diff --git a/conf/type/__package/man.text b/conf/type/__package/man.text
index d0460a31..071a8bfb 100644
--- a/conf/type/__package/man.text
+++ b/conf/type/__package/man.text
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-cdist-type__user(7)
-===================
+cdist-type__package(7)
+======================
 Steven Armstrong <steven-cdist--@--armstrong.cc>
 
 
@@ -17,22 +17,23 @@ It dispatches the actual work to the package system dependant types.
 REQUIRED PARAMETERS
 -------------------
 state::
-   The state the package should be in, either "installed" or "removed"
+    The state the package should be in, either "present" or "absent"
+    (the old values "installed" or "removed" will be removed in cdist 2.1).
 
 
 OPTIONAL PARAMETERS
 -------------------
 name::
-   The name of the package to install. Default is to use the object_id as the
-   package name.
+    The name of the package to install. Default is to use the object_id as the
+    package name.
 version::
-   The version of the package to install. Default is to install the version
-   choosen by the local package manager.
+    The version of the package to install. Default is to install the version
+    choosen by the local package manager.
 type::
-   The package type to use. Default is determined based on the $os explorer
-   variable.
-   e.g. __package_apt for Debian
-        __package_emerge for Gentoo
+    The package type to use. Default is determined based on the $os explorer
+    variable.
+    e.g. __package_apt for Debian
+         __package_emerge for Gentoo
 
 
 EXAMPLES
@@ -40,13 +41,13 @@ EXAMPLES
 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Install the package vim on the target
-__package vim --state installed
+__package vim --state present
 
 # Same but install specific version
-__package vim --state installed --version 7.3.50
+__package vim --state present --version 7.3.50
 
 # Force use of a specific package type
-__package vim --state installed --type __package_apt
+__package vim --state present --type __package_apt
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
diff --git a/conf/type/__package_apt/explorer/pkg_status b/conf/type/__package_apt/explorer/state
similarity index 84%
rename from conf/type/__package_apt/explorer/pkg_status
rename to conf/type/__package_apt/explorer/state
index dbb3af3e..04926b60 100755
--- a/conf/type/__package_apt/explorer/pkg_status
+++ b/conf/type/__package_apt/explorer/state
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 #
-# 2011 Nico Schottelius (nico-cdist at schottelius.org)
+# 2011-2012 Nico Schottelius (nico-cdist at schottelius.org)
 #
 # This file is part of cdist.
 #
@@ -28,11 +28,11 @@ else
 fi
 
 # Except dpkg failing, if package is not known / installed
-packages="$(apt-cache showpkg "$name" | sed -e  "1,/Reverse Provides:/d" | cut -d ' ' -f 1) $name"
+packages="$(apt-cache showpkg "$name" | sed -e "1,/Reverse Provides:/d" | cut -d ' ' -f 1) $name"
 for p in $packages; do
     if [ -n "$(dpkg -s "$p" 2>/dev/null | grep "^Status: install ok installed$")" ]; then
-       echo "installed $p"
+       echo "present $p"
        exit 0
     fi
 done
-echo "removed"
+echo absent
diff --git a/conf/type/__package_apt/gencode-remote b/conf/type/__package_apt/gencode-remote
index 594ab8cb..f0c6090b 100755
--- a/conf/type/__package_apt/gencode-remote
+++ b/conf/type/__package_apt/gencode-remote
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 #
-# 2011 Nico Schottelius (nico-cdist at schottelius.org)
+# 2011-2012 Nico Schottelius (nico-cdist at schottelius.org)
 #
 # This file is part of cdist.
 #
@@ -28,28 +28,41 @@ else
 fi
 
 state_should="$(cat "$__object/parameter/state")"
-state_is="$(cat "$__object/explorer/pkg_status")"
+
+# Correct pre 2.1 naming - FIXME in 2.1
+case "$state_should" in
+    installed)
+        echo "WARNING: $state_should is deprecated and will be removed in cdist 2.1. Please change to present/absent." >&2
+        state_should="present"
+    ;;
+    removed)
+        echo "WARNING: $state_should is deprecated and will be removed in cdist 2.1. Please change to present/absent." >&2
+        state_should="absent"
+    ;;
+esac
+
+# FIXME: use grep directly, state is a list, not a line!
+state_is="$(cat "$__object/explorer/state")"
 case "$state_is" in
-    installed*)
+    present*)
        name="$(echo "$state_is" | cut -d ' ' -f 2)"
-       state_is="installed"
+       state_is="present"
     ;;
 esac
 
 aptget="DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive apt-get --quiet --yes"
 
