Install and upgrade Bolt

Packaged versions of Bolt are available for several Linux distributions, macOS, and Microsoft Windows.

If you're upgrading to a version of Bolt with breaking changes, including Bolt 5.0.0, make sure to read Upgrade cautions.
Operating system Versions
Debian 11, 12
Fedora 40, 41
macOS 13, 14, 15
Microsoft Windows* 10 Enterprise
Microsoft Windows Server* 2012R2, 2019
RHEL 7, 8, 9
SLES 12, 15
Ubuntu 18.04, 20.04, 22.04, 24.04
Packages are automatically tested on the versions listed above, but might be installable on other versions of the same OS, including Windows, macOS, and Debian.

Get credentials to download and install Bolt

To download and install Bolt 5.0.0, which is stored in a protected repository, you must download authenticated packages using either Puppet Core or Puppet Enterprise (PE) credentials.

  • Puppet Core: The string literal forge-key as the username and the Puppet Core Forge API key associated with your Puppet Core free or paid user as the password. For more information about the API key, see Purchasing Puppet Core and Accessing Puppet Core for limited use for testing or development.

  • PE: The string literal license-id as the username and your PE License ID as the password. You can find your PE License ID in your PE license file or in the PE console by selecting License from the navigation bar.

Install Bolt on Debian

Add credentials to your repository configuration

To download, install, or upgrade to Bolt 5.0.0 and later, you must authenticate using Puppet Core or PE credentials. Use the following steps to add credentials to your repository configuration.

  1. In your /etc/apt/auth.conf.d/apt-puppetcore-puppet.conf file, uncomment the login and password lines.

  2. Edit the login and password to add credentials. Use either Puppet Core or PE credentials.

    • Puppet Core: The string literal forge-key as the username and the Puppet Core Forge API key associated with your Puppet Core free or paid user as the password. For more information about the API key, see Purchasing Puppet Core and Accessing Puppet Core for limited use for testing or development.

    • PE: The string literal license-id as the username and your PE License ID as the password. You can find your PE License ID in your PE license file or in the PE console by selecting License from the navigation bar.

Install Bolt

To install Bolt, run the appropriate command for the version of Debian you have installed:

  • Debian 11

    Copy
    wget https://apt-puppetcore.puppet.com/public/puppet8-release-bullseye.deb
    sudo dpkg -i puppet8-release-bullseye.deb
    # Before you update, edit /etc/apt/auth.conf.d/apt-puppetcore-puppet.conf
    sudo apt-get update
    sudo apt-get install puppet-bolt
  • Debian 12

    Copy
    wget https://apt-puppetcore.puppet.com/public/puppet8-release-bookworm.deb
    sudo dpkg -i puppet8-release-bookworm.deb
    # Before you update, edit /etc/apt/auth.conf.d/apt-puppetcore-puppet.conf
    sudo apt-get update
    sudo apt-get install puppet-bolt
                        

Upgrade Bolt

  1. Ensure that you Add credentials to your repository configuration.

  2. To upgrade Bolt to the latest version, run the following command.

    Copy
    sudo apt-get update
    sudo apt install puppet-bolt

Uninstall Bolt

To uninstall Bolt, run the following command:

Copy
sudo apt remove puppet-bolt

Install Bolt on Fedora

Add credentials to your repository configuration

To download, install, or upgrade to Bolt 5.0.0 and later, you must authenticate using Puppet Core or PE credentials. Use the following steps to add credentials to your repository configuration.

  1. In your /etc/yum.repos.d/puppet8-release/repos file, uncomment the username and password lines.

  2. Edit the username and password to add credentials. Use either Puppet Core or PE credentials.

    • Puppet Core: The string literal forge-key as the username and the Puppet Core Forge API key associated with your Puppet Core free or paid user as the password. For more information about the API key, see Purchasing Puppet Core and Accessing Puppet Core for limited use for testing or development.

    • PE: The string literal license-id as the username and your PE License ID as the password. You can find your PE License ID in your PE license file or in the PE console by selecting License from the navigation bar.

Install Bolt

To install Bolt, run the appropriate command for the version of Fedora you have installed:

  • Fedora 40

    Copy
    sudo rpm -Uvh https://yum-puppetcore.puppet.com/public/puppet8-release-fedora-40.noarch.rpm
    # Before you install, edit /etc/yum.repos.d/puppet8-release/repos
    sudo dnf install puppet-bolt
                        
  • Fedora 41

    Copy
    sudo rpm -Uvh https://yum-puppetcore.puppet.com/public/puppet8-release-fedora-41.noarch.rpm
    # Before you install, edit /etc/yum.repos.d/puppet8-release/repos
    sudo dnf install puppet-bolt
                        

Upgrade Bolt

  1. Ensure that you Add credentials to your repository configuration.

  2. To upgrade Bolt to the latest version, run the following command:

  3. Copy
    sudo dnf upgrade puppet-bolt

Uninstall Bolt

To uninstall Bolt, run the following command:

Copy
sudo dnf remove puppet-bolt

Install Bolt on macOS

You can install Bolt packages for macOS using the macOS installer.

macOS installer (DMG)

To download, install, or upgrade to Bolt 5.0.0 and later, you must authenticate using Puppet Core or PE credentials.

