As Ansible users, we all want to make the most out of this popular open-source configuration management tool. However, even with its relative ease of use, we can still make common mistakes that can lead to errors and inefficiencies.
In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the most common mistakes that Ansible users make and how we can avoid them.
Not using an inventory file
One of the most common mistakes that we as Ansible users make is not using an inventory file. An inventory file is a text file that contains a list of hosts that Ansible will manage. Without an inventory file, Ansible won’t know which hosts to manage, and we’ll have to specify the hosts on the command line every time we run a playbook. This can be time-consuming and error-prone, especially if we have a large number of hosts to manage.
To avoid this mistake, let’s create an inventory file and specify it when we run Ansible. We can create an inventory file in YAML or INI format and include the IP addresses or hostnames of our hosts. For example:
[webservers]
web1 ansible_host=192.168.1.100
web2 ansible_host=192.168.1.101
[databases]
db1 ansible_host=192.168.1.200
db2 ansible_host=192.168.1.201
Not using Ansible roles
Another common mistake that we make is not using roles. Roles are a way to organize our Ansible code and make it reusable. They allow us to group related tasks, files, and templates together, making it easier to manage and maintain our code.
To create a role, we can use the ansible-galaxy command-line tool. For example, to create a role called webserver, we can run:
ansible-galaxy init webserver
This will create a new directory called webserver with a basic structure for our role. We can then add tasks, files, and templates to the role as needed.
Not using conditionals
Conditionals allow us to specify when a task should or should not run based on certain conditions. For example, we might want to run a task only if a certain file exists or only if a certain variable is set.
To use conditionals in Ansible, we can use the when keyword. For example:
- name: Install Apache
apt:
name: apache2
state: present
when: ansible_distribution == "Ubuntu"
This task will only run if the target host is running Ubuntu.
Not using idempotent tasks
An idempotent task is a task that can be run multiple times without changing the end state. For example, installing a package is idempotent because it will only install the package if it’s not already installed.
Not using idempotent tasks can lead to errors and inefficiencies. If a task is not idempotent and is run multiple times, it can lead to errors or unexpected behavior. To ensure that our tasks are idempotent, we should use Ansible modules that support idempotency, such as the apt and yum modules.
Not using Ansible Vault
Ansible Vault is a feature that allows us to encrypt sensitive data, such as passwords and API keys, in our Ansible code. Not using Ansible Vault can lead to security vulnerabilities if our code is leaked or stolen.
To use Ansible Vault, we can create an encrypted file with the ansible-vault command-line tool. For example:
ansible-vault create secrets.yml
This will open up an editor where we can enter our sensitive data. When we save the file, it will be encrypted with a password that we specify. We can then reference the encrypted data in our Ansible playbooks using the vault keyword. For example:
- name: Create MySQL user
mysql_user:
name: "{{ mysql_user }}"
password: "{{ vault_mysql_password }}"
login_unix_socket: /var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock
become: true
By using Ansible Vault, we can ensure that our sensitive data is protected, even if our Ansible code is compromised.
Join the Discussion! I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences on the topic! Share your insights, ask questions, or engage with fellow readers in the comments section below!
Tom's IT Cafe 