PSRule

0.6.0

en-US/about_PSRule_Options.help.txt

                                TOPIC

    about_psrule_options

SHORT DESCRIPTION

    Describes additional options that can be used during rule execution.

LONG DESCRIPTION

    PSRule lets you use options when calling cmdlets such as `Invoke-PSRule` and

    `Test-PSRuleTarget` to change how rules are processed. This topic describes

    what options are available, when to and how to use them.

    The following options are available for use:

    -

    Baseline.RuleName

    -

    Baseline.Exclude

    -

    Baseline.Configuration

    -

    Binding.IgnoreCase

    -

    Binding.TargetName

    -

    Binding.TargetType

    -

    Execution.LanguageMode

    -

    Execution.InconclusiveWarning

    -

    Execution.NotProcessedWarning

    -

    Input.Format

    -

    Input.ObjectPath

    -

    Logging.RuleFail

    -

    Logging.RulePass

    -

    Output.As

    -

    Output.Format

    -

    Suppression

    Options can be used with the following PSRule cmdlets:

    - Get-PSRule

    - Invoke-PSRule

    - Test-PSRuleTarget

    Each of these cmdlets support:

    - Using the `-Option` parameter with an object created with the

    `New-PSRuleOption` cmdlet. See cmdlet help for syntax and examples.

    - Using the `-Option` parameter with a hashtable object.

    - Using the `-Option` parameter with a YAML file path.

    When using a hashtable object `@{}`, one or more options can be specified as

    keys using a dotted notation.

    For example:

    $option = @{ 'Output.Format' = 'Yaml' };

    Invoke-PSRule -Path . -Option $option;

    The above example shows how the `Output.Format` option as a hashtable key

    can be used. Continue reading for a full list of options and how each can be used.

    Alternatively, options can be stored in a YAML formatted file and loaded

    from disk. Storing options as YAML allows different configurations to be

    loaded in a repeatable way instead of having to create an options object

    each time.

    Options are stored as YAML properties using a lower camel case naming

    convention, for example:

    output:

      format: Yaml

    The `Set-PSRuleOption` cmdlet can be used to set options stored in YAML or

    the YAML file can be manually edited.

    Set-PSRuleOption -OutputFormat Yaml;

    By default PSRule will automatically look for a default YAML options file in

    the current working directory. Alternatively, you can specify a specific

    file path.

    For example:

    Invoke-PSRule -Option '.\myconfig.yml';

    New-PSRuleOption -Path '.\myconfig.yaml';

    PSRule uses any of the following file names (in order) as the default YAML

    options file. If more then one of these files exist the following order will

    be used to find the first match.

    - `ps-rule.yaml`

    - `ps-rule.yml`

    - `psrule.yaml`

    - `psrule.yml`

    We recommend only using lowercase characters as shown above. This is because

    not all operation systems treat case in the same way.

    BASELINE.RULENAME

    The name of specific rules to evaluate. If this option is not specified all

    rules in search paths will be evaluated.

    This option can be overridden at runtime by using the `-Name` parameter of

    `Invoke-PSRule`, `Get-PSRule` and `Test-PSRuleTarget`.

    This option can be specified using:

    # PowerShell: Using the Baseline.RuleName hashtable key

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -Option @{ 'Baseline.RuleName' = 'Rule1','Rule2' };

    # YAML: Using the baseline/ruleName property

    baseline:

      ruleName:

      - rule1

      - rule2

    BASELINE.EXCLUDE

    The name of specific rules to exclude from being evaluated. This will

    exclude rules specified by `Baseline.RuleName` or discovered from a search path.

    This option can be specified using:

    # PowerShell: Using the Baseline.Exclude hashtable key

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -Option @{ 'Baseline.Exclude' = 'Rule3','Rule4' };

    # YAML: Using the baseline/exclude property

    baseline:

      exclude:

      - rule3

      - rule4

    BASELINE.CONFIGURATION

    Configures a set of baseline configuration values that can be used in rule

    definitions instead of using hard coded values.

    This option can be specified using:

    # PowerShell: Using the BaselineConfiguration option with a hashtable

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -BaselineConfiguration @{ appServiceMinInstanceCount = 2 };

    # YAML: Using the baseline/configuration property

    baseline:

      configuration:

        appServiceMinInstanceCount: 2

    BINDING.IGNORECASE

    When evaluating an object, PSRule extracts a few key properties from the

    object to help filter rules and display output results. The process of

    extract these key properties is called

    binding

    . The properties that PSRule uses for binding can be customized by providing

    a order list of alternative properties to use. See

    `Binding.TargetName`

    for these options.