Based on your preference, you can either download Bolt for macOS directly or you can use curl.

Download directly

You can download the Bolt macOS installer (DMG) directly using the following links:

In the Sign In window, enter your Puppet Core or PE credentials to authenticate and download Bolt.

  • Puppet Core: The string literal forge-key as the username and the Puppet Core Forge API key associated with your Puppet Core free or paid user as the password. For more information about the API key, see Purchasing Puppet Core and Accessing Puppet Core for limited use for testing or development.

  • PE: The string literal license-id as the username and your PE License ID as the password. You can find your PE License ID in your PE license file or in the PE console by selecting License from the navigation bar.

  • Download via curl

    Directly curl the endpoints with credentials to download Bolt using the following steps.

    1. Make sure to copy the download link for the macOS package you'd like to download from the previous section.

    2. Export either of the following sets of credentials, ensuring that you use either a Forge username and password or a PE username and password.

      • Puppet Core: The string literal forge-key as the username and the Puppet Forge API key associated with your Puppet Core free or paid user as the password. For more information about the API key, see Purchasing Puppet Core and Accessing Puppet Core for limited use for testing or development.

      • PE: The string literal license-id as the username and your PE License ID as the password. You can find your PE License ID in your PE license file or in the PE console by selecting License from the navigation bar.

        For example:

      • export USERNAME=forge-key

      • export PASSWORD=<API_KEY>

    3. Call the credentials for the URL , for example:

      Copy
      curl -J -O -u forge-key:$PASSWORD "https://artifacts-puppetcore.puppet.com/v1/download?type=bolt&os_name=osx&os_version=14&os_arch=x86_64&version=5.0.0"

    Install Bolt

    Use the Apple Disk Image (DMG) to install Bolt on

    1. Download the Bolt installer package for your macOS version.

    2. Double-click the puppet-bolt-latest.dmg file to mount the installer and then double-click puppet-bolt-[version]-installer.pkg to run the installer.

    If you get a message that the installer "can't be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software:"

    1. Click > System Preferences > Security & Privacy.
    2. From the General tab, click the lock icon to allow changes to your security settings and enter your macOS password.
    3. Look for a message that says the Bolt installer "was blocked from use because it is not from an identified developer" and click "Open Anyway".
    4. Click the lock icon again to lock your security settings.

    Upgrade Bolt

    To upgrade Bolt to the latest version, download the DMG again and repeat the installation steps.

    Uninstall Bolt

    To uninstall Bolt, remove Bolt's files and executable:

    Copy
    sudo rm -rf /opt/puppetlabs/bolt /opt/puppetlabs/bin/bolt

    Install Bolt on Microsoft Windows

    You can installBolt packages for Windows using Windows installer (MSI).

    To download, install, or upgrade to Bolt 5.0.0 and later, you must authenticate using Puppet Core or PE credentials.

    Download Bolt

    Based on your preference, you can either download Bolt for Windows directly or you can use curl.

    Download directly

    You can download the Bolt Windows installer (MSI) directly from https://artifacts-puppetcore.puppet.com/v1/download?type=bolt&os_name=windows&os_version=latest&os_arch=x64&version=5.0.0

    In the Sign In window, enter your Puppet Core or PE credentials to authenticate and download Bolt.

    • Puppet Core: The string literal forge-key as the username and the Puppet Core Forge API key associated with your Puppet Core free or paid user as the password. For more information about the API key, see Purchasing Puppet Core and Accessing Puppet Core for limited use for testing or development.

    • PE: The string literal license-id as the username and your PE License ID as the password. You can find your PE License ID in your PE license file or in the PE console by selecting License from the navigation bar.

    Download via curl

    Directly curl the endpoints with credentials to download Bolt using the following steps.

    1. Use either of the following sets of credentials, ensuring that you use either a Forge username and password or a PE username and password.

      • Puppet Core: The string literal forge-key as the username and the Puppet Core Forge API key associated with your Puppet Core free or paid user as the password. For more information about the API key, see Purchasing Puppet Core and Accessing Puppet Core for limited use for testing or development.
      • PE: The string literal license-id as the username and your PE License ID as the password. You can find your PE License ID in your PE license file or in the PE console by selecting License from the navigation bar.

