Learn Ansible

Packt via Coursera

Go to class Write review

Details

Go to class

Provider

Coursera
Pricing

Paid Course
Languages

English
Certificate

Certificate Available
Effort

17 weeks, 1 hour a week
Sessions

Self-Paced
Level

Beginner
Subtitles

English

Found in

Overview

Google, IBM & Meta Certificates – 40% Off

One Coursera Plus subscription covers most Professional Certificates on Coursera.

Unlock All Certificates

Learn Ansible will teach you how to write Ansible Playbooks for deploying simple apps. This updated edition covers the latest Ansible features, helping you confidently implement Ansible in your daily workflows. This course provides a hands-on approach to learning Ansible, helping you automate infrastructure and streamline deployments. You'll gain practical skills in writing playbooks, managing cloud resources, and integrating with CI/CD pipelines. The content is designed to help you build efficient, scalable automation solutions. This course is ideal for system administrators, developers, and infrastructure engineers looking to implement infrastructure automation. No prior Ansible experience is required, though familiarity with Linux and cloud platforms is beneficial. You'll gain the skills to automate and manage infrastructure efficiently. In this course, we will take a hands-on approach to gaining practical experience in writing Ansible playbooks and roles to build your public cloud-based infrastructure and deploy your applications. By the end of the course, you will have built up a valuable library of code and know how to write your playbooks and roles to automate your repetitive tasks and introduce consistency to your deployments. This course is based on Learn Ansible, by Russ McKendrick.

Syllabus

Installing and Running Ansible
- This module introduces learners to Ansible, covering its installation on various platforms, basic playbook execution, and key concepts such as configuration versus orchestration. Learners will gain hands-on experience with setting up Ansible and understand its role in automation workflows.
Exploring Ansible Galaxy
- This module provides an in-depth look at Ansible Galaxy, focusing on how it facilitates the management, sharing, and use of automation roles. Learners will gain skills in using Galaxy commands, publishing roles, and understanding role life cycles and collections. The content emphasizes practical applications for improving Ansible playbook efficiency.
The Ansible Commands
- This module provides an in-depth look at essential Ansible commands and tools for managing inventory and configuration. Learners will gain hands-on understanding of how to use and configure Ansible for efficient system automation.
Deploying a LAMP Stack
- This module covers the deployment of a LAMP stack using Ansible, including playbook structure, user and group management, Apache configuration, MariaDB installation, and Adminer setup. Learners will gain hands-on experience with server automation and configuration management.
Deploying WordPress
- This module teaches the process of deploying WordPress using a LEMP stack, focusing on playbook creation, role-based configuration, and automation tasks. Learners will gain hands-on experience with Ansible role setup, PHP-FPM configuration, and WordPress plugin installation. The module emphasizes practical implementation of web server environments.
Targeting Multiple Distributions
- This module covers strategies for adapting playbooks and roles to support multiple Linux distributions, including Debian and Red Hat. Learners will gain insights into handling OS-specific configurations, variable management, and playbook flexibility. It equips learners with practical skills for multi-distribution deployment and maintenance.
Ansible Windows Modules
- This module covers the use of Ansible for automating Windows-based server tasks, including launching Azure servers, enabling features, and installing packages via Chocolatey. Learners will gain hands-on knowledge of Ansible's Windows modules and how to configure them for efficient system management.
Ansible Network Modules
- This module introduces learners to Ansible network modules, focusing on automating device configurations, understanding manufacturer-specific capabilities, and designing efficient network orchestration workflows. It covers practical use cases and provides an overview of the VyOS collection and its key functionalities.
Moving to the Cloud
- This module introduces learners to cloud automation using Ansible, focusing on deploying and managing Microsoft Azure virtual machines for WordPress. It covers resource group creation, cloud infrastructure setup, and the transition from local to cloud environments.
Building Out a Cloud Network
- This module covers the creation and configuration of a virtual private cloud (VPC) in AWS, including subnets, routes, security groups, and the use of Ansible for automated resource deployment. Learners will gain hands-on experience with network setup and secure cloud automation practices.
Highly Available Cloud Deployments
- This module teaches learners how to implement a highly available WordPress deployment using AWS services such as load balancing, RDS, EFS, and EC2. It covers the configuration of infrastructure, playbook structure, and deployment processes to ensure scalable and resilient cloud environments.
Building Out a VMware Deployment
- This module provides an in-depth look at VMware deployment strategies, focusing on configuring networking components and utilizing VMware REST modules to manage infrastructure efficiently. Learners will gain an understanding of how to implement and optimize VMware environments for automation and scalability.
Scanning Your Ansible Playbooks
- This module teaches learners how to use static code analysis tools like Checkov and KICS to scan Ansible playbooks for security and configuration issues. It covers identifying vulnerabilities, understanding compliance risks, and improving code reliability through practical scanning techniques.
Hardening Your Servers Using Ansible
- This module teaches how to use Ansible to automate server hardening, including scanning for vulnerabilities, generating remediation playbooks, and deploying security configurations. Learners will gain hands-on experience with Ansible roles, Docker integration, and OpenSCAP for compliance checks. The focus is on improving system security through repeatable, automated processes.
Using Ansible with GitHub Actions and Azure DevOps
- This module explores how to integrate Ansible with cloud-based CI/CD platforms like GitHub Actions and Azure DevOps. Learners will gain hands-on experience with setting up automation workflows, managing credentials, and deploying code through cloud pipelines.
Introducing Ansible AWX and Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform
- This module provides an overview of Ansible AWX and Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform, covering their installation, configuration, and use in deploying cloud applications. Learners will gain hands-on experience with adding credentials and running playbooks through a graphical interface. The module also compares the features and use cases of both platforms.
Next Steps with Ansible
- This module explores advanced techniques for integrating Ansible with third-party tools, debugging playbooks, and applying automation in real-world scenarios. Learners will gain practical skills in enhancing workflow efficiency and troubleshooting automation processes.