What is Ansible?

Ansible is an open-source automation tool that helps users manage and configure their infrastructure, applications, and services. It provides a simple and efficient way to automate tasks, deploy software, and manage configurations across multiple environments. With Ansible, users can define their infrastructure and applications in a human-readable format, making it easier to manage and maintain complex systems.

Key Features of Ansible

Agentless Architecture

Ansible’s agentless architecture means that it doesn’t require any additional software to be installed on the nodes it manages. This makes it easy to get started with Ansible, as users don’t need to worry about deploying and managing agents on their infrastructure.

Playbooks and Roles

Ansible uses playbooks and roles to define and manage configurations. Playbooks are YAML files that contain a series of tasks to be executed on a set of nodes, while roles are pre-defined configurations that can be applied to nodes. This makes it easy to manage complex configurations and reuse code across multiple environments.

Ansible Job Scheduling Best Practices

Using Runbooks with Dedupe

Ansible’s runbook feature allows users to define a series of tasks to be executed in a specific order. Using dedupe with runbooks ensures that tasks are only executed once, even if the runbook is executed multiple times. This helps prevent duplicate tasks from being executed and reduces the risk of errors.

Repositories and Encryption at Rest

Ansible’s repository feature allows users to store and manage their playbooks and roles in a centralized location. Using encryption at rest ensures that sensitive data is protected and secure. This is especially important when storing sensitive credentials or configuration data.

Audit Logs and Compliance

Ansible’s audit log feature provides a record of all changes made to the infrastructure and applications. This helps with compliance and auditing, as users can easily track changes and identify potential issues.

How to Secure Automation Credentials with Ansible

Using Vaults and Encryption

Ansible’s vault feature allows users to store sensitive credentials and configuration data in an encrypted format. This ensures that sensitive data is protected and secure, even if the playbook or role is accessed by unauthorized users.

Using External Credential Storage

Ansible also supports external credential storage, such as HashiCorp’s Vault or CyberArk’s Enterprise Password Vault. This allows users to store sensitive credentials in a secure location and retrieve them as needed.

Runbook Design Using Repositories and Encryption at Rest

Designing a Runbook

A well-designed runbook should include a clear set of tasks, roles, and playbooks. It should also include error handling and logging to ensure that issues are caught and resolved quickly.

Using Repositories to Store Runbooks

Ansible’s repository feature allows users to store and manage their runbooks in a centralized location. This makes it easy to version control and manage changes to the runbook.

Download Ansible Free and Get Started

Ansible is available for download from the official Ansible website. Users can choose from a variety of installation options, including RPM, DEB, and tarball.

Best Alternative to Ansible

Comparison with Other Automation Tools

Ansible is often compared to other automation tools, such as Puppet and Chef. While these tools share some similarities with Ansible, they also have some key differences. Puppet and Chef require agents to be installed on the nodes they manage, while Ansible’s agentless architecture makes it easier to get started.