-if [ "$state_is" != "$state_should" ]; then
-   case "$state_should" in
-      installed)
-         echo $aptget install \"$name\"
-      ;;
-      removed)
-         echo $aptget remove \"$name\"
-      ;;
-      *)
-         echo "Unknown state: $state" >&2
-         exit 1
-      ;;
-   esac
-fi
+[ "$state_is" = "$state_should" ] && exit 0
 
+case "$state_should" in
+    present)
+        echo $aptget install \"$name\"
+    ;;
+    absent)
+        echo $aptget remove \"$name\"
+    ;;
+    *)
+        echo "Unknown state: $state_should" >&2
+        exit 1
+    ;;
+esac
diff --git a/conf/type/__package_apt/man.text b/conf/type/__package_apt/man.text
index 905bfb5f..fd9c1a9c 100644
--- a/conf/type/__package_apt/man.text
+++ b/conf/type/__package_apt/man.text
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@ manage packages.
 REQUIRED PARAMETERS
 -------------------
 state::
-   Either "installed" or "removed".
+    The state the package should be in, either "present" or "absent"
+    (the old values "installed" or "removed" will be removed in cdist 2.1).
 
 
 OPTIONAL PARAMETERS
@@ -31,13 +32,13 @@ EXAMPLES
 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Ensure zsh in installed
-__package_apt zsh --state installed
+__package_apt zsh --state present
 
 # In case you only want *a* webserver, but don't care which one
-__package_apt webserver --state installed --name nginx
+__package_apt webserver --state present --name nginx
 
 # Remove obsolete package
-__package_apt puppet --state removed
+__package_apt puppet --state absent
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
diff --git a/conf/type/__package_luarocks/gencode-remote b/conf/type/__package_luarocks/gencode-remote
index 179022b1..b4970daa 100755
--- a/conf/type/__package_luarocks/gencode-remote
+++ b/conf/type/__package_luarocks/gencode-remote
@@ -24,29 +24,43 @@
 
 
 if [ -f "$__object/parameter/name" ]; then
-   name="$(cat "$__object/parameter/name")"
+    name="$(cat "$__object/parameter/name")"
 else
-   name="$__object_id"
+    name="$__object_id"
 fi
 
-state="$(cat "$__object/parameter/state")"
-is_installed="$(grep "(installed)" "$__object/explorer/pkg_status" || true)"
-
-case "$state" in
-   installed)
-      # Install only if non-existent
-      if [ -z "$is_installed" ]; then
-         echo luarocks install \"$name\"
-      fi
-   ;;
-   removed)
-      # Remove only if existent
-      if [ -n "$is_installed" ]; then
-         echo luarocks remove \"$name\"
-      fi
-   ;;
-   *)
-      echo "Unknown state: $state" >&2
-      exit 1
-   ;;
+state_should="$(cat "$__object/parameter/state")"
+# Correct pre 2.1 naming - FIXME in 2.1
+case "$state_should" in
+    installed)
+        echo "WARNING: $state_should is deprecated and will be removed in cdist 2.1. Please change to present/absent." >&2
+        state_should="present"
+    ;;
+    removed)
+        echo "WARNING: $state_should is deprecated and will be removed in cdist 2.1. Please change to present/absent." >&2
+        state_should="absent"
+    ;;
+esac
+
+
+if grep -q "(installed)" "$__object/explorer/pkg_status"; then
+    state_is="present"
+else
+    state_is="absent"
+fi
+
+# Leave if nothing is to be done
+[ "$state_is" = "$state_should" ] && exit 0
+
+case "$state_should" in
+    present)
+        echo luarocks install \"$name\"
+    ;;
+    absent)
+        echo luarocks remove \"$name\"
+    ;;
+    *)
+        echo "Unknown state: $state_should" >&2
+        exit 1
+    ;;
 esac
diff --git a/conf/type/__package_luarocks/man.text b/conf/type/__package_luarocks/man.text
index 6c1e6734..8b041b7c 100644
--- a/conf/type/__package_luarocks/man.text
+++ b/conf/type/__package_luarocks/man.text
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 cdist-type__package_luarocks(7)
-==============================
+===============================
 Christian G. Warden <cwarden@xerus.org>
 
 
@@ -16,13 +16,14 @@ LuaRocks is a deployment and management system for Lua modules.
 REQUIRED PARAMETERS
 -------------------
 state::
-   Either "installed" or "removed".
+    The state the package should be in, either "present" or "absent"
+    (the old values "installed" or "removed" will be removed in cdist 2.1).
 
