Ansible

Ansible is a configuration management tool that is minimal in nature, does not require installation on nodes, and has an easy learning curve. This updated third edition teaches how to write playbooks, manage remote servers, and explore the tool's real power: built-in declarative modules. It also covers best practices, using the new Collections format, Ansible on Windows, Linux, and macOS, larger organizations, local development environment, reusable Ansible content, container images, images for cloud instances, and cloud computing instances.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 468 pages
Publication date: 26 July 2022
Publisher: O'Reilly Media

Among the numerous configuration management tools available, Ansible stands out with its unique advantages. Firstly, it is minimal in nature, eliminating the need for extensive installations on your nodes. Additionally, its user-friendly interface and straightforward learning curve make it accessible to individuals from various backgrounds, including developers deploying code to production and system administrators seeking efficient automation solutions.

Authored by Bas Meijer, Lorin Hochstein, and Rene Moser, the third edition of this book aims to expedite your productivity with Ansible. It provides comprehensive guidance on writing playbooks, effectively managing remote servers, and harnessing the full potential of Ansible's built-in declarative modules. You will discover that Ansible offers the functionality you require, accompanied by the simplicity you desire.

Throughout the book, you will delve into various aspects of Ansible configuration management and deployment. You will learn about Ansible best practices, explore the new Collections format, and gain insights into using Ansible on Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms. Additionally, you will discover how to utilize Ansible in larger organizations, establish a local development environment, create reusable Ansible content for open-source middleware, and create container images, images for cloud instances, and cloud computing instances.

This book is designed to be read from start to finish, with later chapters building upon earlier ones. Its tutorial style allows readers to follow along on their own machines, making it an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to master Ansible. While the examples primarily focus on web applications, the third edition takes the reader to the next level in running Ansible for mission-critical work. By employing software engineering methods to validate code quality and utilizing test frameworks to verify results in a test setup, guesswork and assumptions are eliminated, ensuring reliable and trustworthy automation solutions.

It is worth noting that Ansible 2.10 operates optimally with Python 3.8, ensuring a seamless and efficient configuration management experience.

In conclusion, Ansible emerges as a standout configuration management tool due to its minimal nature, user-friendly interface, and straightforward learning curve. With the third edition of this book, readers can quickly become productive with Ansible, whether they are developers deploying code to production or system administrators seeking improved automation solutions. By delving into various aspects of configuration management, deployment, best practices, and more, this book equips readers with the knowledge and skills necessary to leverage Ansible's power and efficiency in their IT operations.

ISBN-13: 9781098109158
Edition number: 3 ed