClientFeature" /qn
- Press Enter
After a few moments you will find Chef Infra Client entries in the Installation Directory and Programs and Features in the Control Panel.
| Software Title: | Chef Infra Client (64-bit) |
| Vendor: | Chef Software, Inc. |
| Architecture: | x64 |
| Installer Type: | MSI |
| Silent Install Switch: | MsiExec.exe /i chef-client-x.y.z-x64.msi ADDLOCAL="ChefClientFeature" /qn |
| Silent Uninstall Switch: | MsiExec.exe /x chef-client-x.y.z-x64.msi /qn |
| Repair Command: | MsiExec.exe /fa chef-client-x.y.z-x64.msi /qn |
| Download Link: | https://downloads.chef.io/products/infra-client |
| PowerShell Script: | https://silentinstallhq.com/chef-infra-client-install-and-uninstall-powershell/ |
The information above provides a quick overview of the software title, vendor, silent install, and silent uninstall switches. The download links provided take you directly to the vendors website. Continue reading if you are interested in additional details and configurations.
Additional Configurations
Create an Installation Log File
The Chef Infra Client installer offers the option to generate a log file during installation to assist with troubleshooting should any problems arise. You can use the following command to create a verbose log file with details about the installation.
Chef Infra Client 32-bit Silent Install (MSI) with Logging
MsiExec.exe /i chef-client-x.y.z-x86.msi ADDLOCAL="ChefClientFeature" /qn /L*v "%WINDIR%\Temp\ChefInfraClientx86-Install.log" |
Chef Infra Client 64-bit Silent Install (MSI) with Logging
MsiExec.exe /i chef-client-x.y.z-x64.msi ADDLOCAL="ChefClientFeature" /qn /L*v "%WINDIR%\Temp\ChefInfraClientx64-Install.log" |
Include Chef PowerShell Module
This option will enable Chef command line utilities within PowerShell.
Chef Infra Client 32-bit
MsiExec.exe /i chef-client-x.y.z-x86.msi ADDLOCAL="ChefClientFeature,ChefPSModuleFeature" /qn |
Chef Infra Client 64-bit
MsiExec.exe /i chef-client-x.y.z-x64.msi ADDLOCAL="ChefClientFeature,ChefPSModuleFeature" /qn |
Configure Chef Infra Client as a Scheduled Task in Microsoft Windows
Chef Infra Client 32-bit
MsiExec.exe /i chef-client-x.y.z-x86.msi ADDLOCAL="ChefClientFeature,ChefSchTaskFeature" /qn |
Chef Infra Client 64-bit
MsiExec.exe /i chef-client-x.y.z-x64.msi ADDLOCAL="ChefClientFeature,ChefSchTaskFeature" /qn |
How to Uninstall the Chef Infra Client Silently
Check out the Chef Infra Client Install and Uninstall (PowerShell) post for a scripted solution.
- Open an Elevated Command Prompt by Right-Clicking on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator
- Enter one of the following commands:
| Version | Chef Infra Client Silent Uninstall String |
16.9.29 (32-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {5B3390AE-4CD6-40BA-A7ED-AD4F0CF4750D} /qn |
16.9.29 (64-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {2AAE3C29-2FE4-43D8-B4C5-922CB8963A6C} /qn |
16.9.20 (32-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {6C4944D7-E62B-4A09-8E30-29CFE5C8EA9F} /qn |
16.9.20 (64-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {BD69FEAF-A65F-4013-B8DE-9A15C98D7568} /qn |
16.9.17 (32-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {52C4C9FF-35EA-4CF9-ACD2-F5F5C214493F} /qn |
16.9.17 (64-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {E48497E5-0F62-4E5A-8EAB-E9AF167C0597} /qn |
16.9.16 (32-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {D82B0A9E-8BB7-409D-BDA1-C82E0DBC0CD0} /qn |
16.9.16 (64-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {081895F1-5B57-4E6F-B1E6-4736415203AC} /qn |
16.8.14 (32-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {A74F472A-6CCB-488F-B582-5EFB2BC6829B} /qn |
16.8.14 (64-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {2DD95C29-E697-4C4C-8D09-FBC44D409AB9} /qn |
16.8.9 (32-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {5EE561DC-DA30-4D1D-A498-C6833C39C2DF} /qn |
16.8.9 (64-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {3691321E-E475-49DC-AAAC-D8DC2FBDDBD2} /qn |
16.7.61 (32-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {9866F30C-1CD8-4B84-A7F0-3A6CBD441255} /qn |
16.7.61 (64-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {263ECD60-0D93-4F0A-8D05-855E58CB2F90} /qn |
16.6.14 (32-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {1B3EE09C-2E4D-42E8-8736-DED35163C059} /qn |
16.6.14 (64-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {A35E739F-D995-4356-8F81-0BCDAC61D6EE} /qn |
16.5.77 (32-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {05A20E3F-2249-4C76-B892-6A10933CC286} /qn |
16.5.77 (64-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {DE508C5A-1E58-4EFB-BF1F-6C7F5D1DD5E6} /qn |
16.5.64 (32-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {74B71D1B-DCAA-43AF-BD36-365ABF127924} /qn |
16.5.64 (64-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {CE66551D-5120-4666-87B3-4CF45E70CEC3} /qn |
16.4.41 (32-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {71736733-B4F2-4537-8C0A-8D15B61B2263} /qn |
16.4.41 (64-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {3EE4557E-64A6-4673-ACB8-2B5B62D0E465} /qn |
16.4.38 (32-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {6E974D6E-4783-46AB-B23C-B704221400BB} /qn |
16.4.38 (64-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {60789CD5-AAF7-4027-9F4C-587BD8429785} /qn |
16.4.35 (32-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {539CB0AD-9170-465E-9185-B33D4D995B68} /qn |
16.4.35 (64-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {458406EF-21A9-45E2-997E-E639D797FFF4} /qn |
16.3.45 (32-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {8333072C-C4FC-4EEE-8F1A-1CF029B33705} /qn |
16.3.45 (64-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {0FDF9743-980D-459E-A3B3-3B6FAA9C5DBE} /qn |
16.3.38 (32-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {92B8C495-1C85-4807-A8AA-002C50A87336} /qn |
16.3.38 (64-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {0332DD9D-12D7-4DBD-91DD-B8B4542AC4FC} /qn |
16.2.73 (32-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {47274105-7FFF-413F-BBCC-1771D75C23D1} /qn |
16.2.73 (64-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {B4C40D67-7168-4276-98C3-780C08C30FB9} /qn |
16.2.50 (32-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {D8062A10-0EB7-48FD-951A-BC038A34EFDD} /qn |
16.2.50 (64-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {7144103D-598D-4BFD-BD5A-DCD5E1CE45FD} /qn |
16.2.44 (32-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {A1483513-5842-4BAC-BFD5-79A28ADC9119} /qn |
16.2.44 (64-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {0457B03C-B926-44B2-AFCC-FF3075D24DA0} /qn |
16.1.16 (32-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {E5DD02B8-AEA4-483E-AF60-82AD9E0915C2} /qn |
16.1.16 (64-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {69634202-101C-4BE6-A12B-28BF3668A050} /qn |
16.1.0 (32-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {8989995C-B238-4862-AD97-18921586659F} /qn |
16.1.0 (64-bit) | MsiExec.exe /x {85BC2D76-FABF-459B-A351-E49AD46BFC76} /qn |
Always make sure to test everything in a development environment prior to implementing anything into production. The information in this article is provided “As Is” without warranty of any kind.