 
 OPTIONAL PARAMETERS
 -------------------
 name::
-   If supplied, use the name and not the object id as the package name.
+    If supplied, use the name and not the object id as the package name.
 
 
 EXAMPLES
@@ -30,10 +31,10 @@ EXAMPLES
 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Ensure luasocket is installed
-__package_luarocks luasocket --state installed
+__package_luarocks luasocket --state present
 
 # Remove package
-__package_luarocks luasocket --state removed
+__package_luarocks luasocket --state absent
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
diff --git a/conf/type/__package_pacman/explorer/pkg_version b/conf/type/__package_pacman/explorer/pkg_version
index 4f612423..c33820f8 100755
--- a/conf/type/__package_pacman/explorer/pkg_version
+++ b/conf/type/__package_pacman/explorer/pkg_version
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 #
-# 2011 Nico Schottelius (nico-cdist at schottelius.org)
+# 2011-2012 Nico Schottelius (nico-cdist at schottelius.org)
 #
 # This file is part of cdist.
 #
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 # along with cdist. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
 #
-# Retrieve the status of a package - parsed dpkg output
+# Retrieve the status of a package - parsed pacman output
 #
 
 if [ -f "$__object/parameter/name" ]; then
diff --git a/conf/type/__package_pacman/gencode-remote b/conf/type/__package_pacman/gencode-remote
index 3c4fdda7..73ed0997 100755
--- a/conf/type/__package_pacman/gencode-remote
+++ b/conf/type/__package_pacman/gencode-remote
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 #
-# 2011 Nico Schottelius (nico-cdist at schottelius.org)
+# 2011-2012 Nico Schottelius (nico-cdist at schottelius.org)
 #
 # This file is part of cdist.
 #
@@ -33,24 +33,37 @@ else
    name="$__object_id"
 fi
 
-state="$(cat "$__object/parameter/state")"
+state_should="$(cat "$__object/parameter/state")"
+case "$state_should" in
+    installed)
+        echo "WARNING: $state_should is deprecated and will be removed in cdist 2.1. Please change to present/absent." >&2       
+        state_should="present"
+    ;;  
+    removed)
+        echo "WARNING: $state_should is deprecated and will be removed in cdist 2.1. Please change to present/absent." >&2       
+        state_should="absent"
+    ;;  
+esac
+
 pkg_version="$(cat "$__object/explorer/pkg_version")"
+if [ -z "$pkg_version" ]; then
+    state_is="absent"
+else
+    state_is="present"
+fi
 
-case "$state" in
-   installed)
+# Exit if nothing is needed to be done
+[ "$state_is" = "$state_should" ] && exit 0
 
-      # Empty? Not installed.
-      if [ -z "$pkg_version" ]; then
+case "$state_should" in
+   present)
          echo pacman "$pacopts" -S \"$name\"
-      fi
    ;;
-   removed)
-      if [ "$pkg_version" ]; then
+   absent)
          echo pacman "$pacopts" -R \"$name\"
-      fi
    ;;
    *)
-      echo "Unknown state: $state" >&2
+      echo "Unknown state: $state_should" >&2
       exit 1
    ;;
 esac
diff --git a/conf/type/__package_pacman/man.text b/conf/type/__package_pacman/man.text
index 28766581..fe2abac8 100644
--- a/conf/type/__package_pacman/man.text
+++ b/conf/type/__package_pacman/man.text
@@ -17,13 +17,14 @@ packages.
 REQUIRED PARAMETERS
 -------------------
 state::
-   Either "installed" or "removed".
+    The state the package should be in, either "present" or "absent"
+    (the old values "installed" or "removed" will be removed in cdist 2.1).
 
 
 OPTIONAL PARAMETERS
 -------------------
 name::
-   If supplied, use the name and not the object id as the package name.
+    If supplied, use the name and not the object id as the package name.
 