    - By default, custom property binding finds the first matching property by

    name regardless of case. i.e. `Binding.IgnoreCase` is `true`.

    - To change the default, set the `Binding.IgnoreCase` option to `false` and

    a case sensitive match will be used.  - Changing this option will affect all

    custom property bindings, including

    TargetName

    and

    TargetType

    . - PSRule also has binding defaults, and an option to use a custom script.

    Setting this option has no affect on binding defaults or custom scripts.

    This option can be specified using:

    # PowerShell: Using the BindingIgnoreCase parameter

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -BindingIgnoreCase $False;

    # PowerShell: Using the Binding.IgnoreCase hashtable key

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -Option @{ 'Binding.IgnoreCase' = $False };

    # PowerShell: Using the BindingIgnoreCase parameter to set YAML

    Set-PSRuleOption -BindingIgnoreCase $False;

    # YAML: Using the binding/ignoreCase property

    binding:

      ignoreCase: false

    BINDING.TARGETNAME

    When an object is passed from the pipeline, PSRule assigns the object a

    TargetName

    .

    TargetName

    is used in output results to identify one object from another. Many objects

    could be passed down the pipeline at the same time, so using a

    TargetName

    that is meaningful is important.

    TargetName

    is also used for advanced features such as rule suppression.

    The value that PSRule uses for

    TargetName

    is configurable. PSRule uses the following logic to determine what

    TargetName

    should be used:

    - By default PSRule will:   - Use `TargetName` or `Name` properties on the

    object. These property names are case insensitive.   - If both `TargetName`

    and `Name` properties exist, `TargetName` will take precedence over `Name`. 

     - If neither `TargetName` or `Name` properties exist, a SHA1 hash of the

    object will be used as

    TargetName

    . - If custom

    TargetName

    binding properties are configured, the property names specified will

    override the defaults.   - If

    none

    of the configured property names exist, PSRule will revert back to

    `TargetName` then `Name`.   - If more then one property name is configured,

    the order they are specified in the configuration determines precedence.    

    - i.e. The first configured property name will take precedence over the

    second property name.   - By default the property name will be matched

    ignoring case sensitivity. To use a case sensitive match, configure the

    `Binding.IgnoreCase`

    option. - If a custom

    TargetName

    binding function is specified, the function will be evaluated first before

    any other option.   - If the function returns `$Null` then custom

    properties, `TargetName` and `Name` properties will be used.   - The custom

    binding function is executed outside the PSRule engine, so PSRule keywords

    and variables will not be available.   - Custom binding functions are

    blocked in constrained language mode is used. See

    language mode

    for more information.

    Custom property names to use for binding can be specified using:

    # PowerShell: Using the TargetName parameter

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -TargetName 'ResourceName', 'AlternateName';

    # PowerShell: Using the Binding.TargetName hashtable key

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -Option @{ 'Binding.TargetName' = 'ResourceName', 'AlternateName' };

    # PowerShell: Using the TargetName parameter to set YAML

    Set-PSRuleOption -TargetName 'ResourceName', 'AlternateName';

    # YAML: Using the binding/targetName property

    binding:

      targetName:

      - ResourceName

      - AlternateName

    To specify a custom binding function use:

    # Create a custom function that returns a TargetName string

    $bindFn = {

        param ($TargetObject)

        $otherName = $TargetObject.PSObject.Properties['OtherName'];

        if ($otherName -eq $Null) {

            return $Null

        }

        return $otherName.Value;

    }

    # Specify the binding function script block code to execute

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -BindTargetName $bindFn;

    BINDING.TARGETTYPE

    When an object is passed from the pipeline, PSRule assigns the object a

    TargetType

    .

    TargetType

    is used to filter rules based on object type and appears in output results.

    The value that PSRule uses for

    TargetType

    is configurable. PSRule uses the following logic to determine what

    TargetType

    should be used:

    - By default PSRule will:   - Use the default type presented by PowerShell

    from `TypeNames`. i.e. `.PSObject.TypeNames[0]` - If custom

    TargetType

    binding properties are configured, the property names specified will

    override the defaults.   - If

    none

    of the configured property names exist, PSRule will revert back to the type

    presented by PowerShell.   - If more then one property name is configured,

    the order they are specified in the configuration determines precedence.    

    - i.e. The first configured property name will take precedence over the

    second property name.   - By default the property name will be matched

    ignoring case sensitivity. To use a case sensitive match, configure the

    `Binding.IgnoreCase`

    option. - If a custom

    TargetType

    binding function is specified, the function will be evaluated first before

    any other option.   - If the function returns `$Null` then custom

    properties, or the type presented by PowerShell will be used in order

    instead.   - The custom binding function is executed outside the PSRule

    engine, so PSRule keywords and variables will not be available.   - Custom

    binding functions are blocked in constrained language mode is used. See

    language mode

    for more information.

