Streamlining Server Management with Ansible: A Step-by-Step Guide

Title: Streamlining Server Management with Ansible: A Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction:

In today's dynamic IT landscape, efficient server management is essential for smooth operations. With the rise of automation tools like Ansible, server provisioning and configuration have become more streamlined and less error-prone. In this article, we'll explore how to set up a basic server infrastructure using Ansible, focusing on creating four servers - Ansible_master, server1, server2, and server3 - installing Ansible, configuring the hosts file, establishing password less authentication, and testing connectivity.

Step 1: Installing Ansible on Ansible_master:

Begin by installing Ansible on the Ansible_master server:

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:ansible/ansible
sudo apt update
sudo apt install ansible
ansible --version
        

Step 2: Modifying the Hosts File:

Edit the Ansible hosts file:

sudo vim /etc/ansible/hosts        

Add the following content:

[servers]
13.236.134.120
3.27.43.200
13.236.4.139
        

Step 3: Creating Password less Authentication:

Generate an SSH key pair on Ansible_master:

ssh-keygen
        

ssh-keygen

Paste the public key to the ~/.ssh/authorized_keys file on each of the other servers. You can do this manually or use a script.

Step 4: Testing Connectivity:

To test connectivity, execute the following command:

ansible servers -a "free -h"        

ansible servers -a "free -h"

This command should display memory usage information from each server, confirming that Ansible can communicate with them.

Conclusion:

In this guide, we've demonstrated how to set up a basic server infrastructure using Ansible. By installing Ansible on the Ansible_master server, configuring the hosts file, establishing passwordless authentication, and testing connectivity, you can effectively manage your server infrastructure. This approach enhances efficiency, ensures consistency, and simplifies management tasks. As you become more familiar with Ansible, you can explore advanced features and automate more complex configurations to further streamline your operations.

Stay tuned for more articles on server management, automation, and best practices!

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