Using the confine method

The confine method can be used with a fact, as shown in the following code:

Puppet::Type.type(:mynewtype).provide(:myprovider) do
   ...
   confine :osfamily => :redhat
   ...
 end

The confine method could also use exisits to base its conditions on whether a certain file is present on the system under management. The following example demonstrates how the provider is restricted to only those systems where Puppet's .config file exists:

Puppet::Type.type(:mynewtype).provide(:myprovider) do
   ...
   confine :exisits => Puppet[:config]
   ...
 end

Another possibility is to base the conditions of the confine method on certain Puppet features (they are all listed in the source code directory at https://github.com/puppetlabs/puppet/tree/master/lib/puppet/feature), as shown in the following code:

Puppet::Type.type(:mynewtype).provide(:myprovider) do
   ...
   confine :feature => :selinux
   ...
 end

Finally, confine can accept a Boolean expression to restrict your provider, as shown in the following code:

Puppet::Type.type(:mynewtype).provide(:myprovider) do
   ...
   confine :exisits =>  Puppet[:config]
   ...
   confine :true => begin
     if File.exists?(Puppet[:config])
       File.readlines(Puppet[:config]).find {|line| line =~ /^\s*\[agent\]/ }
     end
   end
   ...
 end