AN-002-EN Introduction to Ansible

Duration: 2 days

This training proposed as a 2-day training, or 4 half-days, provides a comprehensive introduction to Configuration Management using Ansible.

Note: This training also exists as a 3-day training “AN-003-EN Introduction to Ansible” allowing more time for labs and also the addition of “Ansible Vault” and “Network Automation” modules.

This training includes much hands-on as well as theory. All hands-on exercises will be performed on Linux Virtual Machines & Containers.

Students will appreciate the ease with which software can be installed & maintained in a reliable, repeatable and reusable manner across teams thanks to the largely declarative nature of Ansible Playbooks & Roles. Playbooks can be re-run guaranteeing repeatable outcomes due to the idempotent nature of Ansible..|

Pre-requisites

  • Be at ease working at the command-line, editing files
  • Basic notions of Cloud, Linux, Containers
  • Use of an ssh Client, e.g. openssh on Linux, macOS or Windows (or Putty) |

Included

  • Course materials and labs: 50% hands-on, 50% presentation & demos
  • Access to a temporary lab environment
  • ccess to an evolutive document covering various learning resources |

Objectives

  • Learn to use Ansible for performing software configuration & maintenance of machines/devices
  • Learn about the many builtin modules, collections of modules & roles for Ansible
  • Learn best practices for working with Ansible |

Programme

Module: Introduction

  • Why Ansible?
  • Concepts & Terms
  • Agentless Architecture
  • Inventory
    • Static & Dynamic
    • Host & Group Patterns

Module: Deploying with Ansible

  • Installing Ansible
  • YAML Configuration Files
  • Playbooks
    • Ansible Modules
    • Ad-Hoc Commands
    • Dynamic Inventory
      • Scripted
      • Plugins

Exercise

  • Deploying Ansible
  • Ad-Hoc Commands
  • Dynamic Inventories

Module: Playbooks

  • Playbook structure
  • Host and Task Execution Order
  • Module Categories
    • Command
    • File Manipulation
    • Network Modules
    • Packaging Modules
    • System Storage
    • Account Management
    • Security
    • Services

Exercise

  • Playbook Basics
  • Playbooks: Command Modules
  • Playbooks: Common Modules

Module: Variables

  • at runtime
  • in Playbooks
  • register task output, debug module
  • in inventory: host_vars, global_vars
  • Scope & precedence
  • Facts & magic variables
  • In included files, roles
  • Output: callback plugins

Exercise

  • Variables and Facts
  • Inclusions

Module: Jinja Templating

  • Jinja Expressions
  • Builtin.template module
  • Filters
  • Methods
  • Conditionals
  • Lookup plugins
  • Control Structures

Exercise

  • Jinja Templates

Module: Control Structures

  • Loops & Variables (with)
  • Conditionals (when)
  • Handlers
  • Tags
  • Error Handling

Exercise

  • Task Control

Module: Roles

  • Usage
  • Creating Roles
  • Deploying Roles with Ansible Galaxy

Exercise

  • Converting Playbooks to Roles
  • Creating Roles from Scratch
  • Ansible Galaxy Roles|