    2. Call the credentials from the URL, for example:

      Copy
      curl -J -O -u "forge-key:<FORGE_API_KEY> "https://artifacts-puppetcore.puppet.com/v1/download?type=bolt&os_name=windows&os_arch=x64&version=5.0.0"

    Install Bolt

    Use the Windows installer (MSI) package to install Bolt on Windows:

    1. Double-click the MSI file and run the installer.

    2. Open a new terminal window and run: bolt --version

    Upgrade Bolt

    To upgrade Bolt to the latest version, download the MSI again and repeat the installation steps.

    Uninstall Bolt

    You can uninstall Bolt from Windows Apps & Features:

    1. Press Windows + X + F to open Apps & Features.

    2. Search for Puppet Bolt, select it, and click Uninstall.

    Install Bolt on RHEL

    Add credentials to your repository configuration

    To download, install, or upgrade to Bolt 5.0.0 and later, you must authenticate using Puppet Core or PE credentials. Use the following steps to add credentials to your repository configuration.

    1. In your /etc/yum.repos.d/puppet8-release/repos file, uncomment the username and password lines.

    2. Edit the username and password to add credentials. Use either Puppet Core or PE credentials.

      • Puppet Core: The string literal forge-key as the username and the Puppet Core Forge API key associated with your Puppet Core free or paid user as the password. For more information about the API key, see Purchasing Puppet Core and Accessing Puppet Core for limited use for testing or development.

      • PE: The string literal license-id as the username and your PE License ID as the password. You can find your PE License ID in your PE license file or in the PE console by selecting License from the navigation bar.

    Install Bolt

    To install Bolt, run the appropriate command for the version of RHEL you have installed:

    • RHEL 7

      Copy
      sudo rpm -Uvh https://yum-puppetcore.puppet.com/public/puppet8-release-el-7.noarch.rpm
      # Before you install, edit /etc/yum.repos.d/puppet8-release/repos                        
      sudo yum install puppet-bolt
    • RHEL 8

      Copy
      sudo rpm -Uvh https://yum-puppetcore.puppet.com/public/puppet8-release-el-8.noarch.rpm
      # Before you install, edit /etc/yum.repos.d/puppet8-release/repos
      sudo yum install puppet-bolt
    • RHEL 9

      Copy
      sudo rpm -Uvh https://yum-puppetcore.puppet.com/public/puppet8-release-el-9.noarch.rpm
      # Before you install, edit /etc/yum.repos.d/puppet8-release/repos
      sudo yum install puppet-bolt

    Upgrade Bolt

    1. Ensure that you Add credentials to your repository configuration.

    2. To upgrade Bolt to the latest version, run the following command:

      Copy
      sudo yum update puppet-bolt

    Uninstall Bolt

    To uninstall Bolt, run the following command:

    Copy
    sudo yum remove puppet-bolt

    Install Bolt on SLES

    Add credentials to your repository configuration

    To download, install, or upgrade to Bolt 5.0.0 and later, you must authenticate using Puppet Core or PE credentials. Use the following steps to add credentials to your repository configuration.

    1. In your /etc/yum.repos.d/puppet8-release/repos file, uncomment the username and password lines.

    2. Edit the username and password to add credentials. Use either Puppet Core or PE credentials.

      • Puppet Core: The string literal forge-key as the username and the Puppet Core Forge API key associated with your Puppet Core free or paid user as the password. For more information about the API key, see Purchasing Puppet Core and Accessing Puppet Core for limited use for testing or development.

      • PE: The string literal license-id as the username and your PE License ID as the password. You can find your PE License ID in your PE license file or in the PE console by selecting License from the navigation bar.

    Install Bolt

    To install Bolt, run the appropriate command for the version of SLES you have installed:

    • SLES 12

      Copy
      sudo rpm -Uvh https://yum-puppetcore.puppet.com/public/puppet8-release-sles-12.noarch.rpm
      # Before you install, edit /etc/yum.repos.d/puppet8-release/repos                        
      sudo zypper install puppet-bolt
    • SLES 15

      Copy
      sudo rpm -Uvh https://yum-puppetcore.puppet.com/public/puppet8-
      release-sles-15.noarch.rpm 
      # Before you install, edit /etc/yum.repos.d/puppet8-release/repos
      sudo zypper install puppet-bolt

    Upgrade Bolt

    1. Ensure that you Add credentials to your repository configuration.

    2. To upgrade Bolt to the latest version, run the following command:

      Copy
      sudo zypper update puppet-bolt

    Uninstall Bolt

    To uninstall Bolt, run the following command:

    Copy
    sudo zypper remove puppet-bolt

    Install Bolt on Ubuntu

    Add credentials to your repository configuration

    To download and install Bolt 5.0.0 and later, you must authenticate Puppet Core or PE credentials. Use the following steps to add credentials to your repository configuration.

