User Account Management
learn how to create a new user account on a remote hosts from a control node using Ansible. Also see how to update or add password for user using ansible.
About This Lab
This hands-on lab introduces user account management on remote hosts using Ansible. Ansible, an automation tool, enables you to manage configurations, deploy software, and orchestrate tasks on remote systems. In this lab, you will learn how to automate the creation and management of user accounts on remote systems, making your administrative tasks more efficient and repeatable.
What You Will Learn
This lab will guide you through:
- Creating and managing user accounts on remote hosts using Ansible.
- Using Ansible to set up user properties like home directories, shells, and passwords.
- Mapping IP addresses to hostnames to streamline remote management.
- Verifying remote user account creation and password updates using Ansible playbooks.
Why Learn User Account Management with Ansible?
Efficient user account management is crucial for maintaining secure, organized, and scalable systems. With Ansible, you can automate repetitive tasks, ensuring consistency and reducing the likelihood of manual errors. This lab is essential for system administrators, especially in environments where managing large numbers of users is necessary. Understanding Ansible's capabilities for user management will also make you more proficient in automating other administrative tasks.
Who Should Take This Lab?
This lab is ideal for:
- System administrators looking to automate user account management tasks.
- Students preparing for certifications like Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE).
- DevOps professionals and anyone interested in automating system administration with Ansible.
Prerequisites
Before starting this lab, ensure you have:
- Basic knowledge of Linux system administration and user account management.
- Familiarity with using the command-line interface and SSH.
Lab Highlights
Key steps you will perform in this lab include:
- Mapping remote host IP to a hostname for easier management.
- Setting up a remote host with Ansible to allow user creation and configuration.
- Creating a user account 'alex' on a remote system using an Ansible playbook.
- Assigning a home directory and shell to the user account using Ansible.
- Setting and verifying a password for the user 'alex' via an Ansible playbook.
This lab provides a practical approach to automating user account management on remote systems, preparing you for more advanced Ansible automation tasks.