Ansible plugins are separately available functions which are used to work with Ansible modules. These are the codes developed to provide additional support to Ansible modules while working on remote target hosts. Though the Ansible package comes with many plugins, we can also write our custom plugins.
How to extend Ansible through plugins?
- Action plugins let you integrate local processing and local data with module functionality
- Cache plugins store gathered facts and data retrieved by inventory plugins
- Callback plugins add new behaviors to Ansible when responding to events
- Connection plugins allow Ansible to connect to the target hosts so it can execute tasks on them
How to install and configure Ansible server and hosts?
Step 1: Install Ansible on Ubuntu system
- Install Ansible on Ubuntu system Installing the Ansible tool on Linux is easy and straightforward. ...
- Configure Ansible on Ubuntu Linux Now, since we will be using the Ansible Playbook tool to configure WordPress, we will configure the Hosts file to address the server ...
- Pull WordPress with Playbook on Ubuntu Linux
Is Ansible big thing for Linux users?
You can use Ansible to automate Linux and Windows server configuration, orchestrate service provisioning, deploy cloud environments, and even configure your network devices. Ansible modules abstract actions on your system so you don't need to worry about implementation details.
How to install ansible in Amazon Linux EC2?
to install ansible on Amazon Linux or to setup ansible lab in aws we need two or three ec2 instances. one is ansible master ec2 instance remaining ec2 instances are clients. in the master ec2 instance only we will install ansible. ansible and its modules are built on python, so we have to install python in all master and client machines.
What is difference between Ansible plugin and Module?
Modules execute on the target system (usually that means on a remote system) in separate processes. Plugins augment Ansible's core functionality and execute on the control node within the /usr/bin/ansible process.
What is Ansible action plugin?
Action plugins act in conjunction with modules to execute the actions required by playbook tasks. They usually execute automatically in the background doing prerequisite work before modules execute. The 'normal' action plugin is used for modules that do not already have an action plugin.
How do I enable Ansible plugins?
Enabling inventory plugins Most inventory plugins shipped with Ansible are enabled by default or can be used by with the auto plugin. If you use a plugin that supports a YAML configuration source, make sure that the name matches the name provided in the plugin entry of the inventory source file.
What is Ansible inventory plugin?
Inventory plugins allow users to point at data sources to compile the inventory of hosts that Ansible uses to target tasks, either via the -i /path/to/file and/or -i 'host1, host2 command line parameters or from other configuration sources.
Where are Ansible plugins stored?
ansible/plugins/modules/ /usr/share/ansible/plugins/modules/
What is an Ansible playbook?
Ansible Playbooks are lists of tasks that automatically execute against hosts. Groups of hosts form your Ansible inventory. Each module within an Ansible Playbook performs a specific task. Each module contains metadata that determines when and where a task is executed, as well as which user executes it.
What are Ansible callback plugins?
Callback plugins enable adding new behaviors to Ansible when responding to events. By default, callback plugins control most of the output you see when running the command line programs but can also be used to add additional output, integrate with other tools, and marshall the events to a storage backend.
Which function is an example of where an Ansible plugin can be used?
Ansible ships with many connection plugins, but only one can be used per host at a time. The most commonly used connection plugins are the paramiko SSH, native ssh (just called ssh ), and local connection types. All of these can be used in playbooks and with /usr/bin/ansible to connect to remote machines.
What is API in Ansible?
You can use the Ansible Python API to control nodes, you can extend Ansible to respond to various Python events, you can write plugins, and you can plug in inventory data from external data sources. This document gives a basic overview and examples of the Ansible execution and playbook API.
Is Ansible a CMDB?
Ansible-cmdb takes the output of Ansible's fact gathering and converts it into a static HTML overview page (and other things) containing system configuration information. It supports multiple types of output (html, csv, sql, etc) and extending information gathered by Ansible with custom data.
How do I list Ansible modules?
You can execute modules from the command line.ansible webservers -m service -a "name=httpd state=started" ansible webservers -m ping ansible webservers -m command -a "/sbin/reboot -t now"- name: reboot the servers command: /sbin/reboot -t now.- name: restart webserver service: name: httpd state: restarted.More items...
What Ansible gather facts?
Ansible facts are data gathered about target nodes (host nodes to be configured) and returned back to controller nodes. Ansible facts are stored in JSON format and are used to make important decisions about tasks based on their statistics. Facts are in an ansible_facts variable, which is managed by Ansible Engine.
Which of the following is the default path for action plugin?
Custom action plugins must be placed under the configured action_plugins path, or alongside playbooks under ./action_plugins .
What is ansible PDF?
