I store some settings like the redis password, and localhost shared secrets as variables, i.e.: ldap { ... identity = ${bind_dn} ... } as I'm running a single set of configuration shared across 3 different sets of servers, with a file called 'variables' generated by puppet that contains the instance specific settings. Is there any way to have a default value for these kinds of variables so I don't have to populate unused ones with dummy values? Or to have the server ignore missing variable references? I tried instantiating the variables as empty strings, then redefining them like: # cat /etc/raddb/radius.conf ... $INCLUDE defaults $INCLUDE variables ... # cat /etc/raddb/defaults ... bind_dn = "" # cat /etc/raddb/variables ... bind_dn = "dc=jisc,dc=ac,dc=uk" Which loaded without error, but returned an empty string. Adam Bishop gpg: E75B 1F92 6407 DFDF 9F1C BF10 C993 2504 6609 D460 jisc.ac.uk Jisc is a registered charity (number 1149740) and a company limited by guarantee which is registered in England under Company No. 5747339, VAT No. GB 197 0632 86. Jisc’s registered office is: One Castlepark, Tower Hill, Bristol, BS2 0JA. T 0203 697 5800. Jisc Services Limited is a wholly owned Jisc subsidiary and a company limited by guarantee which is registered in England under company number 2881024, VAT number GB 197 0632 86. The registered office is: One Castle Park, Tower Hill, Bristol BS2 0JA. T 0203 697 5800.