Ansible Editions | Introduction To Ansible

Introduction

Ansible is a powerful automation tool used for configuration management, application deployment, and task automation. It is a simple, agentless, and powerful platform that helps to manage complex IT environments. Ansible comes in different editions, each tailored to specific use cases and requirements. This tutorial will cover the various Ansible editions, their features, and their use cases.

Ansible Open Source

Ansible Open Source is the free edition of Ansible. It is an open-source project under the GNU General Public License (GPL). This edition includes the core Ansible engine and allows users to create playbooks, manage inventories, and perform ad-hoc tasks. It is suitable for small to medium-sized environments.

Example

Below is an example of a simple Ansible playbook to install Apache on a web server:

---
- name: Install Apache
  hosts: webservers
  become: yes
  tasks:
    - name: Ensure Apache is installed
      yum:
        name: httpd
        state: present
    - name: Start Apache service
      service:
        name: httpd
        state: started

Ansible Tower

Ansible Tower is a commercial edition of Ansible by Red Hat. It provides a web-based user interface, REST API, and other features to help manage Ansible automation at scale. Tower adds advanced features like role-based access control, workflows, job scheduling, and more. It is suitable for enterprises looking to manage complex environments with multiple users and teams.

Example

To use Ansible Tower to run the Apache installation playbook:

Log in to the Ansible Tower web interface.
Create a new project and link it to your playbook repository.
Create a new job template and select the playbook from the project.
Launch the job template to run the playbook on the specified hosts.

Ansible AWX

Ansible AWX is the open-source upstream project of Ansible Tower. It provides similar features as Ansible Tower but is community-supported and freely available. AWX is suitable for users who need a web-based interface and advanced features without the cost of a commercial product.

Example

To set up Ansible AWX:

Clone the AWX repository from GitHub.
Use Docker or Kubernetes to deploy the AWX containers.
Access the AWX web interface to manage your Ansible automation.

Conclusion

Ansible offers different editions to cater to various needs, from small environments to large enterprises. Ansible Open Source is ideal for small to medium-sized environments, while Ansible Tower and AWX provide advanced features and scalability for larger environments. Understanding the differences between these editions helps in choosing the right tool for your automation needs.