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Ansible Essentials

Ansible is used to bring structure and consistency to system deployments, implementaons, and changes. Students tempted to write a complex Python script to do a networking automaon task will discover...

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By Request
$3,333 USD
Duration 5 days
Course Code ALTA3-ANS-ESS
Available Formats Classroom

Overview

Ansible is used to bring structure and consistency to system deployments, implementaons, and changes. Students tempted to write a complex Python script to do a networking automaon task will discover that the problem is already solved by an Ansible module. Lots of unnecessary Python scripts can be eliminated by using Ansible whenever possible. Ansible is used for both network and server administrators alike.

Skills Gained

  • Version controlling code with Git
  • Overview of Ansible modules
  • Ansible collections for content delivery
  • Building roles for code reuse
  • YAML formatting
  • Playbook construction and order of execution
  • Jinja2 templating
  • Static and Dynamic inventory management
  • Credential Management and Encryption with Vault
  • Finding solutions on Ansible Galaxy

Who Can Benefit

  • DevOps Engineers
  • System and Cloud Administrators
  • Network Engineers and Developers
  • Python Developers

Prerequisites

Coding experience in another language serves as an adequate prerequisite

Course Details

Follow-on Courses:

  • Mastering Ansible
  • Jenkins Automation Server Essentials
  • API and API Design with Python
  • Git and GitHub
  • Git and GitLab

Day 1 (Ansible Introduction)

1. Ansible Introduction

  • Ansible definition
  • Exploring modules
  • Building a task
  • Places to define Ansible vars
  • hosts aka “Inventory”
  • Creating a A play
  • Looking at the “handler”
  • Running a playbook
  • Introduction to YAML
  • Requirements for connecting to remote hosts

2. Installation

  • Configuration requirements on the control machine
  • Python requirements on the host
  • Using ansible raw to install Python

3. Ansible config file and directory structure

  • ansible.cfg
  • Ansible Inventory
  • roles

4. Ansible Static Inventory

  • Defining Hosts and Groups
  • Host and Group variables
  • Groups of Groups
  • Default Groups

5. YAML

  • YAML Gotchas
  • YAML Dictionary
  • YAML list
  • YAML list of dictionaries
  • YAML Alternate format
  • Relationship to JSON

Day 2 (Ansible for Server Operations)

6. Ansible Ad hoc commands

  • Ad hoc command syntax
  • Parallel Shell commands
  • Managing packages
  • Managing users and groups
  • Gathering facts
  • ad hoc cheat sheet

7. Writing a Simple Playbook

  • Elements of a well wrien playbook
  • A well-wrien Ansible play
  • Using include files for tasks
  • A well-wrien ansible variable file
  • A well-wrien ansible inventory file

8. Ansible config file and directory structure

  • ansible.cfg
  • Best practices concerning directory structures and organization
  • Host Inventory and ansible_vars
  • Introduction to roles

9. Key Server Modules to Know

  • Understanding modules documentation
  • setup / gather_facts
  • copy
  • apt / yum / pip
  • command / shell
  • git
  • get_url
  • debug
  • lineinfile

Day 3 (Ansible for Network Operations)

10. Ansible and Jinja

  • What is Jinja2?
  • jinja variables
  • jinja filters
  • jinja tests
  • How to use ansible template
  • Review of the ansible template documentation

11. Conditional and Looping Tasks

  • Variables and Loops
  • Using Complex Variables in Loops
  • Variables and Templates
  • Using variables in conditions
  • Blocks
  • Prompts
  • Getting variables from the system
  • Setting variables in playbooks
  • registered variables
  • Getting variables from the command line
  • Where is the best source to derive variables values?

12. Ansible Network Solutions with Ansible (focus on Juniper and Cisco)

  • Writing Cisco and Juniper playbooks
  • Modules for Cisco (IOS, NXOS, IOSXR, etc)
  • Exploring Juniper solutions
  • Built in Juniper modules
  • Role based Juniper modules
  • Installing a module from Juniper vendor
  • Securing credentials / best practices
  • New additions within the latest version of Ansible (v2.9)

Day 4 (Customizing Ansible & Ansible for Cloud)

13. Dynamic Inventory Management

  • What is Dynamic Inventory?
  • A review of static Inventory Practices
  • Using JSON as an Inventory Source
  • Using YAML as an Inventory Source
  • Pulling Inventory from an API
  • AWS EC2 Example
  • OpenStack Example

14. Ansible for OpenStack and AWS

  • Overview of OpenStack
  • Understanding the OpenStack client
  • What is openstack-sdk (or shade)?
  • clouds.yaml
  • Installing openstack-sdk
  • Using openstack-sdk
  • OpenStack modules
  • os_network
  • os_subnet
  • os_router
  • os_server
  • os_server_action
  • os_security_group
  • os_security_group_rule
  • What is boto?
  • installing boto for AWS
  • AWS modules
  • ec2
  • aws_s3_bucket_info
  • redshift

15. Variables and Python

  • Jinja Filters for variable manipulation
  • Using Python within playbooks for variable manipulation
  • Best practices for Variables
  • Securing credentials with Ansible Vault
  • Encrypting Playbooks with Ansible Vault