 
 EXAMPLES
@@ -31,13 +32,13 @@ EXAMPLES
 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Ensure zsh in installed
-__package_pacman zsh --state installed
+__package_pacman zsh --state present
 
 # If you don't want to follow pythonX packages, but always use python
-__package_pacman python --state installed --name python2
+__package_pacman python --state present --name python2
 
 # Remove obsolete package
-__package_pacman puppet --state removed
+__package_pacman puppet --state absent
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
@@ -49,5 +50,5 @@ SEE ALSO
 
 COPYING
 -------
-Copyright \(C) 2011 Nico Schottelius. Free use of this software is
+Copyright \(C) 2011-2012 Nico Schottelius. Free use of this software is
 granted under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 3 (GPLv3).
diff --git a/conf/type/__package_pip/gencode-remote b/conf/type/__package_pip/gencode-remote
index e60d74c5..0f15abdc 100644
--- a/conf/type/__package_pip/gencode-remote
+++ b/conf/type/__package_pip/gencode-remote
@@ -47,4 +47,8 @@ case "$state_should" in
     absent)
         echo $pip uninstall -q -y pyro
     ;;
+    *)
+        echo "Unknown state: $state_should" >&2
+        exit 1
+    ;;
 esac
diff --git a/conf/type/__package_pip/man.text b/conf/type/__package_pip/man.text
index 5ce45c50..2a620658 100644
--- a/conf/type/__package_pip/man.text
+++ b/conf/type/__package_pip/man.text
@@ -23,10 +23,10 @@ state::
 OPTIONAL PARAMETERS
 -------------------
 name::
-   If supplied, use the name and not the object id as the package name.
+    If supplied, use the name and not the object id as the package name.
 
 pip::
-   Instead of using pip from PATH, use the specific pip path.
+    Instead of using pip from PATH, use the specific pip path.
 
 
 EXAMPLES
diff --git a/conf/type/__package_pkg_openbsd/gencode-remote b/conf/type/__package_pkg_openbsd/gencode-remote
index eee2a3d9..97f3f101 100755
--- a/conf/type/__package_pkg_openbsd/gencode-remote
+++ b/conf/type/__package_pkg_openbsd/gencode-remote
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 #
 # 2011 Andi Brönnimann (andi-cdist at v-net.ch)
+# 2012 Nico Schottelius (nico-cdist at schottelius.org)
 #
 # This file is part of cdist.
 #
@@ -28,7 +29,6 @@
 os_version="$(cat "$__global/explorer/os_version")"
 machine="$(cat "$__global/explorer/machine")"
 
-
 if [ -f "$__object/parameter/flavor" ]; then
 	flavor="$(cat "$__object/parameter/flavor")"
 fi
@@ -42,44 +42,60 @@ else
    name="$__object_id"
 fi
 
-state="$(cat "$__object/parameter/state")"
+state_should="$(cat "$__object/parameter/state")"
+# Correct pre 2.1 naming - FIXME in 2.1
+case "$state_should" in
+    installed)
+        echo "WARNING: $state_should is deprecated and will be removed in cdist 2.1. Please change to present/absent." >&2
+        state_should="present"
+    ;;
+    removed)
+        echo "WARNING: $state_should is deprecated and will be removed in cdist 2.1. Please change to present/absent." >&2
+        state_should="absent"
+    ;;
+esac
+
 pkg_version="$(cat "$__object/explorer/pkg_version")"
 
 # TODO: Shouldn't be hardcoded
 echo export PKG_PATH=ftp://ftp.openbsd.org/pub/OpenBSD/$os_version/packages/$machine/
 
-case "$state" in
-   installed)
-      # Empty? Not installed.
-      if [ -z "$pkg_version" ]; then
-		  # use this because pkg_add doesn't properly handle errors
-		  cat << eof
-		  status=\$(pkg_add "$pkgopts" "$name--$flavor")
+if [ "$pkg_version" ]; then
+    state_is="present"
+else
+    state_is="absent"
+fi
 
-		  # no error
-      	  if [ -n "\$status" ]; then
-			  echo "Error: \$status"
-			  exit 1
-		  fi
-eof
-      fi
-   ;;
-   removed)
-      if [ "$pkg_version" ]; then
-		  # use this because pkg_add doesn't properly handle errors
-		  cat << eof
-		  status=\$(pkg_delete "$pkgopts" "$name--$flavor")
+[ "$state_is" = "$state_should" ] && exit 0
 