Ansible is simple open source IT engine which automates application deployment, intra service orchestration, cloud provisioning and many other IT tools.
How do you use collections in ansible?
You can use the ansible-galaxy collection install command to install a collection on your system. By default, ansible-galaxy uses https://galaxy.ansible.com as the Galaxy server (as listed in the ansible. cfg file under GALAXY_SERVER). You do not need any further configuration.
What is callback in Ansible?
One of the more heavily developed plugins, callbacks provide a way to react to events which occur during the execution of Playbooks. Ansible can load multiple callbacks, however, we differentiate between callbacks which send output to the screen and those that don’t. This allows us to ensure output to the screen is legible.
What is connection plugin?
Connection plugins, alongside action and callback plugins, are probably the most important plugins since they are used during the execution of every task. Connection plugins provide the transport layer between the Ansible controller and managed hosts. The simple API includes five methods:
What is cache plugin?
Part of the templating variable system, cache plugins are used to store gathered facts outside of local memory. This is important because, by default, Ansible uses the in-memory cache plugin which can cause problems if your process involves running several individual Playbooks and you need fact data. In such instances, each of those individual runs would need to regather those facts because they only reside in memory as long as a Playbook is running. In addition to the in-memory default, Ansible includes cache plugins to store fact data in memcached and Redis, or even just a flat JSON file.
What is strategy plugin?
Strategy plugins are a new addition to Ansible 2.0 that allow users to execute tasks on hosts differently than the way Ansible traditionally did in 1.9.x and earlier. Ansible currently includes three strategies:
What are plugins in Ansible?
Plugins augment Ansible’s core functionality with logic and features that are accessible to all modules. Ansible collections include a number of handy plugins, and you can easily write your own. All plugins must:
What is a connection plugin in Ansible?
Connection plugins allow Ansible to connect to the target hosts so it can execute tasks on them. Ansible ships with many connection plugins, but only one can be used per host at a time. The most commonly used connection plugins are the paramiko SSH, native ssh (just called ssh ), and local connection types.
How to define configurable options in Python?
To define configurable options for your plugin, describe them in the DOCUMENTATION section of the python file. Callback and connection plugins have declared configuration requirements this way since Ansible version 2.4; most plugin types now do the same. This approach ensures that the documentation of your plugin’s options will always be correct and up-to-date. To add a configurable option to your plugin, define it in this format:
How to create a connection plugin?
To create a new connection plugin (for example, to support SNMP, Message bus, or other transports), copy the format of one of the existing connection plugins and drop it into connection directory on your local plugin path.
How to import cache plugins?
Import cache plugins using the cache_loader so you can use self.set_options () and self.get_option (<option_name>). If you import a cache plugin directly in the code base, you can only access options via ansible.constants, and you break the cache plugin’s ability to be used by an inventory plugin.
What does the base cache module do?
If you use the BaseCacheModule, you must implement the methods get, contains, keys, set, delete, flush, and copy. The contains method should return a boolean that indicates if the key exists and has not expired. Unlike file-based caches, the get method does not raise a KeyError if the cache has expired.
What are the two classes of cache plugins?
There are two base classes for cache plugins, BaseCacheModule for database-backed caches, and BaseCacheFileModule for file-backed caches.
What is Ansible software?
Ansible® is an open source IT automation tool that automates provisioning, configuration management, application deployment, orchestration, and many other manual IT processes . Unlike more simplistic management tools, Ansible users (like system administrators, developers and architects) can use Ansible automation to install software, automate daily tasks, provision infrastructure, improve security and compliance, patch systems, and share automation across the entire organization.
What is Ansible application?
Ansible allows you to deploy multi-tier applications reliably and consistently, all from one common framework. You can configure needed services as well as push application artifacts from one common system.
What is an Ansible playbook?
An Ansible playbook is a blueprint of automation tasks—which are complex IT actions executed with no need for human involvement. Ansible playbooks are written in human-readable YAML format and executed on a set, group, or classification of hosts, which together make up an Ansible inventory.
How does Ansible work?
Ansible works by connecting to what you want automated and pushing programs that execute instructions that would have been done manually. These programs utilize Ansible modules that are written based on the specific expectations of the endpoint’s connectivity, interface, and commands. Ansible then executes these modules (over standard SSH by default), and removes them when finished (if applicable).
Who uses Ansible Automation Platform?
Automation teams need to quickly provide reliable automation where and when the business needs it. In many organizations these roles may not be dedicated to a person or team, some operations team members may serve in multiple roles.
What is Ansible software?
Ansible is a radically simple IT automation engine that automates cloud provisioning, configuration management, application deployment, intra-service orchestration, and many other IT needs.
