Can Ansible Automate Windows?

Learn how Ansible can automate Windows systems, its requirements, supported modules, and use cases for streamlining Windows administration tasks.

Ansible is well-known for its ability to automate Linux systems, but it is equally capable of managing and automating Windows systems. Its agentless architecture and extensive module library make Ansible a powerful tool for streamlining Windows administration tasks. This article explores how Ansible can automate Windows systems, its requirements, and use cases.

Can Ansible Automate Windows?

Yes, Ansible can automate Windows systems by leveraging Windows Remote Management (WinRM) or SSH. With support for Windows-specific modules, Ansible can perform tasks such as software deployment, configuration management, and service orchestration on Windows environments.

Key Features:

Agentless Architecture: No need for additional agents; uses WinRM or SSH.

Windows Modules: A rich library of modules tailored for Windows automation.

Cross-Platform Management: Manage Windows alongside Linux and other platforms.

Prerequisites for Automating Windows with Ansible

1. Enable WinRM

WinRM is the default communication protocol for Ansible to interact with Windows systems. To enable WinRM:

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator.

2. Run the following commands:

``powershell


   winrm quickconfig
   winrm set winrm/config/service/auth '@{Basic="true"}'
   winrm set winrm/config/service '@{AllowUnencrypted="true"}'
   Set-Item wsman:\localhost\Client\TrustedHosts -Value "<Ansible_Control_Node_IP>"



2. Install pywinrm
The pywinrm Python library is required for Ansible to communicate with Windows systems over WinRM:

`bash


pip install pywinrm



3. Configure the Inventory File
Add your Windows systems to the inventory file with appropriate credentials:

`ini


[windows]
windows_host ansible_host=192.168.1.10 ansible_user=Administrator ansible_password=your_password ansible_connection=winrm



Common Ansible Modules for Windows Automation

Ansible provides a range of modules specifically designed for Windows automation:

1. win_service:
   Manage Windows services.

`yaml


   - name: Ensure IIS is running
     win_service:
       name: W3SVC
       state: started



2. win_package:
   Install or uninstall software.

`yaml


   - name: Install Google Chrome
     win_package:
       path: "https://dl.google.com/chrome/install/GoogleChromeStandaloneEnterprise.msi"



3. win_user:
   Manage user accounts.

`yaml


   - name: Add a new user
     win_user:
       name: admin_user
       password: StrongPassword123!
       state: present



4. win_file:
   Manage files and directories.

`yaml


   - name: Create a directory
     win_file:
       path: C:\Temp
       state: directory



5. win_shell:
   Execute PowerShell or command-line commands.

`yaml


   - name: Run PowerShell command
     win_shell: Get-Process

Use Cases for Automating Windows with Ansible

1. Application Deployment:

Install and configure software acr