Ansible Introduction

Question 1

What tasks can be done with Ansible?

Answer 1

• fetch data from devices
• copy files to/from devices
• install software on devices
• configure software on devices

Question 2

What is a feature of Ansible that ensires that execution of changes is predictable?

Answer 2

Ansible can run “dry run” showing the potential changes

Question 3

The ansible software package consists of 3 major components. What are they?

Answer 3

• CLI tools that drive the automation engine (e.g. playbook, ansible doc)
• DSL language that Ansible is written in
• madular packaging and publishing framework for Ansible automation

Question 4

What is the language in which the Ansible domains are written in and how are they structured?

Answer 4

Domain-Specific Language (DSL); structured in YAML

Question 5

In what language are the Ansible tools written?

Answer 5

the tools run Python software that interprets various files defining how the IT infrastructure should operate

Question 6

What are collections and what do they allow to do?

Answer 6

modular packaging framework that allow to write, reuse and share Ansible automation with others

Question 7

What are other automation tools that are similar in nature?

Answer 7

Puppet, Chef, SlatStack

Question 8

Does Ansible need an agent to be installed?

Answer 8

no

Question 9

What authentication methods can Ansible leverage?

Answer 9

TACAS+, RADIUS, LDAP (existing auhtentication methods)

Question 10

How is Ansible executed when run against a Linux server?

Answer 10

copies Python software to the Linux server using SFTP or SCP and executes the software on the server itself

Question 11

How is Ansible executed when run against a a network device?

Answer 11

Python software is executed on the Ansible Control Node - ensure it has enough resources, as the script is executed locally

Question 12

What is a Porting Guide?

Answer 12

document breaking changes to help to prepare automation for future Ansible releases; major releases include breaking changes that are not backwards compatible

Question 13

What is a Changelog?

Answer 13

similar to Porting Guide, but very detailed; lists all changes made between two releases

Question 14

What is the Control Node?

Answer 14

machine with Ansible software installed that executes Ansible automation against Managed Nodes

Question 15

What is a Managed Node, also commonly referred to as Host?

Answer 15

a host that Ansible automation executes against

Question 16

Can a Control Node act as Host at the same time?

Answer 16

yes, it’s possible to execute scripts against the managing machine that deploys scripts

Question 17

What is Ansible Inventory File?

Answer 17

text file that specifies the hosts and groups of hosts that Ansible will manage - serves as a way to define the target systems or devices on which Ansible will execute tasks and playbooks

Question 18

What is Ansible Playbook?

Answer 18

configuration file written in YAML that defines a set of tasks, roles, and configurations to be applied to one or more target hosts

Question 19

What do playbook consist of?

Answer 19

one or more tasks, each represented as a YAML dictionary - each task defines an action to be executed on the target hosts

Question 20

What are Handlers?

Answer 20

special tasks in playbooks that are triggered only when certain conditions are met; commonly used for tasks like restarting services after a configuration change

Question 21

What are Ansible Modules?

Answer 21

small, self-contained scripts or programs that Ansible uses to perform specific tasks on target hosts or remote systems

Question 22

What are system facts?

Answer 22

variables that provide information about the system, such as the operating system, network interfaces, memory, disk space, etc

Question 23

Which dictionary provides a common way to specify connection information for network modules in Ansible?

Answer 23

provider:

Question 24

What is inventory_hostname?

Answer 24

built-in variable in Ansible that refers to the hostname of the current target in the inventory (inventory is the host file with devices where the config is deployed)

Question 25

What is ansible_host?

Answer 25

• variable used to specify the actual hostname or IP address to connect to if it differs from the inventory hostname
• choice between inventory_hostname and ansible_host depends on inventory setup and whether the hostnames in inventory file match the actual hostnames or IP addresses of the hosts