Ansible Playbook Tasks

Ansible Playbooks are YAML files that define a series of tasks to be executed on managed nodes. Each task represents a single action to be performed, such as installing a package, copying files, or executing a command.

• Task: A single action that Ansible performs on a managed node.
• Module: The units of work that Ansible uses to perform tasks. Modules can handle various operations, such as file management, system commands, and more.
• Playbook: A file containing a list of one or more plays, which define the configuration and tasks to be executed on hosts.

Tasks in a playbook are defined under the tasks: section. Each task must have a name and a module to execute. Here’s a basic example:

- name: Install Apache
  apt:
    name: apache2
    state: present
                

In the above example, the apt module is used to install the Apache web server.

Tasks can be categorized into various types based on their purpose:

• Configuration Management Tasks
• Application Deployment Tasks
• System Maintenance Tasks
• Service Management Tasks

To ensure effective playbook tasks, follow these best practices:

• Use descriptive names for tasks to clarify their purpose.
• Group related tasks into roles for better organization.
• Leverage Ansible variables for dynamic task configurations.
• Test playbooks in a staging environment before production deployment.