-		  # no error
-      	  if [ -n "\$status" ]; then
-			  echo "Error: \$status"
-			  exit 1
-		  fi
+case "$state_should" in
+    present)
+        # use this because pkg_add doesn't properly handle errors
+        cat << eof
+status=\$(pkg_add "$pkgopts" "$name--$flavor")
+
+# no error
+if [ -n "\$status" ]; then
+    echo "Error: \$status"
+	exit 1
+fi
+eof
+    ;;
+
+    absent)
+        # use this because pkg_add doesn't properly handle errors
+        cat << eof
+status=\$(pkg_delete "$pkgopts" "$name--$flavor")
+
+# no error
+if [ -n "\$status" ]; then
+    echo "Error: \$status"
+    exit 1
+fi
 eof
-      fi
    ;;
    *)
-		echo "Unknown state: $state" >&2
+		echo "Unknown state: $state_should" >&2
 		exit 1
    ;;
 esac
diff --git a/conf/type/__package_pkg_openbsd/man.text b/conf/type/__package_pkg_openbsd/man.text
index 555bb0ac..71cf9d4e 100644
--- a/conf/type/__package_pkg_openbsd/man.text
+++ b/conf/type/__package_pkg_openbsd/man.text
@@ -16,16 +16,17 @@ This type is usually used on OpenBSD to manage packages.
 REQUIRED PARAMETERS
 -------------------
 state::
-   Either "installed" or "removed".
+    The state the package should be in, either "present" or "absent"
+    (the old values "installed" or "removed" will be removed in cdist 2.1).
 
 
 OPTIONAL PARAMETERS
 -------------------
 name::
-   If supplied, use the name and not the object id as the package name.
+    If supplied, use the name and not the object id as the package name.
 
 flavor::
-   If supplied, use to avoid ambiguity.
+    If supplied, use to avoid ambiguity.
 
 
 EXAMPLES
@@ -33,16 +34,16 @@ EXAMPLES
 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Ensure zsh is installed
-__package_pkg_openbsd zsh --state installed
+__package_pkg_openbsd zsh --state present
 
 # Ensure vim is installed, use flavor no_x11
-__package_pkg_openbsd vim --state installed --flavor no_x11
+__package_pkg_openbsd vim --state present --flavor no_x11
 
 # If you don't want to follow pythonX packages, but always use python
-__package_pkg_openbsd python --state installed --name python2
+__package_pkg_openbsd python --state present --name python2
 
 # Remove obsolete package
-__package_pkg_openbsd puppet --state removed
+__package_pkg_openbsd puppet --state absent
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
diff --git a/conf/type/__package_rubygem/gencode-remote b/conf/type/__package_rubygem/gencode-remote
index daaba524..cca016cf 100755
--- a/conf/type/__package_rubygem/gencode-remote
+++ b/conf/type/__package_rubygem/gencode-remote
@@ -21,31 +21,42 @@
 # Manage Rubygem packages
 #
 
-
 if [ -f "$__object/parameter/name" ]; then
-   name="$(cat "$__object/parameter/name")"
+    name="$(cat "$__object/parameter/name")"
 else
-   name="$__object_id"
+    name="$__object_id"
 fi
 
-state="$(cat "$__object/parameter/state")"
-is_installed="$(grep "true" "$__object/explorer/pkg_status" || true)"
-
-case "$state" in
-   installed)
-      # Install only if non-existent
-      if [ -z "$is_installed" ]; then
-         echo gem install \"$name\" --no-ri --no-rdoc
-      fi
-   ;;
-   removed)
-      # Remove only if existent
-      if [ -n "$is_installed" ]; then
-         echo gem uninstall \"$name\"
-      fi
-   ;;
-   *)
-      echo "Unknown state: $state" >&2
-      exit 1
-   ;;
+state_should="$(cat "$__object/parameter/state")"
+# Correct pre 2.1 naming - FIXME in 2.1
+case "$state_should" in
+    installed)
+        echo "WARNING: $state_should is deprecated and will be removed in cdist 2.1. Please change to present/absent." >&2
+        state_should="present"
+    ;;
+    removed)
+        echo "WARNING: $state_should is deprecated and will be removed in cdist 2.1. Please change to present/absent." >&2
+        state_should="absent"
+    ;;
+esac
+
+if grep -q true "$__object/explorer/pkg_status"; then
+    state_is="present"
+else
+    state_is="absent"
+fi
+
+[ "$state_is" = "$state_should ] && exit 0
+
+case "$state_should" in
+    present)
+        echo gem install \"$name\" --no-ri --no-rdoc
+    ;;
+    absent)
+        echo gem uninstall \"$name\"
+    ;;
+    *)
+        echo "Unknown state: $state_should" >&2
+        exit 1
+    ;;
 esac
diff --git a/conf/type/__package_rubygem/man.text b/conf/type/__package_rubygem/man.text
index c6248ee3..79bb8b52 100644
--- a/conf/type/__package_rubygem/man.text
+++ b/conf/type/__package_rubygem/man.text
@@ -16,13 +16,14 @@ Rubygems is the default package management system for the Ruby programming langu
 REQUIRED PARAMETERS
 -------------------
 state::
-   Either "installed" or "removed".
+    The state the package should be in, either "present" or "absent"
+    (the old values "installed" or "removed" will be removed in cdist 2.1).
 
