Ansible

Overview

The Linux Group started using Ansible when an Automation Initiative was started at work. They initially used it to automate a Server Build process for new Linux hosts. After a time, it was extended to the Windows Server Build process.

We are now looking at it to allow the Networking team to automate the upgrade processes on some of the network devices that are not supported by DNA-C.

While we are at it, my manager wants me to look at how Ansible can be used to replace BigFix since HCL has been playing games with our Licenses and it looks like we might be moving off BigFix in the near future.

Tutorials

• How to Install and Configure Ansible on Ubuntu 16-04
• Anisble Windows Playbooks
• Ansible Playbook by KodeKloud

RedHat Provided Tutorials

• Introduction to Playbooks (and demonstration)

Documentation

• https:/docs.ansible.com
• DevGuide.Duke.edu
• DevGuide - NooB Guide written by James Madill
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YAML
• Managing Windows like Linux with Ansible

Modules

General

• https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/collections/ansible/windows/win_copy_module.html

Networking

• Cisco iOS Config Module
• YouTube Playlist - Ansible Learning For Network Engineers : Network Automation tutorial with Cisco Examples
• Ansible Playbooks for Cisco Network Automation!
• Ansible Playbook Example to Backup Cisco Router or Switch Config
• Cisco and Ansible
• Get started with Ansible and Cisco (DEVELOPER.CISCO.COM)
• Colin McCarthy Ansible Playbooks for Cisco iOS

Windows

• Connecting to a Windows host

PowerShell

• GOOGLE - Run PowerShell Script through Ansible
• Run PowerShell code with Ansible on a Windows host - this solves my current challenge on a 1:1 server basis, now I need to create a Module that can do all this automatically.

Modules I've looked into

• win_copy

Tools

• YAMLLint - YAML Validator