lashd/cic

cic's Issues

Running Ansible

Before we get in to the detail of Ansible, we need to tell you a little bit about Ansible and what it is for.

In this exercise we'll introduce you to the basics and get you up and running.
Click here to read the Running Ansible exercise

Templating

Quite often configuration for servers is very similar baring a few environment specific value.

It is common for servers performing the same functions to have near identical configuration with specific environment specific differences. Consistency between these environments is highly desirable as variations can lead to servers exhibiting different issues and becoming a maintenance nightmare. Maintaining duplicate configuration is a low tech solution that is prone to error. Templates that can be used stamp out configuration is an ideal solution in this situation. In this exercise we look at how to write templates in the Ansible.
Click here to read the Templating exercise

Writing Playbooks

Now that you have had a basic introduction to Ansible and playbooks it's time to role your sleeves up and learn the basics of how to write a playbook for yourself.

In this exercise we'll go through what a playbook is in more detail as well as how it hangs together.

As with most of the exercises from here on in, there is a challenge at the end of the exercise test what you've learnt.

Note: Feedback is an important part of learning. If you have people supporting you on this course, do this exercise on a separate branch so that you can raise a pull request against your own fork and get someone to review it.
Click here to read the Writing Playbooks exercise

Inventory

Inventory is the term that Ansible gives to the catalogue of machines it knows about and can be asked to manage.

In this exercise you'll learn how to define inventory and they ways that it can be grouped in order to make managing infrastructure through Ansible easy.
Click here to read the Inventory exercise

Roles

Roles in Ansible are the way that related tasks and variables can be grouped together and shared. In this exercise we look at how to define Roles in ansible and how to use them to keep our Playbooks 'DRY'

Click here to read the Roles exercise

Conditionals

There will come a time, as in life, where not everything will be straight forward. Required actions could depend on certain conditions and you could be required to iterate on different data sets. Ansible provides conditional and control constructs for just such occasions.

In this exercise we will look at the features and functions that Ansible has to help you with decision making with your Playbooks.

Click here to read the Conditionals exercise

Templating

Quite often configuration for servers is very similar baring a few environment specific value.

It is common for servers performing the same functions to have near identical configuration with specific environment specific differences. Consistency between these environments is highly desirable as variations can lead to servers exhibiting different issues and becoming a maintenance nightmare. Maintaining duplicate configuration is a low tech solution that is prone to error. Templates that can be used stamp out configuration is an ideal solution in this situation. In this exercise we look at how to write templates in the Ansible.
Click here to read the Templating exercise

Inventory

Inventory is the term that Ansible gives to the catalogue of machines it knows about and can be asked to manage.

In this exercise you'll learn how to define inventory and they ways that it can be grouped in order to make managing infrastructure through Ansible easy.
Click here to read the Inventory exercise

Conditionals

There will come a time, as in life, where not everything will be straight forward. Actions could depend on certain conditions being true and you will be required to iterate through input. Ansible provides conditional and control constructs for such occasions.

In this exercise we will look at the features and functions that Ansible has to help you with decision making and handling data within your Playbooks.

Click here to read the Conditionals exercise

Roles

Roles in Ansible are the way that related tasks and variables can be grouped together and shared. In this exercise we look at how to define Roles in ansible and how to use them to keep our Playbooks 'DRY'

Click here to read the Roles exercise

Variables

Variables are crucial to allowing the Ansible we write to be reusable. In this exercise you will be introduced to the different ways in which variables can be used to make Ansible we write more flexible and easier to maintain.

Click here to read the Variables exercise

Running Ansible

Before we get in to the detail of Ansible, we need to tell you a little bit about Ansible and what it is for.

In this exercise we'll introduce you to the basics and get you up and running.
Click here to read the Running Ansible exercise

Variables

Variables are crucial to allowing the Ansible we write to be reusable. In this exercise you will be introduced to the different ways in which variables can be used to make Ansible we write more flexible and easier to maintain.

Click here to read the Variables exercise

Writing Playbooks

Now that you have had a basic introduction to Ansible and playbooks it's time to role your sleeves up and learn the basics of how to write a playbook for yourself.

In this exercise we'll go through what a playbook is in more detail as well as how it hangs together.

As with most of the exercises from here on in, there is a challenge at the end of the exercise test what you've learnt.

Note: Feedback is an important part of learning. If you have people supporting you on this course, do this exercise on a separate branch so that you can raise a pull request against your own fork and get someone to review it.
Click here to read the Writing Playbooks exercise