Oracle Database Automation using Ansible Tool
- Installation and Configuration of Ansible Here
- Oracle Automation-Create a DBA User Using Ansible Tool Here
- Oracle Automation-Creating Oracle 12c Database Using Ansible Tool Here
- Oracle Automation-Applying PSU patch in Oracle 12c Database Using Ansible Tool Here
New generation of IT Automation tools
- Ansible
- Salt
- Puppet
- Chef
About this Tools:
What can be Automated using Ansible Tool?
- Server Setup
- Code , App Install & Versioning
- Database Creation
- Database Software Install
- Prerequisites
- Webserver
- Upgrades
- Network
- Patching
- Maintenance
- Backup & Recovery
- Install Packages
Check more on Ansible here
Introduction Of ANSIBLE:
Ansible is an agent-less IT automation tool developed in 2012 by Michael DeHaan, a former Red Hat associate.
The Ansible design goals are for it to be: minimal, consistent, secure, highly reliable, and easy to learn.
A Simple Automation Tool which uses YAML Syntax to perform Tasks Ansible is Written on Python Ansible is available as Open Source
ANSIBLE ARCHITECTURE:
Ansible Requirements & Install :
Control Machine
- Ansible Software
- Python
How to Install Ansible
- Using Yum– Linux
- Using apt– Ubuntu & Debain
- Using brew– Mac Os
- Pip– Python
- Clone From Git
Note : Python is required in Target Machine for Certain Modules
Copy authorized_keys of the ansible control machine to target hosts
Ansible Version & Config :
- After installing ansible you can check its version
ansible –version
- Ansible will show the default Config file /etc/ansible/ansible.cfg
- You can set parameters related to ansible
Ansible Inventory :
- Inventory is set of hosts where automation will be executed
- Inventory is mandatory for ansible
- Inventory can be of two types
- Static
- Dynamic
- Static Inventory is a file in INI format which contains the host names. Hostnames can be grouped based on the infrastructure of your company
- By default /etc/ansible/hosts is the referenced inventory in ansible.cfg file. You can modify to different location
- Ansible inventory file can also be specified at the run time using -i option of ansible command
- Dynamic inventory is for getting information directly from CMDB or from any of the Cloud Provider like AWS,Azure,Digital ocean etc.
Ansible Playbooks :
- Playbooks are the key components of ansible
- Playbooks are set of instructions/tasks that are executed in the hosts through ansible automation.
- Playbooks reside in ansible Control Server
- Playbooks are written using YAML
- Playbooks are Idempotent
Ansible Playbooks – YAML:
- YAML – YAML Ain’t Markup Language
- Human Readable Data Serialization Language
- Similar to JSON
- Human friendly
- YAML uses Space indentations and no tabs
- If Spacing is not properly specified syntax error is thrown
YAML Syntax
- Start of the file —-
- Comments #
- Strings – Not required to be quoted
- Boolean – True or False
- Lists ( Sequences) – Like Arrays in JSON , Use hyphens
- Dictionaries ( Mappings) – Like Objects in JSON
Ansible Playbook – Explanation :
- hosts: This lists the host or host group against which we want to run the task
- remote_user – tells Ansible to use a particular user.
- Tasks – list of actions you want to perform
- The name parameter represents what the task is doing
- Modules – yum and service, have their own set of parameters
Example:
- YUM – the state parameter has the latest value and it indicates that the httpd latest package should be installed. (yum install httpd)
- SERVICE – the state parameter with the started value indicates that the httpd service should be started. (/etc/init.d/start)
- “enabled” parameter defines whether the service should start at boot or not. ( service enable httpd)
- become: True tells that the tasks should be executed with sudo access. If sudoers does not contain that user it will throw an error. (sudo su -)
Ansible Playbook Execution :
Save the file in any text editor or IDE with extension *.yml or *.yaml
Command to Execute ansible playbook ansible-playbook –i all httpd_install.yml
If Groups are present then you can specify the group name ansible-playbook –i web httpd_install.yml
To check Syntax ansible-playbook –i web httpd_install.yml –check-syntax
Verbose
ansible-playbook –i web httpd_install.yml –v
ansible-playbook –i web httpd_install.yml –vv
ansible-playbook –i web httpd_install.yml –vvv
Ansible parses the playbook from top to bottom approach.
Below is the order followed in parsing a playbook
- Variables are loaded
- Facts are gathered
- Pre_tasks are performed
- Handlers
- Role execution
- Task execution
- Handlers
- Post_tasks
Execution strategies – Linear & Free
Ansible Variables:
Variables can be defined in the playbooks.
Variables can also be declared in a separate *.yml file and can be referenced in the playbook
Variables can also be passed during the command line using –e option
Use register to capture the output of any module into a variable
Variables can be defined at the host level or group level in the inventory file.
Summary :
- Ansible is a simple IT automation tool
- Inventory is the collection of hosts where the automation will be executed
- Playbooks are the heart of Ansible and they are combination of multiple tasks
- Tasks are the actions performed in remote hosts
- Roles are collection of playbooks, files ,variables and templates to perform specific configuration tasks
References:-
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