# Minion Blackout Configuration

New in version 2016.3.0.

Salt supports minion blackouts. When a minion is in blackout mode, all remote execution commands are disabled. This allows production minions to be put "on hold", eliminating the risk of an untimely configuration change.

Minion blackouts are configured via a special pillar key, `minion_blackout`. If this key is set to `True`, then the minion will reject all incoming commands, except for `saltutil.refresh_pillar`. (The exception is important, so minions can be brought out of blackout mode)

Salt also supports an explicit whitelist of additional functions that will be allowed during blackout. This is configured with the special pillar key `minion_blackout_whitelist`, which is formed as a list:

    minion_blackout_whitelist:
     - test.version
     - pillar.get