Does it make sense to provide => the file AND provide => is present in init.pp

Question

Does it make sense to have a file as a gift or a file? Does this represent a file or does the line file { '/etc/sendmail':define it as a file?

class sendmail {

    file { '/etc/sendmail':
      ensure => directory,
      mode => 755
    }

    file { '/etc/sendmail/sendmail.cf':
      ensure  => present,
      ensure  => file,
      backup  => false,
      source => 'puppet:///mymodules/sendmail/sendmail.cf',
    }

    file { '/etc/sendmail/submit.cf':
      ensure  => present,
      ensure  => file,
      backup  => false,
      source => 'puppet:///mymodules/sendmail/submit.cf',
    }

    service {'sendmail': 
      ensure => running
    }

}

Answer 1

ensure => filemeans ensure => present. That is, the resource must be a file, and if it is not a file or does not exist, create a file.

ensure => presentmeans that the resource must be a file, directory or link; if it does not exist, create a file.

So, to answer your question: no, it does not make sense to do this.

For more information on ensure, check the file type documentation .