Introduction to Ansible

Learn about ansible which is an open-source automation tool used for configuring systems, managing applications, and automating repetitive tasks. The lab covers fundamental concepts such as playbooks, tasks, modules, roles, and configuration files. It also provides hands-on experience in writing and executing Ansible playbooks to automate system administration tasks. By the end of this lab, you will be able to install Ansible, write and execute playbooks on RHEL 9.

Learning Outcomes:

• Learn how to install and configure Ansible on RHEL 9

• Understand the key features, architecture and benefits of Ansible

• Learn to write and execute ansible playbooks

• Understand how to use Ansible modules to automate system configuration and application deployment

• Understand the concept of control nodes, managed nodes, and inventory in Ansible

Key Concepts:

• Control Node: Also known as Ansible server. It manages and executes Ansible automation across managed nodes 

• Managed Node: A remote system or host that is being controlled and configured by Ansible.

• Modules: Predefined commands used for tasks like installing packages or configuring services. These are meant to be executed on client side 

• Tasks: Individual actions or operations executed on managed nodes.

• Play:  Group of ordered tasks executed collectively

• Playbooks: Automation files written in YAML format that define tasks, modules, and plays.

• Roles: Reusable components that bundle tasks, variables, and handlers for automation.

• Inventory:Organised list of managed nodes in Ansible.

Why Ansible:

•  Agentless and easy to use

•  Automates repetitive tasks, saving time and reducing errors

•  Flexible with simple, human-readable configuration files

•  Secure with SSH-based operations

•  Includes pre-built modules for diverse tasks

•  Supports orchestration for systems, networks, storage, and cloud