How does Ansible work?
Ansible works by connecting to your nodes and pushing out small programs, called "Ansible modules" to them. These programs are written to be resource models of the desired state of the system. Ansible then executes these modules (over SSH by default), and removes them when finished.
What is ansible authorized key?
Ansible's "authorized_key" module is a great way to use ansible to control what machines can access what hosts. Other options, like kerberos or identity management systems, can also be used.
What is ansible INI?
By default, Ansible represents what machines it manages using a very simple INI file that puts all of your managed machines in groups of your own choosing.
What language does Ansible use?
It uses no agents and no additional custom security infrastructure, so it's easy to deploy - and most importantly, it uses a very simple language (YAML, in the form of Ansible Playbooks) that allow you to describe your automation jobs in a way that approaches plain English.
How many modules are there in Ansible?
Ansible contains a giant toolbox of built-in modules, well over 750 of them.
Can you use SSH keys with Ansible?
SSH KEYS ARE YOUR FRIENDS. Passwords are supported, but SSH keys with ssh-agent are one of the best ways to use Ansible. Though if you want to use Kerberos, that's good too. Lots of options! Root logins are not required, you can login as any user, and then su or sudo to any user.
What is Ansicolor plugin?
The AnsiColor plugin is needed for colorized console output. Once installed, colorized output can be enabled with the argument "colorized: true".
Does Ansible need to be on the path?
Ansible needs to be on the PATH for the build job in order to be used. This can be done through either Jenkins Global Tool Configuration or including Ansible on the OS User PATH variable.
Can Ansible Vault be used as a secret?
Most Ansible Vault operations can be performed with the plugin. Interactive operations such as create, edit, and view are not supported through the plugin. One use case for this enabling developers to encrypt secret values while keeping the vault password a secret.
What is Ansible plugin?
Essentially, Ansible uses plugins to extend what the system is doing under the hood.
What plugins does Ansible use?
One of the core critical plugins used by Ansible are action plugins. Anytime you run a module, Ansible first runs an action plugin.
What is connection plugin?
Connection plugins, alongside action and callback plugins, are probably the most important plugins since they are used during the execution of every task. Connection plugins provide the transport layer between the Ansible controller and managed hosts. The simple API includes five methods:
What is strategy plugin?
Strategy plugins are a new addition to Ansible 2.0 that allow users to execute tasks on hosts differently than the way Ansible traditionally did in 1.9.x and earlier. Ansible currently includes three strategies:
What is callback in Ansible?
One of the more heavily developed plugins, callbacks provide a way to react to events which occur during the execution of Playbooks. Ansible can load multiple callbacks, however, we differentiate between callbacks which send output to the screen and those that don’t. This allows us to ensure output to the screen is legible.
When writing a plugin, always use the provided base classes.?
The Ansible plugin loader (the main class responsible for finding and loading files with a specific plugin class) will ignore your plugin class if it doesn’t have the proper base class as a parent object. The great thing about base classes is that they provide a ton of pre-written methods so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel (or cargo-cult a bunch of code).
Is it easy to test plugins?
Testing and debugging your plugins is easy too. Writing unit testing for plugins is simplified thanks to Ansible’s plugin API which makes it easy to load those objects.
What is Ansible?
Ansible is a tool that generates written instructions for automating IT professionals' work throughout the entire system infrastructure.
How Does Ansible Work?
Ansible connects to nodes on a network (clients, servers, etc.) and then send a little program called an Ansible module to each node.
Working of Ansible Plugins
- Ansible plugins work locally on the Ansible controller node, which means some data is given to a plugin, and the plugin processes that data. Modules use this processed data to perform some tasks on remote target machines. This might look easy, but one can easily get puzzled while choosing or using plugins, as the syntax is not in YAML of JSON. Plug...
List of Ansible Plugins
- Below is a list of plugins types provided by Ansible packages, but you must note that this list if not exhaustive and can be extended in future releases or updated in the current release. In addition, these plugin types further have plugins that can use in our playbooks. For the latest list of plugin types, you can refer below the official Ansible community page. https://docs.ansible.com/ansibl…
Conclusion
- As we saw in this article, Ansible plugins can perform a vital part in Ansible playbooks, especially when we have needs like data transformation, filtering, etc. You must have good knowledge of using the plugins if you have multiple environments and your needs are to process data locally on the controller node. So learn it first and then use it.
Recommended Articles
- This is a guide to Ansible Plugins. Here we discuss the Working and the list of plugins types provided by Ansible packages. You may also have a look at the following articles to learn more – 1. Ansible Lookup 2. Ansible Facts 3. Ansible Synchronize 4. Ansible Handlers