Ansible is a powerful open-source automation tool that simplifies IT tasks such as configuration management, application deployment, and orchestration of
complex workflows. It allows DevOps engineers to automate repetitive tasks across multiple servers using a straightforward, human-readable language called YAML,
which enhances consistency and reliability in managing infrastructure.
Learning Ansible is crucial for DevOps professionals as it streamlines operations, reduces manual errors, and accelerates deployment processes,
ultimately improving team productivity. Moreover, engaging with a tutor for Ansible training is a wise investment; personalized instruction can help
learners grasp the tool's nuances quickly, navigate its extensive features effectively, and apply best practices in real-world scenarios, thereby significantly
enhancing their skill set and readiness for the demands of modern DevOps environments. Below is the course content that I teach for Ansible complete course:
Chapter 1: Introduction to Automation and Orchestration in IT Environments
- Lesson 1: What is IT Automation?
- Lesson 2: Importance of Automation in DevOps
- Lesson 3: What is Orchestration in IT?
- Lesson 4: Automation vs. Orchestration
- Lesson 5: Overview of Automation and Orchestration Tools (Puppet, Chef, SaltStack, Terraform, etc.)
- Lesson 6: Why Choose Ansible Over Other Tools?
Chapter 2: Introduction to Ansible
- Lesson 1: What is Ansible and Why Use It?
- Lesson 2: History and Evolution of Ansible
- Lesson 3: Key Features of Ansible
- Lesson 4: Ansible Architecture and How It Works
- Lesson 5: Understanding Ansible Control Node and Managed Nodes
- Lesson 6: Ansible in the DevOps Workflow
Chapter 3: Setting Up Ansible
- Lesson 1: Installing Ansible on Linux, macOS, and Windows
- Lesson 2: Setting Up Ansible in Virtual Machines and Cloud Environments
- Lesson 3: Configuring Ansible in IDEs (VS Code, IntelliJ, etc.)
- Lesson 4: Setting Up SSH Keys for Ansible Communication
- Lesson 5: Running the First Ansible Command
Chapter 4: Ansible Basics
- Lesson 1: Understanding Inventory Files and Hosts
- Lesson 2: Ansible Playbooks and YAML Syntax
- Lesson 3: Ansible Modules Overview
- Lesson 4: Running Ad-Hoc Commands with Ansible
- Lesson 5: Variables in Ansible
- Lesson 6: Understanding Facts and Gathering System Information
Chapter 5: Ansible Modules in Detail
- Lesson 1: Core Modules Overview
- Lesson 2: File and Directory Management Modules
- Lesson 3: User and Group Management Modules
- Lesson 4: Package Management Modules (Yum, Apt, DNF, etc.)
- Lesson 5: Service Management Modules (systemd, init, etc.)
- Lesson 6: Networking Modules in Ansible
- Lesson 7: Cloud Modules (AWS, Azure, GCP)
Chapter 6: Writing and Managing Ansible Playbooks
- Lesson 1: Understanding Ansible Playbook Structure
- Lesson 2: Writing Basic Ansible Playbooks
- Lesson 3: Using Loops in Ansible
- Lesson 4: Using Conditionals in Playbooks
- Lesson 5: Error Handling and Debugging Playbooks
- Lesson 6: Handlers in Ansible Playbooks
- Lesson 7: Idempotency in Ansible
Chapter 7: Advanced Ansible Playbook Concepts
- Lesson 1: Using Roles for Organizing Playbooks
- Lesson 2: Using Templates in Ansible (Jinja2)
- Lesson 3: Dynamic Inventory in Ansible
- Lesson 4: Working with External Variables and Secrets
- Lesson 5: Ansible Vault for Encrypting Sensitive Data
- Lesson 6: Using Filters and Lookup Plugins
Chapter 8: Ansible and Configuration Management
- Lesson 1: Infrastructure as Code (IaC) with Ansible
- Lesson 2: Managing System Configuration with Ansible
- Lesson 3: Configuring Web Servers (Nginx, Apache, etc.)
- Lesson 4: Managing Databases with Ansible (MySQL, PostgreSQL)
- Lesson 5: Automating Software Installations
Chapter 9: Ansible and Cloud Automation
- Lesson 1: Automating AWS with Ansible
- Lesson 2: Automating Azure with Ansible
- Lesson 3: Automating Google Cloud with Ansible
- Lesson 4: Working with Terraform and Ansible Together
- Lesson 5: Multi-Cloud Automation with Ansible
Chapter 10: Ansible for Network Automation
- Lesson 1: Automating Network Devices with Ansible
- Lesson 2: Managing Cisco Devices with Ansible
- Lesson 3: Automating Juniper and Arista Devices
- Lesson 4: Network Configuration Backup and Restore
- Lesson 5: Ansible for SDN (Software-Defined Networking)
Chapter 11: Ansible and Security Automation
- Lesson 1: Ansible for Hardening and Security Compliance
- Lesson 2: Automating Firewall and VPN Configurations
- Lesson 3: Auditing System Security with Ansible
- Lesson 4: Security Patch Management with Ansible
- Lesson 5: Ansible Best Practices for Secure Automation
Chapter 12: Ansible CI/CD and DevOps Integration
- Lesson 1: Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) with Ansible
- Lesson 2: Integrating Ansible with Jenkins
- Lesson 3: Using Ansible with GitHub Actions and GitLab CI
- Lesson 4: Deploying Applications with Ansible
- Lesson 5: Zero Downtime Deployments and Rolling Updates
Chapter 13: Ansible Tower and AWX
- Lesson 1: What is Ansible Tower (AWX)?
- Lesson 2: Installing and Configuring Ansible Tower
- Lesson 3: Managing Jobs and Schedules in Ansible Tower
- Lesson 4: Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) in Ansible Tower
- Lesson 5: Using Ansible Tower API for Automation
Chapter 14: Ansible Troubleshooting and Debugging
- Lesson 1: Common Ansible Issues and How to Fix Them
- Lesson 2: Debugging Playbook Execution
- Lesson 3: Using Verbose Mode for Debugging
- Lesson 4: Managing Logs and Reports in Ansible
- Lesson 5: Troubleshooting Connectivity and SSH Issues
Chapter 15: Ansible Performance Optimization
- Lesson 1: Optimizing Playbook Execution Speed
- Lesson 2: Using Forks and Parallel Execution
- Lesson 3: Managing Large Inventories Efficiently
- Lesson 4: Using Fact Caching for Performance Improvement
- Lesson 5: Best Practices for Writing Efficient Ansible Playbooks
Chapter 16: Ansible New Features and Updates
- Lesson 1: Ansible Release Cycle and Versioning
- Lesson 2: Major Features in Recent Ansible Releases
- Lesson 3: Deprecated Features and Their Alternatives
- Lesson 4: Ansible’s Future Roadmap and Trends
- Lesson 5: Exploring Ansible’s Integration with AI and ML
Chapter 17: Real-World Applications of Ansible
- Lesson 1: Automating Enterprise IT with Ansible
- Lesson 2: Case Study | Using Ansible for Infrastructure Management
- Lesson 3: Ansible for DevSecOps and Security Automation
- Lesson 4: Best Practices for Large-Scale Ansible Deployments
- Lesson 5: How Enterprises Use Ansible for IT Automation