    Custom property names to use for binding can be specified using:

    # PowerShell: Using the TargetType parameter

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -TargetType 'ResourceType', 'kind';

    # PowerShell: Using the Binding.TargetType hashtable key

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -Option @{ 'Binding.TargetType' = 'ResourceType', 'kind' };

    # PowerShell: Using the TargetType parameter to set YAML

    Set-PSRuleOption -TargetType 'ResourceType', 'kind';

    # YAML: Using the binding/targetType property

    binding:

      targetType:

      - ResourceType

      - kind

    To specify a custom binding function use:

    # Create a custom function that returns a TargetType string

    $bindFn = {

        param ($TargetObject)

        $otherType = $TargetObject.PSObject.Properties['OtherType'];

        if ($otherType -eq $Null) {

            return $Null

        }

        return $otherType.Value;

    }

    # Specify the binding function script block code to execute

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -BindTargetType $bindFn;

    EXECUTION.LANGUAGEMODE

    Unless PowerShell has been constrained, full language features of PowerShell

    are available to use within rule definitions. In locked down environments, a

    reduced set of language features may be desired.

    When PSRule is executed in an environment configured for Device Guard, only

    constrained language features are available.

    The following language modes are available for use in PSRule:

    - FullLanguage

    - ConstrainedLanguage

    This option can be specified using:

    # PowerShell: Using the Execution.LanguageMode hashtable key

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -Option @{ 'Execution.LanguageMode' = 'ConstrainedLanguage' };

    # YAML: Using the execution/languageMode property

    execution:

      languageMode: ConstrainedLanguage

    INCONCLUSIVE WARNING

    When defining rules it is possible not return a valid `$True` or `$False`

    result within the definition script block.

    Rule authors should not intentionally avoid returning a result, however a

    possible cause for not returning a result may be a rule logic error.

    If a rule should not be evaluated, use pre-conditions to avoid processing

    the rule for objects where the rule is not applicable.

    In cases where the rule does not return a result it is marked as inconclusive.

    Inconclusive results will:

    - Generate a warning by default.

    - Fail the object. Outcome will be reported as `Fail` with an OutcomeReason

    of `Inconclusive`.

    The inconclusive warning can be disabled by using:

    # PowerShell: Using the InconclusiveWarning parameter

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -InconclusiveWarning $False;

    # PowerShell: Using the Execution.InconclusiveWarning hashtable key

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -Option @{ 'Execution.InconclusiveWarning' = $False };

    # PowerShell: Using the InconclusiveWarning parameter to set YAML

    Set-PSRuleOption -InconclusiveWarning $False;

    # YAML: Using the execution/inconclusiveWarning property

    execution:

      inconclusiveWarning: false

    NOT PROCESSED WARNING

    When evaluating rules it is possible to incorrectly select a path with rules

    that use pre-conditions that do not accept the pipeline object.

    In this case the object has not been processed by any rule.

    Not processed objects will:

    - Generate a warning by default.

    - Pass the object. Outcome will be reported as `None`.

    The not processed warning can be disabled by using:

    # PowerShell: Using the NotProcessedWarning parameter

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -NotProcessedWarning $False;

    # PowerShell: Using the Execution.NotProcessedWarning hashtable key

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -Option @{ 'Execution.NotProcessedWarning' = $False };

    # PowerShell: Using the NotProcessedWarning parameter to set YAML

    Set-PSRuleOption -NotProcessedWarning $False;

    # YAML: Using the execution/notProcessedWarning property

    execution:

      notProcessedWarning: false

    INPUT.FORMAT

    Configures the input format for when a string is passed in as a target object.

    Using this option with `Invoke-PSRule` or `Test-PSRuleTarget`:

    - When the `-InputObject` parameter or pipeline input is used, strings are

    treated as plain text by default. When this option is used and set to either

    `Yaml` or `Json`, strings are read as YAML or JSON and are converted to an object.

    - When the `-InputPath` parameter is used with a file path or URL, by

    default the file extension (either `.yaml`, `.yml` or `.json`) will be used

    to automatically detect the format as YAML or JSON.

    - The `-Format` parameter will override any value set in configuration.

    The following formats are available:

    - None - Treat strings as plain text.

    - Yaml - Treat strings as one or more YAML objects.

    - Json - Treat strings as one or more JSON objects.

    - Detect - Detect format based on file extension. Detection only applies

    when used with the `-InputPath` parameter. In all other cases, `Detect` is

    the same as `None`. This is the default configuration.

