Setup Ansible

Ansible can be installed on Unix/Linux machines for control node. In addition, we also need to have another linux machine, which will be accessible from control node via ssh.

Installation on local Unix/Linux machine:-

Step 1 : Install python

Ansible needs python. To install python, follow this link.

Step 2 : Create python virtual environment

This step is optional. You may create a virtual environment for python, to keep development of your ansible playbooks separate. Follow this link to create a python virtual environment.

Step 3 : Install ansible module

pip install ansible

Step 4 : Verify ansible

Verify ansible installation:

ansible --version

Installation as a docker image:-

Pre-requisites:-

To install a docker image, docker must be installed. Follow Install docker link for this.

For docker-compose documentation, click here

Step 1 : Create docker-compose file with name docker-compose.yml

There is no image on docker hub with ansible installed. So, we will install ansible on python image

version: '3'
services:
    ansible-service:
        image: ansible_image
        container_name: ansible_container
        build:
            context: .
        networks:
            - ansible_network
        tty: true
networks:
    ansible_network:

Step 2 : Create dockerfile with name dockerfile

FROM python:latest

RUN apt -y update && \
    pip install ansible --upgrade

CMD ["/bin/bash"]

Step 3 : Build ansible image and start container

Keep both docker-compose.yml and dockerfile in same directory. Now run following commands from same directory (via shell):-

docker-compose build

docker-compose up -d

Step 4 : Connect ansible container and verify ansible

docker exec -it ansible_container bash

Now, you are in a container. Verify ansible installation:

ansible --version