Introduction

In the rapidly evolving landscape of IT infrastructure management, Ansible emerges as a beacon of efficiency and simplicity. This open-source tool, championed by Red Hat, automates complex IT tasks and provides a user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of managing large-scale systems. This article delves into the practical application of Ansible in managing Ubuntu systems, using a real-world session log to illustrate its integration and efficacy.

The integration of Ansible into Ubuntu systems provides significant security benefits. By automating the patch management process, Ansible ensures that all systems are up-to-date with the latest security patches, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities. Additionally, Ansible's agentless architecture minimizes the system's attack surface, as it does not require additional software installed on the client machines.

Instructions

Here is a step-by-step guide to securely connect to an Ubuntu 24.04 server and install Ansible for automation tasks:

Step 1: Establishing SSH Connection

1. Open Terminal: Start by opening your terminal on your local machine.

2. Connect via SSH: Use the SSH command to initiate a secure connection:

``bash

ssh [email protected]

`

1. Replace devops with your actual username and ubuntu.example.com with your server's hostname or IP address.

2. Verify Host Authenticity: Upon first connection, you'll be asked to verify the host's fingerprint:

The authenticity of host 'ubuntu.example.com (192.168.246.145)' can't be established.\

ED25519 key fingerprint is SHA256:WJG2h7cUirgFb3aXxeQkwvUJfE76ea21+U3mTD23tOQ.\

Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no/[fingerprint])?

1. Type yes to continue if you recognize the fingerprint.

2. Enter Password: Input your user password when prompted to establish the connection.

Step 2: Initial Server Setup and Updates

1. Check for Updates: Once connected, check for available updates:

`bash

sudo apt update

`

1. This command updates the list of packages and their versions on your server but doesn't install them.

2. Upgrade Packages: Optionally, you can upgrade all your system software to the latest available versions:

`bash

sudo apt upgrade

`

1. Confirm the prompt with y to proceed with the upgrades.

Step 3: Installing Ansible

1. Install Ansible: After updating your system, install Ansible using:

`bash

sudo apt install ansible

`

``bash

Reading package lists... Done

Building dependency tree... Done

Reading state information... Done

The following additional packages will be installed:

ansible-core python3-argcomplete python3-dnspython python3-jmespath python3-kerberos\

python3-libcloud python3-lockfile python3-ntlm-auth python3-packaging python3-passlib\

python3-requests-ntlm python3-resolvelib python3-selinux python3-simplejson\

python3-winrm python3-xmltodict

Suggested packages:

cowsay sshpass python3-trio python3-aioquic python3-h2 python3-