Introduction
Ansible modules are the building blocks of automation in Ansible. They are small pieces of code that are responsible for carrying out specific tasks on managed nodes. Modules can be executed individually or in combination with other modules to perform complex automation workflows. In this article, we'll provide an overview of Ansible modules, their types, and their role in Ansible automation.
Types of Ansible Modules
Core Modules: These modules are shipped with Ansible by default and cover a wide range of system administration tasks, including package management, file manipulation, service management, and more.
Community Modules: These modules are developed and maintained by the Ansible community and provide additional functionality beyond the core modules. They can be installed separately and extend the capabilities of Ansible.
Key Features of Ansible Modules
Idempotence: Ansible modules are designed to be idempotent, meaning they can be run multiple times without changing the system state if the desired state is already achieved.
Declarative Syntax: Ansible modules use a declarative syntax, allowing users to define the desired state of the system rather than specifying the steps needed to achieve that state.
Remote Execution: Ansible modules are executed remotely on managed nodes via SSH, allowing for agentless automation without requiring additional software installation on managed nodes.
Usage of Ansible Modules
Ansible modules are invoked using the ansible or ansible-playbook command-line tools. Modules are specified using the -m flag, followed by the name of the module.
Example:
ansible all -m ping
This command uses the ping module to check the connectivity of all managed nodes.
Conclusion
Ansible modules are essential components of Ansible automation, providing a simple and powerful way to carry out tasks on managed nodes. With a wide range of core and community modules available, Ansible users can automate various aspects of system administration, configuration management, and application deployment with ease and efficiency.