Installing Windows operating systems across multiple devices is a time-consuming task that can be streamlined significantly with Ansible automation. By automating Windows installations, IT teams can save time, reduce manual errors, and ensure consistent configurations across their infrastructure.
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Why Automate Windows Installations?
- Time Efficiency: Automate repetitive tasks, such as partitioning disks and configuring settings.
- Consistency: Ensure uniform configurations across all deployed systems.
- Scalability: Deploy Windows to multiple devices simultaneously.
- Error Reduction: Eliminate manual errors by using pre-defined playbooks.
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How to Automate Windows Installations with Ansible
Manual Steps for Windows Installation
1. Prepare Installation Media:
- Use the [Media Creation Tool](https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows10) to create a bootable USB drive or ISO file.
2. Partition Disk:
- Configure disk partitions using the Windows setup wizard.
3. Install Windows:
- Follow the installation prompts to complete the process.
4. Configure System:
- Set up user accounts, network settings, and system updates manually.
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Automating with Ansible
#### Example Playbook for Preparing Windows Installation
This playbook downloads the Windows ISO file and creates bootable installation media.
``yaml
- name: Prepare Windows installation media
hosts: localhost
tasks:
- name: Download Windows ISO
ansible.builtin.get_url:
url: "https://software-download.microsoft.com/ISO_URL"
dest: "/tmp/windows.iso"
- name: Create bootable USB
ansible.builtin.shell: >
dd if=/tmp/windows.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress
`
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#### Example Playbook for Installing Windows Using a Pre-Configured Answer File
Use an answer file to automate Windows setup.
`yaml
- name: Automate Windows installation
hosts: windows_servers
tasks:
- name: Upload answer file to target
ansible.windows.win_copy:
src: "/path/to/answer_file.xml"
dest: "C:\\Windows\\Panther\\unattend.xml"
- name: Reboot and boot into setup
ansible.windows.win_reboot:
msg: "Rebooting to start Windows installation"
reboot_timeout: 600
`
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#### Example Playbook for Post-Installation Configuration
Configure the newly installed Windows system.
`yaml
- name: Configure Windows after installation
hosts: windows_servers
tasks:
- name: Set hostname
ansible.windows.win_hostname:
name: "NewWindowsHost"
- name: Configure Windows Update settings
ansible.windows.win_updates:
category_names:
- SecurityUpdates
- CriticalUpdates
reboot: yes
- name: Install essential software
ansible.windows.win_package:
path: "C:\\installers\\software_installer.msi"
state: present
``
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