If you missed our previous session, you can always catch up here. This week, we took a dive into Modern Automation and Configuration Management. Let’s get to it, shall we?
Modern Automation and Configuration Management
As IT systems grow in scale and complexity, manually configuring servers and managing infrastructure quickly becomes error-prone, slow, and unsustainable. Modern teams need automation tools that are simple, reliable, scalable, and easy to adopt.
This is where Ansible shines.
Ansible is one of the most popular configuration management and automation tools used by DevOps engineers, cloud engineers, system administrators, and platform teams. It enables teams to automate infrastructure provisioning, application deployment, configuration management, and operational tasks without agents and with minimal complexity.
What Is Ansible?
Ansible is an open-source automation tool developed by Red Hat that allows you to manage systems using simple, human-readable YAML files.
With Ansible, you can:
Configure servers
Install and update software
Deploy applications
Enforce security policies
Orchestrate complex workflows
All from a single control machine.
Why Ansible Is So Popular
Ansible stands out for several key reasons:
1. Agentless Architecture
Unlike other tools, Ansible does not require agents on managed nodes. It uses SSH (Linux) and WinRM (Windows).
Benefit:
Faster setup, fewer security concerns, and easier maintenance.
2. Simple, Human-Readable Syntax
Ansible uses YAML, which is easy to read and write.
- name: Install Nginx
apt:
name: nginx
state: present
Even beginners can understand what this does.
3. Idempotency
Running the same playbook multiple times will not cause unintended changes.
Example:
If Nginx is already installed, Ansible will skip the task.
4. Powerful Yet Lightweight
Ansible scales from managing one server to thousands with minimal overhead.
Core Ansible Components
Understanding Ansible’s building blocks is key to using it effectively.
1. Control Node
The machine where Ansible is installed and from which commands are run.
2. Managed Nodes
The servers or devices Ansible manages.
3. Inventory
A list of managed nodes.
[webservers]
server1
server2
4. Modules
Reusable units of work (e.g., install packages, manage files, start services).
Examples:
apt
yum
service
copy
user
5. Playbooks
YAML files that define automation workflows.
- hosts: webservers
tasks:
- name: Start Nginx
service:
name: nginx
state: started
6. Roles
A structured way to organize playbooks for reuse and scalability.
Example directory structure:
roles/
web/
tasks/
handlers/
templates/
How Ansible Works (Step by Step)
- You write a playbook
- Ansible connects to target nodes via SSH
- Modules are executed remotely
- System state is enforced
- Results are reported back
No agents. No databases. No daemons.
Configuring a Web Server
Imagine provisioning a web server from scratch.
Tasks Ansible Can Automate
Install Nginx
Open firewall ports
Deploy HTML files
Start the service
All with one command:
ansible-playbook webserver.yml
This replaces hours of manual work with seconds of automation.
Ansible for Security and Compliance
Ansible is widely used for security hardening and compliance automation.
Examples
Enforcing CIS benchmarks
Rotating SSH keys
Disabling unused services
Auditing system configurations
Security policies become code, repeatable and auditable.
Ansible in the Cloud
Ansible integrates seamlessly with cloud platforms like:
AWS
Azure
GCP
DigitalOcean
Use Cases
Provision cloud instances
Configure load balancers
Deploy applications
Manage autoscaling environments
Ansible can even work alongside Terraform Terraform builds infrastructure, Ansible configures it.
Who Should Learn Ansible?
Ansible is ideal for:
DevOps Engineers
Cloud Engineers
Linux System Administrators
Platform Engineers
SREs
Anyone managing infrastructure at scale
Ansible has become a cornerstone of modern infrastructure automation because it is simple, powerful, scalable, and accessible. By treating infrastructure as code, teams reduce errors, improve consistency, and move faster with confidence.
Whether you are automating a single server or managing thousands across cloud environments, Ansible gives you the tools to do it efficiently and reliably.
I’m also excited to share that I’ve been able to secure a special discount, in partnership with Sanjeev Kumar’s team, for the DevOps & Cloud Job Placement / Mentorship Program.
For those who may not be familiar, Sanjeev Kumar brings over 20 years of hands-on experience across multiple domains and every phase of product delivery. He is known for his strong architectural mindset, with a deep focus on Automation, DevOps, Cloud, and Security.
Sanjeev has extensive expertise in technology assessment, working closely with senior leadership, architects, and diverse software delivery teams to build scalable and secure systems. Beyond industry practice, he is also an active educator, running a YouTube channel dedicated to helping professionals successfully transition into DevOps and Cloud careers.
This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to level up their DevOps/Cloud skills with real-world mentorship and career guidance.
Do refer below for the link with a dedicated discount automatically applied at checkout;
DevOps & Cloud Job Placement / Mentorship Program.
I’m Ikoh Sylva, a passionate cloud computing enthusiast with hands-on experience in AWS. I’m documenting my cloud journey from a beginner’s perspective, aiming to inspire others along the way.
If you find my contents helpful, please like and follow my posts, and consider sharing this article with anyone starting their own cloud journey.
Let’s connect on social media. I’d love to engage and exchange ideas with you!
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