book

Practical Ansible - Second Edition

by James Freeman, Fabio Alessandro Locati, Daniel Oh

September 2023

Beginner to intermediate

420 pages

9h 48m

English

Packt Publishing

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ContributorsAbout the authorsAbout the reviewers
Who this book is forWhat this book coversTo get the most out of this bookDownload the example code filesConventions usedGet in touchShare your thoughtsDownload a free PDF copy of this book
Technical requirementsInstalling and configuring AnsibleUnderstanding Ansible version numbersInstalling Ansible on Linux and FreeBSDWorking with virtual environmentsInstalling from GitHubInstalling Ansible on macOSConfiguring Windows hosts for AnsibleGetting to know your Ansible installationUnderstanding how Ansible connects to hostsVerifying the Ansible installationManaged node requirementsSummaryQuestionsFurther reading
Technical requirementsGetting familiar with the Ansible frameworkBreaking down the Ansible componentsLearning the YAML syntaxOrganizing your automation codeExploring the configuration fileCommand-line argumentsUnderstanding ad hoc commandsDefining variablesUnderstanding Jinja2 filtersSummaryQuestionsFurther reading
Technical requirementsCreating an inventory file and adding hostsUsing host groupsAdding host and group variables to your inventoryGenerating a dynamic inventory fileUsing multiple inventory sources in the inventory directoriesUsing static groups with dynamic groupsSpecial host management using patternsSummaryQuestionsFurther reading
Technical requirementsUnderstanding the playbook frameworkComparing playbooks and ad hoc tasksDefining plays and tasksUnderstanding roles – the playbook organizerSetting up role-based variables and dependenciesAnsible GalaxyUsing conditions in your codeRepeating tasks with loopsGrouping tasks using blocksConfiguring play execution via strategiesUsing ansible-pullSummaryQuestionsFurther reading
Technical requirementsExecuting multiple modules using the command lineReviewing the module indexAccessing module documentation from the command lineModule return valuesDeveloping custom modulesAvoiding common pitfallsTesting and documenting your moduleThe module checklistContributing upstream – submitting a GitHub pull requestSummaryQuestionsFurther reading
Technical requirementsIntroduction to Ansible collectionsUnderstanding fully qualified collection namesManaging collections on your control nodeUpdating your Ansible collections and core installationCreating your own collectionsSummaryQuestionsFurther reading

Technical requirementsDiscovering the plugin typesFinding included pluginsCreating custom pluginsLearning to integrate custom plugins with Ansible source codeSharing plugins with the communitySummaryQuestionsFurther reading
Technical requirementsThe preferred directory layoutDifferentiating between different environment typesThe proper approach to defining group and host variablesUsing top-level playbooksLeveraging version control toolsSetting OS and distribution variancesPorting between Ansible versionsSummaryQuestionsFurther reading
Technical requirementsAsynchronous versus synchronous actionsControlling play execution for rolling updatesConfiguring the maximum failure percentageSetting task execution delegationUsing the run_once optionRunning playbooks locallyWorking with proxies and jump hostsConfiguring playbook promptsPlacing tags in the plays and tasksSecuring data with Ansible VaultSummaryQuestionsFurther reading
Technical requirementsWhy automate network management?How Ansible manages networking devicesHow to enable network automationThe available Ansible networking modulesConnecting to network devicesEnvironment variables for network devicesCustom conditional statements for networking devicesSummaryQuestionsFurther reading
Technical requirementsAutomating Docker and Podman with AnsibleManaging DockerManaging PodmanManaging Kubernetes with AnsibleInstalling Ansible Kubernetes dependenciesListing Kubernetes namespaces with AnsibleCreating a Kubernetes namespace with AnsibleCreating a Kubernetes service with AnsibleExploring container-focused modulesAutomating with Amazon Web ServicesInstallationAuthenticationCreating your first machineComplementing Google Cloud Platform with automationInstallationAuthenticationCreating your first machineSeamless automation integration with AzureInstallationAuthenticationCreating your first machineUsing Ansible to orchestrate OpenStackInstallationAuthenticationCreating your first machineSummaryQuestionsFurther reading
Technical requirementsDigging into playbook execution problemsUsing host facts to diagnose failuresTesting with a playbookUsing check modeSolving host connection issuesPassing working variables via the CLILimiting the host’s executionFlushing the code cacheChecking for bad syntaxSummaryQuestionsFurther reading
Technical requirementsInstalling AWXRunning your first playbook from AWXCreating an AWX projectCreating an inventoryCreating a job templateRunning a jobControlling access to AWXCreating a userCreating a teamCreating an organizationAssigning permissions in AWXSummaryQuestions
Technical requirementsThe importance of execution environmentsBuilding an execution environmentCreating a minimal execution environmentCreating an execution environment with a specific Python interpreterCreating an execution environment with additional dependenciesRunning playbooks in an execution environmentUploading execution environments to a container registryUsing execution environments in Ansible Automation ControllerSummaryQuestionsFurther reading
Chapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12Chapter 13Chapter 14
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Overview

Practical Ansible is your comprehensive guide to mastering Ansible for infrastructure automation, configuration management, and application deployment. In this book, you will learn to install and configure Ansible, automate repetitive IT tasks, and deepen your understanding of concepts such as playbooks, inventories, and roles. Whether you're managing containers, networks, or cloud platforms, this book empowers you with the skills needed to handle any scenario.

What this Book will help me do

Understand the basics of the Ansible framework and its working principles.
Learn how to write optimized playbooks to automate infrastructure tasks.
Develop custom Ansible modules and plugins to extend its functionality.
Gain proficiency in managing multi-cloud environments using Ansible.
Master troubleshooting techniques and best practices for Ansible automation.

Author(s)

James Freeman, Fabio Alessandro Locati, and Daniel Oh collectively bring decades of expertise in DevOps, cloud automation, and configuration management. Their vast experience in Ansible and infrastructure automation has been distilled into this practical guide that combines clarity with detailed technical insights. With in-depth examples and coherent explanations, they aim to make automation accessible and efficient for everyone.

Who is it for?

This book is ideal for DevOps engineers, IT administrators, and technical professionals seeking to enhance their automation skillset. No prior experience with Ansible is required, making it accessible for beginners while still providing insights to seasoned automation practitioners. If your goal is to streamline processes through automation and manage IT infrastructure efficiently, this book is tailored for you.