ANSIBLE Environment Setup Ad-hoc Commands Playbooks

CHEAT SHEET
Types of machines: • General syntax of ad-hoc command: • It is the place where all YAML files are stored and
• Control machine : manages other machines Command hostngroup module/options[arguments] executed. Acts like a to-do list
• Remote machine: controlled by other machines • YAML- yet another markup language
Multiple remote systems can be handled by one machine. • A playbook can have more than one plays. Plays map the
Ansible • Remote machine managing is done by ansible by default. FUNCTION COMMANDS instructions defined against a particular host
• Ansible doesn’t leave any software running on them. Therefore • Typically written in a text editor like notepad or
• It is an open source engine that automates deployment,
there is no need of an upgrade when moving to a newer Check connectivity of hosts #ansible <group> -m ping notepad++
orchestration, cloud provisioning and other tools.
version. Sample playbook/YAML file;
• It uses a playbook to describe jobs and uses YAML which is human
• Install it through apt, yumpkg, pip, OpenCSW name: install and configure DB
readable
• installing it through apt : Rebooting hosts #ansible <group> -a “/bin/reboot” hosts: testServer
• It is designed for multi- tier deployment. It is agentless and works by
$ sudo apt-get update become: yes
connecting nodes through ssh.
$ sudo apt-get install software-properties-common vars: oracle_db_port_value : 1521
Check host system’s info #ansible<group> -m steup | less
$ sudo apt-add-repository ppa: ansible/ansible $ sudo apt-get tasks:
How Does it Work? update
#ansible <group> -m copy -a
-name: Install the Oracle DB
$ sudo apt-get install ansible Transfering files yum: <code to install the DB>
• Run ansible version to make sure it was installed properly. “src=home/ansible dest=/tmo/home” -name: Ensure the installed service is enabled
• Connects nodes and pushes small programs called modules to them
service:
and are removed when they are done. #ansible<group> -m user -a “name=ansible
Create new user name: <your service name>
• The management node controls whole execution of the playbook. YAML password= <encrypted password>” • Tags of YAML:
• The inventory file provides the list of hosts where the modules need
• Name: name of the playbook
to be run. • YAML syntax is used to express ansible playbooks #ansible<group> -m user -a “name=ansible
Deleting user • Hosts: specifies the list of hosts. Tasks can be
• The management node does an ‘ssh’ connection and executes the • Key-value pair: state- absent” on the same machine or a different one.
modules and installs the software. Dictionary is represented in key value pair • Vars: defines the variables which you can use
Ex: james: Check if package is installed #ansible<group> -m yum -a “name=httpd
• Tasks: it is the list of action that needs to be
name: james john and update it state=latest” performed. A task is always linked to a module.
rollNo: 34
div: B Check if package is installed #ansible<group> -m yum -a “name=httpd
sex: male and dont update it state=present” Variables
• Representing lists:
• Each element has to be written in a new line with “-” Check if package is s #ansible<group> -m yum -a “name=httpd-
as the prefix specific version 1.8 state=latest” • Same as using variables in programming languages
• countries: Ex: - hosts : <your hosts>
- America Check if package is not #ansible <group> -m yum -a “name= httpd • tomcat_port : 8080
- Iceland installed state= absent • Here tomcat_port is assigned to 8080
• Lists inside the dictionary: • Keywords used:
• name: james john #ansible<group> -m service -a “name= • Block- ansible syntax to execute a block
Starting a service
• rollNo: 34 httpd state=”started” • Name- name of the block
• div: B • Action- the code that is to be executed
• sex: male #ansible<group> -m service -a “name= • Register- registers the output
Stopping a service
Troubleshooting • likes: httpd state=”stopped” • Always- states that below word will be run
- english • Msg- displays the message
• Boolean terms are also used in YAML #ansible<group> -m service -a “name= • Exception handling:
Restarting a service
httpd state=”restarted” • Similar to any other programming language
• Common strategies to debug playbooks are
• Keywords : rescue and always
• Debug and register
• Use verbosity (verbosity level)
Advantages of Ansible • The code is written in block
• It goes to the rescue phase and gets executed
• Playbook issues: • It is free and open source. Terms if the command in the block fails.
• Quoting • Agentless. No master client model. • Thereby block is the same as “try block “,
• Indentation
• System requirements. catch block is like “ rescue” and always
• Some drawbacks are: • Service/server- a process that provides service
• OS restrictions: is OS dependent so code on one OS will • Developed in python. • Machine - physical machine, Vm or a container
performs the same function as we know.
not work for another • Lightweight and quick deployment. • Target machine - end machine to be configured by ansible
• Once playbook is running, adding of hosts is not possible • Ansible uses YAML syntax in config files. • Task- an action FURTHERMORE:
• Error reporting is mediocre. • Large community base. • Playbook - location where YAMl files are written and executed DevOps Certification Training Course