diff --git a/manifests/conf/variable.pp b/manifests/conf/variable.pp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b0d398e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/manifests/conf/variable.pp
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+# Sets values in the variable table of the alternc database
+define alternc::conf::variable (
+  $ensure = 'present',
+  $key    = $name,
+  $value  = '',
+) {
+  $command_set = "/usr/bin/mysql --defaults-file=/etc/alternc/my.cnf -e \"update variable set value = '${value}' where name = '${key}';\""
+  $command_exists = "/usr/bin/mysql --defaults-file=/etc/alternc/my.cnf -e \"select value from variable where name = '${key}';\" | grep -q value"
+  $command_remove = "/usr/bin/mysql --defaults-file=/etc/alternc/my.cnf -e \"delete from variable where name = '${key}'\""
+  $command_is = "/usr/bin/mysql --defaults-file=/etc/alternc/my.cnf -e \"select value from variable where name = '${key}';\" | grep -q ${value}"
+  $command_add = "/usr/bin/mysql --defaults-file=/etc/alternc/my.cnf -e \"insert into variable (name, value) values ('${key}', '${value}');\""
+  $real_ensure = $ensure ? {
+    'absent' => 'absent',
+    default  => 'present'
+  }
+
+  if $real_ensure == 'present' {
+    exec { "alternc_variable_set_${name}":
+      command => $command_set,
+      unless  => $command_is,
+      require => Package['alternc'],
+    }
+    exec { "alternc_variable_add_${name}":
+      command => $command_add,
+      unless  => $command_exists,
+      require => Package['alternc'],
+    }
+  }
+  else {
+    exec { "alternc_variable_remove_${name}":
+      command => $command_remove,
+      onlyif  => $command_exists,
+      require => Package['alternc'],
+    }
+  }
+}