    This option can be specified using:

    # PowerShell: Using the Format parameter

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -Format Yaml;

    # PowerShell: Using the Input.Format hashtable key

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -Option @{ 'Input.Format' = 'Yaml' };

    # PowerShell: Using the Format parameter to set YAML

    Set-PSRuleOption -Format Yaml;

    # YAML: Using the input/format property

    input:

      format: Yaml

    INPUT.OBJECTPATH

    The object path to a property to use instead of the pipeline object.

    By default, PSRule processes objects passed from the pipeline against

    selected rules. When this option is set, instead of evaluating the pipeline

    object, PSRule looks for a property of the pipeline object specified by

    `ObjectPath` and uses that instead. If the property specified by

    `ObjectPath` is a collection/ array, then each item is evaluated separately.

    If the property specified by `ObjectPath` does not exist, PSRule skips the object.

    When using `Invoke-PSRule` and `Test-PSRuleTarget` the `-ObjectPath`

    parameter will override any value set in configuration.

    This option can be specified using:

    # PowerShell: Using the ObjectPath parameter

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -ObjectPath 'items';

    # PowerShell: Using the Input.ObjectPath hashtable key

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -Option @{ 'Input.ObjectPath' = 'items' };

    # PowerShell: Using the ObjectPath parameter to set YAML

    Set-PSRuleOption -ObjectPath 'items';

    # YAML: Using the input/objectPath property

    input:

      objectPath: items

    LOGGING.RULEFAIL

    When an object fails a rule condition the results are written to output as a

    structured object marked with the outcome of

    Fail

    . If the rule executed successfully regardless of outcome no other

    informational messages are shown by default.

    In some circumstances such as a continuous integration (CI) pipeline, it may

    be preferable to see informational messages or abort the CI process if one

    or more

    Fail

    outcomes are returned.

    By settings this option, error, warning or information messages will be

    generated for each rule

    fail

    outcome in addition to structured output. By default, outcomes are not

    logged to an informational stream (i.e. None).

    The following streams available:

    - None

    - Error

    - Warning

    - Information

    This option can be specified using:

    # PowerShell: Using the LoggingRuleFail parameter

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -LoggingRuleFail Error;

    # PowerShell: Using the Logging.RuleFail hashtable key

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -Option @{ 'Logging.RuleFail' = 'Error' };

    # PowerShell: Using the LoggingRuleFail parameter to set YAML

    Set-PSRuleOption -LoggingRuleFail Error;

    # YAML: Using the logging/ruleFail property

    logging:

      ruleFail: Error

    LOGGING.RULEPASS

    When an object passes a rule condition the results are written to output as

    a structured object marked with the outcome of

    Pass

    . If the rule executed successfully regardless of outcome no other

    informational messages are shown by default.

    In some circumstances such as a continuous integration (CI) pipeline, it may

    be preferable to see informational messages.

    By settings this option, error, warning or information messages will be

    generated for each rule

    pass

    outcome in addition to structured output. By default, outcomes are not

    logged to an informational stream (i.e. None).

    The following streams available:

    - None

    - Error

    - Warning

    - Information

    This option can be specified using:

    # PowerShell: Using the LoggingRulePass parameter

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -LoggingRulePass Information;

    # PowerShell: Using the Logging.RulePass hashtable key

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -Option @{ 'Logging.RulePass' = 'Information' };

    # PowerShell: Using the LoggingRulePass parameter to set YAML

    Set-PSRuleOption -LoggingRulePass Information;

    # YAML: Using the logging/rulePass property

    logging:

      rulePass: Information

    OUTPUT.AS

    Configures the type of results to produce.

    This option only applies to `Invoke-PSRule`. `Invoke-PSRule` also includes a

    parameter `-As` to set this option at runtime. If specified, the `-As`

    parameter take precedence, over this option.

    The following options are available:

    - Detail - Return a record per rule per object.

    - Summary - Return summary information for per rule.

    This option can be specified using:

    # PowerShell: Using the OutputAs parameter

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -OutputAs Yaml;

    # PowerShell: Using the Output.As hashtable key

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -Option @{ 'Output.As' = 'Summary' };

    # PowerShell: Using the OutputAs parameter to set YAML

    Set-PSRuleOption -OutputAs Yaml;

    # YAML: Using the output/as property

    output:

      as: Summary

    OUTPUT.FORMAT

    Configures the format that results will be presented in.

    The following format options are available:

    - None - Output is presented as an object using PowerShell defaults. This is

    the default configuration.

    - Yaml - Output is serialized as YAML.

    - Json - Output is serialized as JSON.