    1. In your /etc/apt/auth.conf.d/apt-puppetcore-puppet.conf file, uncomment the login and password lines.

    2. Edit the login and password to add credentials. Use either Puppet Core or PE credentials.

      • Puppet Core: The string literal forge-key as the username and the Puppet Core Forge API key associated with your Puppet Core free or paid user as the password. For more information about the API key, see Purchasing Puppet Core and Accessing Puppet Core for limited use for testing or development.

      • PE: The string literal license-id as the username and your PE License ID as the password. You can find your PE License ID in your PE license file or in the PE console by selecting License from the navigation bar.

    Install Bolt

    To install Bolt, run the appropriate command for the version of Ubuntu you have installed:

    • Ubuntu 18.04

      Copy
      wget https://apt-puppetcore.puppet.com/public/puppet8-release-bionic.deb
      sudo dpkg -i puppet8-release-bionic.deb
      # Before you update, edit /etc/apt/auth.conf.d/apt-puppetcore-puppet.conf
      sudo apt-get update 
      sudo apt-get install puppet-bolt
    • Ubuntu 20.04

      Copy
      wget https://apt-puppetcore.puppet.com/public/puppet8-release-focal.deb
      sudo dpkg -i puppet8-release-focal.deb
      # Before you update, edit /etc/apt/auth.conf.d/apt-puppetcore-puppet.conf
      sudo apt-get update 
      sudo apt-get install puppet-bolt
    • Ubuntu 22.04

      Copy
      wget https://apt-puppetcore.puppet.com/public/puppet8-release-jammy.deb
      sudo dpkg -i puppet8-release-jammy.deb
      # Before you update, edit /etc/apt/auth.conf.d/apt-puppetcore-puppet.conf
      sudo apt-get update 
      sudo apt-get install puppet-bolt
    • Ubuntu 24.04

      Copy
      wget https://apt-puppetcore.puppet.com/public/puppet8-release-noble.deb
      sudo dpkg -i puppet8-release-noble.deb
      # Before you update, edit /etc/apt/auth.conf.d/apt-puppetcore-puppet.conf
      sudo apt-get update 
      sudo apt-get install puppet-bolt

    Upgrade Bolt

    1. Ensure that you Add credentials to your repository configuration.

    2. To upgrade Bolt to the latest version, run the following command:

      Copy
      sudo apt-get update
      sudo apt install puppet-bolt

    Uninstall Bolt

    To uninstall Bolt, run the following command:

    Copy
    sudo apt remove puppet-bolt

    Install Bolt as a gem

    To install Bolt reliably and with all dependencies, use one of the Bolt installation packages instead of a gem. Gem installations do not include core modules which are required for common Bolt actions.

    It's best practice to make sure that you install up to date Puppet and Facter gems with the Bolt gem to ensure Bolt works as intended.

    For example, to install Bolt as a gem:

    Copy
    # export a valid forge-key
    export PUPPET_FORGE_TOKEN="<API_KEY>"

    # create a test directory
    mkdir test
    cd test
                
    # set the local configuration
    bundle config --local bin vendor/bin
    bundle config --local gemfile Gemfile
    bundle config --local path vendor/bundle
    bundle config set --global https://rubygems-puppetcore.puppet.com "forge-key:${PUPPET_FORGE_TOKEN}"
                
    # create the Gemfile
    cat << 'EOF' > Gemfile
    source 'https://rubygems.org'
    source 'https://rubygems-puppetcore.puppet.com' do
    gem 'puppet', '~> 8.15'
    gem 'facter', '~> 4.15'
    gem 'bolt', '~> 5.0'
    end
    EOF
                
    # install!
    bundle install
                
    # verify
    bundle info bolt
    bundle exec bolt --version

    Install gems in Bolt's Ruby environment

    Bolt packages include their own copy of Ruby.

    When you install gems for use with Bolt, use the --user-install command-line option to avoid requiring privileged access for installation. This option also enables sharing gem content with Puppet installations — such as when running apply on localhost — that use the same Ruby version.

    To install a gem for use with Bolt, use the command appropriate to your operating system:

    • On Windows with the default install location:
      Copy
      "C:/Program Files/Puppet Labs/Bolt/bin/gem.bat" install --user-install <GEM>
    • On other platforms:
      Copy
      /opt/puppetlabs/bolt/bin/gem install --user-install <GEM>