 
 OPTIONAL PARAMETERS
 -------------------
 name::
-   If supplied, use the name and not the object id as the package name.
+    If supplied, use the name and not the object id as the package name.
 
 
 EXAMPLES
@@ -30,10 +31,10 @@ EXAMPLES
 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Ensure sinatra is installed
-__package_rubygem sinatra --state installed
+__package_rubygem sinatra --state present
 
 # Remove package
-__package_rubygem rails --state removed
+__package_rubygem rails --state absent
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
diff --git a/conf/type/__package_yum/gencode-remote b/conf/type/__package_yum/gencode-remote
index b24ed220..35e8bd6b 100755
--- a/conf/type/__package_yum/gencode-remote
+++ b/conf/type/__package_yum/gencode-remote
@@ -27,7 +27,17 @@ else
    name="$__object_id"
 fi
 
-state="$(cat "$__object/parameter/state")"
+state_should="$(cat "$__object/parameter/state")"
+case "$state_should" in
+    installed)
+        echo "WARNING: $state_should is deprecated and will be removed in cdist 2.1. Please change to present/absent." >&2       
+        state_should="present"
+    ;;
+    removed)
+        echo "WARNING: $state_should is deprecated and will be removed in cdist 2.1. Please change to present/absent." >&2       
+        state_should="absent"
+    ;;
+esac
 
 if grep -q -E "(centos|redhat|amazon)" "$__global/explorer/os"; then
     opts="-y --quiet"
@@ -37,19 +47,23 @@ fi
 
 not_installed="^no package provides"
 
-case "$state" in
-   installed)
-      if grep -q "$not_installed" "$__object/explorer/pkg_version"; then
-         echo yum $opts install \"$name\"
-      fi
-   ;;
-   removed)
-      if ! grep -q "$not_installed" "$__object/explorer/pkg_version"; then
-         echo yum $opts remove \"$name\"
-      fi
-   ;;
-   *)
-      echo "Unknown state: $state" >&2
-      exit 1
-   ;;
+if grep -q "$not_installed" "$__object/explorer/pkg_version"; then
+    state_is="absent"
+else
+    state_is="present"
+fi
+
+[ "$state_is" = "$state_should ] && exit 0
+
+case "$state_should" in
+    present)
+        echo yum $opts install \"$name\"
+    ;;
+    absent)
+        echo yum $opts remove \"$name\"
+    ;;
+    *)
+        echo "Unknown state: $state_should" >&2
+        exit 1
+    ;;
 esac
diff --git a/conf/type/__package_yum/man.text b/conf/type/__package_yum/man.text
index c9cad340..9dfb394e 100644
--- a/conf/type/__package_yum/man.text
+++ b/conf/type/__package_yum/man.text
@@ -18,13 +18,14 @@ slightly confusing error message "Error: Nothing to do".
 REQUIRED PARAMETERS
 -------------------
 state::
-   Either "installed" or "removed".
+    The state the package should be in, either "present" or "absent"
+    (the old values "installed" or "removed" will be removed in cdist 2.1).
 
 
 OPTIONAL PARAMETERS
 -------------------
 name::
-   If supplied, use the name and not the object id as the package name.
+    If supplied, use the name and not the object id as the package name.
 
 
 EXAMPLES
@@ -32,13 +33,13 @@ EXAMPLES
 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Ensure zsh in installed
-__package_yum zsh --state installed
+__package_yum zsh --state present
 
 # If you don't want to follow pythonX packages, but always use python
-__package_yum python --state installed --name python2
+__package_yum python --state present --name python2
 
 # Remove obsolete package
-__package_yum puppet --state removed
+__package_yum puppet --state absent
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
diff --git a/doc/changelog b/doc/changelog
index ab006435..0bdbeb32 100644
--- a/doc/changelog
+++ b/doc/changelog
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ Changelog
 	* Cleanup: Do not output failing script, but path to script only
 	* Cleanup: Remove support for __debug variable in manifests (Type != Core
 		debugging)
+	* Cleanup: Change __package_* to support absent/present (default state
+		name now). The values removed/installed will be removed in cdist 2.1.
 	* Feature Core: Support boolean parameters (Steven Armstrong)
 
 2.0.7: 2012-02-13