    - NUnit3 - Output is serialized as NUnit3 (XML).

    This option can be specified using:

    # PowerShell: Using the OutputFormat parameter

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -OutputFormat Yaml;

    # PowerShell: Using the Output.Format hashtable key

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -Option @{ 'Output.Format' = 'Yaml' };

    # PowerShell: Using the OutputFormat parameter to set YAML

    Set-PSRuleOption -OutputFormat Yaml;

    # YAML: Using the output/format property

    output:

      format: Yaml

    RULE SUPPRESSION

    In certain circumstances it may be necessary to exclude or suppress rules

    from processing objects that are in a known failed state.

    PSRule allows objects to be suppressed for a rule by TargetName. Objects

    that are suppressed are not processed by the rule at all but will continue

    to be processed by other rules.

    Rule suppression complements pre-filtering and pre-conditions.

    This option can be specified using:

    # PowerShell: Using the SuppressTargetName option with a hashtable

    $option = New-PSRuleOption -SuppressTargetName @{ 'storageAccounts.UseHttps' = 'TestObject1', 'TestObject3' };

    # YAML: Using the suppression property

    suppression:

      storageAccounts.UseHttps:

        targetName:

        - TestObject1

        - TestObject3

    In both of the above examples, `TestObject1` and `TestObject3` have been

    suppressed from being processed by a rule named `storageAccounts.UseHttps`.

    When

    to

    use rule suppression:

    - A temporary exclusion for an object that is in a known failed state.

    When

    not

    to use rule suppression:

    - An object should never be processed by any rule. Pre-filter the pipeline instead.

    - The rule is not applicable because the object is the wrong type. Use

    pre-conditions on the rule instead.

    An example of pre-filtering:

    # Define objects to validate

    $items = @();

    $items += [PSCustomObject]@{ Name = 'Fridge'; Type = 'Equipment'; Category = 'White goods'; };

    $items += [PSCustomObject]@{ Name = 'Apple'; Type = 'Food'; Category = 'Produce'; };

    $items += [PSCustomObject]@{ Name = 'Carrot'; Type = 'Food'; Category = 'Produce'; };

    # Example of pre-filtering, only food items are sent to Invoke-PSRule

    $items | Where-Object { $_.Type -eq 'Food' } | Invoke-PSRule;

    An example of pre-conditions:

    # A rule with a pre-condition to only process produce

    Rule 'isFruit' -If { $TargetObject.Category -eq 'Produce' } {

        # Condition to determine if the object is fruit

        $TargetObject.Name -in 'Apple', 'Orange', 'Pear'

    }

EXAMPLES

    EXAMPLE PSRULE.YML

    #

    # PSRule example configuration

    #

    # Configure baseline

    baseline:

      ruleName:

      - rule1

      - rule2

      exclude:

      - rule3

      - rule4

      configuration:

        appServiceMinInstanceCount: 2

    # Configure TargetName binding

    binding:

      ignoreCase: false

      targetName:

      - ResourceName

      - AlternateName

      targetType:

      - ResourceType

      - kind

    # Configure execution options

    execution:

      languageMode: ConstrainedLanguage

      inconclusiveWarning: false

      notProcessedWarning: false

    # Configures input options

    input:

      format: Yaml

      objectPath: items

    # Configures outcome logging options

    logging:

      ruleFail: Error

      rulePass: Information

    output:

      as: Summary

      format: Json

    # Configure rule suppression

    suppression:

      storageAccounts.UseHttps:

        targetName:

        - TestObject1

        - TestObject3

    DEFAULT PSRULE.YML

    #

    # PSRule defaults

    #

    # Note: Only properties that differ from the default values need to be specified.

    # Configure baseline

    baseline:

      ruleName: [ ]

      exclude: [ ]

      configuration: { }

    # Configure TargetName binding

    binding:

      ignoreCase: true

      targetName:

      - TargetName

      - Name

      targetType:

      - PSObject.TypeNames[0]

    # Configure execution options

    execution:

      languageMode: FullLanguage

      inconclusiveWarning: true

      notProcessedWarning: true

    # Configures input options

    input:

      format: Detect

      objectPath:

    # Configures outcome logging options

    logging:

      ruleFail: None

      rulePass: None

    output:

      as: Detail

      format: None

    # Configure rule suppression

    suppression: { }

NOTE

    An online version of this document is available at

    https://github.com/BernieWhite/PSRule/blob/master/docs/concepts/PSRule/en-US/about_PSRule_Options.md.

SEE ALSO

    -

    Invoke-PSRule

    -

    New-PSRuleOption

    -

    Set-PSRuleOption

KEYWORDS

    - Options

- PSRule