introduction into ansible

Ansible - Introduction

Ansible is an open source tool for the automation of the configuration and management of computer systems. Here are some easy points to understand:

• Automation: Ansible can automate repetitive tasks, such as the installation of software on a computer.

• Configuration management: Ansible can manage and change the settings on a computer.

• Simplicity: Ansible uses the simple YAML language.

• No additional software required: Ansible has no need for additional software on the computers it manages. Ansible uses existing technologies such as OpenSSH and Python.

Ansible’s approach:

To automate tasks on computers or servers, Ansible works in a series of steps:

• Connect to nodes: Ansible connects to nodes (called hosts). Nodes are the target endpoints. They can be servers, network devices, or any computer you want to manage with Ansible.

• Transfer modules: Ansible pushes small programs, called modules, to these nodes. These modules are used to perform automation tasks in Ansible.

• Running modules: Ansible executes the modules and removes them when the execution is complete. These programs are written as resource models for the desired state of the system.

• Agentless automation: Ansible is agentless and can therefore manage nodes without the need to install any software on them. Ansible uses the SSH protocol to connect to servers and perform tasks.

YAML

YAML (Yet Another Markup Language) is the language used for Ansible.

I’m going to show you some basic Ansible Tasks. In the future I will delve deeper into Ansible Tasks, Roles and Playbooks in general. And I will teach you how to write your own Windows based Ansible modules.

This Task installs the IIS.

- name: Install IIS (Web-Server only)
  ansible.windows.win_feature:
    name: Web-Server
    state: present

Documentation: https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/collections/ansible/windows/win_feature_module.html