Day 5 (Ansible Playbook Design & Review)

16. Roles and Ansible Galaxy

  • Why we need Ansible Roles
  • Role Directory Structure
  • Using Roles
  • Role default variables
  • Converting a Playbook to a Role
  • Exploring Ansible Galaxy
  • Running a role from Ansible Galaxy

17. Playbook Best Practices

  • Directory Layout
  • Use Dynamic Inventory With Clouds
  • How to Differentiate Staging vs Production
  • Group and Host Variables
  • Top Level Playbooks Are Separated By Server Type

18. Ansible Tower / AWX Essentials

  • What is Ansible Tower and AWX
  • Why you should consider using Jenkins as a replacement for Ansible Tower
  • Pushing and pulling playbooks from GitHub

Hands-On Labs

  • SSH client and server configs
  • RSA key gen
  • Methods for Installing Ansible
  • Ansible Host Inventory
  • Ad-Hoc Modules and Gather Facts
  • Elevated Ad-Hoc Commands
  • Running your first Playbook
  • Ad-Hoc Raw Commands
  • Debug, Loops, and YAML Lists
  • When Condionals, YAML Diconaries, and Jinja
  • ansible.cfg setup
  • Building Playbooks - Bootstrap with raw, group and user Modules
  • Mapping YAML Vars Files in Playbooks
  • Ansible Modules - shell
  • Ansible Module - copy
  • Ansible Module - apt
  • Ansible Module - yum
  • Ansible Module - get_url
  • Ansible Module - file
  • Ansible Module - git
  • Ansible Module - template
  • Playbook Tags
  • Ansible Module - lineinfile and replace
  • Manually Launch an OpenStack Instance
  • OpenStack, Ansible and Shade
  • YAML, JSON, Dynamic, and Cloud Inventories
  • Configuring a Web Service with Ansible
  • Ansible Handlers
  • Ansible Error Handling
  • pre_tasks, roles, tasks, post_tasks, and handlers
  • Exploring Switches with Ansible
  • network_cli Playbook
  • Backup and Save Config - Cisco, Juniper, Arista, and Many More!
  • Network Playbooks and Vendor Specific Modules
  • Simplifying Network Playbooks with Agnosc Modules
  • Reading Variables into Playbooks
  • Ansible script module
  • Ansible Lookup Plugin
  • Ansible Playbook Output Logging
  • Ansible Keywords - register and when
  • Ansible Galaxy
  • Ansible Vault
  • Ansible Tower
  • (Optional Case Study) Ansible for Palo Alto PanOS and Panorama
  • (Optional Case Study) Ansible for Juniper Junos Core and Role Modules
  • (Optional Case Study) Ansible for VMWare NSX Networking
  • (Optional Case Study) Ansible NAPALM for Network Automaon
  • (Optional Case Study) Ansible Dell EMC PowerMax Flash Storage Automation
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Schedule

Upcoming Course Dates

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FAQ

Does the course schedule include a Lunchbreak?

Classes typically include a 1-hour lunch break around midday. However, the exact break times and duration can vary depending on the specific class. Your instructor will provide detailed information at the start of the course.

What languages are used to deliver training?

Most courses are conducted in English, unless otherwise specified. Some courses will have the word "FRENCH" marked in red beside the scheduled date(s) indicating the language of instruction.

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GTR stands for Guaranteed to Run; if you see a course with this status, it means this event is confirmed to run. View our GTR page to see our full list of Guaranteed to Run courses.

Does Ascendient Learning deliver group training?

Yes, we provide training for groups, individuals and private on sites. View our group training page for more information.

What does vendor-authorized training mean?

As a vendor-authorized training partner, we offer a curriculum that our partners have vetted. We use the same course materials and facilitate the same labs as our vendor-delivered training. These courses are considered the gold standard and, as such, are priced accordingly.

Is the training too basic, or will you go deep into technology?

It depends on your requirements, your role in your company, and your depth of knowledge. The good news about many of our learning paths, you can start from the fundamentals to highly specialized training.

How up-to-date are your courses and support materials?

We continuously work with our vendors to evaluate and refresh course material to reflect the latest training courses and best practices.

Are your instructors seasoned trainers who have deep knowledge of the training topic?

Ascendient Learning instructors have an average of 27 years of practical IT experience and have also served as consultants for an average of 15 years. To stay current, instructors spend at least 25 percent of their time learning new, emerging technologies and courses.

Do you provide hands-on training and exercises in an actual lab environment?

Lab access is dependent on the vendor and the type of training you sign up for. However, many of our top vendors will provide lab access to students to test and practice. The course description will specify lab access.

Will you customize the training for our company’s specific needs and goals?

We will work with you to identify training needs and areas of growth.  We offer a variety of training methods, such as private group training, on-site of your choice, and virtually. We provide courses and certifications that are aligned with your business goals.

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Reviews

Overall it was a good bootcamp. A lot to cover so it is understandable that the pace had to be a little fast.

the course is good, covers many aspects, wish the lab is a little bit more in depth

Easy to use and exactly what I was looking for. Value for money was exceptional.

The exit certified aws course provided a good introduction to the tools available on aws.

Both course material and instructor demonstrated a sound foundation on Maximo material