Ansible

Ansible is an open-source CM DevOps tool that is also used for deployment, automation, and orchestration. While Ansible leverages infrastructure as a code architecture, it uses SSH connection for its push nodes thus agentless. Of the three, Ansible is considered easy to learn and use as its Playbooks are written in YAML with minimal commands and are readable by humans.

Key Features

1. Agentless Architecture
   • One of Ansible's distinguishing features is its agentless architecture. Unlike some other configuration management tools, Ansible doesn't require the installation of agents on managed nodes. It communicates with nodes over SSH, making it easier to set up and manage.
2. Infrastructure as Code (IAC)
   • Ansible follows the Infrastructure as Code (IAC) approach. It allows you to define your infrastructure and deployment processes as code, which can be version-controlled and treated like any other software code.
3. Playbooks
   • Ansible configurations are written in YAML and are called playbooks. Playbooks are easy to read and write, making them accessible to both developers and system administrators. They describe a set of tasks to be executed on remote nodes.
4. Modules
   • Ansible uses modules to define the tasks in a playbook. Modules are pre-built units of work, and Ansible has a wide range of modules for various purposes, such as package installation, file manipulation, and service management.
5. Idempotent
   • Ansible tasks are idempotent, meaning that if you run the same playbook multiple times, it will only make necessary changes. This ensures consistency in the desired state of the infrastructure.
6. Ad-Hoc Commands
   • Ansible allows the execution of ad-hoc commands to perform quick tasks without the need for a playbook.
7. Community and Integration
   • Ansible has a strong community, and there are many pre-built roles and playbooks available for common tasks. It also integrates well with various cloud providers and other DevOps tools.
8. Orchestration
   • Ansible can be used for orchestrating complex workflows involving multiple servers. It allows you to define the order and dependencies of tasks.
9. Extensibility
   • Ansible is extensible, and you can create custom modules to perform tasks specific to your environment.