Automation With Salt from Coursera

Salt is an automation configuration management framework designed on the idea of executing commands remotely. This is open source software developed to automate the configuration of server systems. The course begins with the introduction to Automation with Salt followed by Salt Installation. A brief explanation about features of Salt using command-line tools and Matching Elements is provided in the course. The course also demonstrates the working of Jinja2 and Pillars in a detailed manner.

This course provides 3 hours of training videos which are segmented into modules. The course concepts are easy to understand through lab demonstrations. In order to test the understanding of learners, every module includes Assessments in the form of Quiz and In Video Questions. A mandatory Graded Questions Quiz is also provided at the end of every module.

Familiarity with the YAML and Python programming languages is an asset. Understanding of infrastructure-as-code is an asset. By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

-Install and Configure SaltStack

-Demonstrate working of Jinja2 and Pillars

-Explore features of Salt using command-line Tools and Matching Elements

-Explore working with States and Templating

What's inside

Syllabus

Introducing Automation with Salt

Welcome to Week 1 of this course .This week, we will be learning about "Introduction to Automation with Salt". We will be installing and configuring SaltStack, an open-source infrastructure automation and management tool. We will explore the features of Salt using command-line tools and learn about matching elements to manage and automate infrastructure more efficiently. By the end of this course, we will have a solid foundation in using Salt for infrastructure automation.

Working with States, Templating, Pillar and Advanced SaltStack

Welcome to Week 2 of this courseThis week, we will be focusing on the advanced aspects of SaltStack automation. We will start by demonstrating the working of Jinja2 and Pillars, which are used for template rendering and data management in SaltStack. We will then explore working with States and Templating to define the desired state of systems and enforce them through automated configuration management. Additionally, we will cover advanced SaltStack topics such as Docker installation and integration to provide a complete end-to-end infrastructure automation solution.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides hands-on training through lab demonstrations, ensuring practical understanding

Introduces the basic concepts of automation with Salt, making it accessible to beginners

Utilizes a multi-modal approach with video tutorials and quizzes, engaging learners with varied learning styles

Assesses understanding through regular graded quizzes, ensuring knowledge retention

Assumes prior knowledge of YAML and Python, which may limit accessibility for some learners

Focuses on the practical aspects of SaltStack automation, neglecting the theoretical foundations

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Automation With Salt with these activities:

Work through SaltStack command-line drills

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Practice using the SaltStack command-line tools to gain proficiency before taking the course.

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Find practice drills or exercises online
Work through the drills and exercises
Review the documentation for the SaltStack command-line tools

Follow tutorials on Jinja2 and Pillars

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Going through tutorials on Jinja2 and Pillars will help you understand these concepts before the course begins.

Browse courses on Jinja2

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Search for tutorials on Jinja2 and Pillars
Follow the tutorials and complete any exercises
Read the documentation for Jinja2 and Pillars

Review the YAML programming language

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Reviewing YAML is a great way to refresh your memory of data formats before the course starts.

Browse courses on YAML

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Go over YAML syntax
Practice creating YAML files
Read documentation on YAML

Four other activities

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Join a study group for SaltStack

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Joining a study group can provide support, motivation, and different perspectives on the course material.

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Find a study group or create your own
Meet regularly to discuss course material and work on projects
Help each other with understanding concepts and completing assignments

Create a SaltStack configuration file

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Creating a SaltStack configuration file will give you hands-on experience and help you solidify your understanding.

Browse courses on Infrastructure Automation

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Review the documentation on SaltStack configuration files
Plan and design your SaltStack configuration file
Create the SaltStack configuration file
Test and validate your SaltStack configuration file

Create a SaltStack resources compilation

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Compiling resources on SaltStack can help you organize your learning and have everything you need in one place.

Browse courses on Knowledge Base

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Gather resources from various sources
Organize the resources into a logical structure
Create a document or website to share your compilation

Contribute to the SaltStack project

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Contributing to the SaltStack project can deepen your understanding of the technology and provide real-world experience.

Browse courses on Open Source

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Find an issue or feature to work on
Fork the SaltStack repository
Make your changes and submit a pull request
Work with the SaltStack community to get your changes merged

Career center

Learners who complete Automation With Salt will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Automation Engineer

Automation Engineers design, develop, and maintain automated systems to streamline processes and improve efficiency. This course can help build a foundation in SaltStack, an open-source automation framework, providing a solid understanding of its features, working principles, and how to use it effectively for infrastructure automation. By mastering SaltStack, you'll gain a valuable skill set that is in high demand in the IT industry.

See salaries and explore the career path for Automation Engineer

DevOps Engineer

DevOps Engineers bridge the gap between development and operations teams, ensuring smooth software delivery and deployment. This course can be beneficial for DevOps Engineers as it introduces SaltStack, a powerful tool for automating infrastructure configuration and management. By understanding how to leverage SaltStack, DevOps Engineers can streamline their processes, reduce errors, and improve the overall efficiency of their CI/CD pipelines.

See salaries and explore the career path for DevOps Engineer

Infrastructure Engineer

Infrastructure Engineers design, build, and maintain IT infrastructure to support business operations. This course can provide valuable insights for Infrastructure Engineers as it covers the fundamentals of SaltStack, a leading infrastructure automation tool. By gaining proficiency in SaltStack, Infrastructure Engineers can enhance their ability to automate complex infrastructure tasks, improve resource utilization, and ensure the reliability and security of their systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Infrastructure Engineer

Systems Administrator

Systems Administrators manage and maintain computer systems and networks. This course can be beneficial for Systems Administrators as it covers the practical aspects of using SaltStack for system configuration and management. By gaining hands-on experience with SaltStack, Systems Administrators can enhance their ability to automate routine tasks, troubleshoot issues efficiently, and ensure the smooth operation of their systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Administrator

Cloud Engineer

Cloud Engineers design, build, and manage cloud computing systems. This course may be helpful for Cloud Engineers as it provides an introduction to SaltStack, an automation framework that can be used to automate cloud infrastructure management tasks. By understanding how to use SaltStack, Cloud Engineers can improve the efficiency and reliability of their cloud deployments and operations.

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Network Engineer

Network Engineers design, build, and maintain computer networks. This course may be helpful for Network Engineers as it covers the basics of SaltStack, an automation framework that can be used to automate network configuration and management tasks. By gaining proficiency in SaltStack, Network Engineers can streamline their processes, reduce errors, and improve the overall performance and security of their networks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Engineer

Security Engineer

Security Engineers design, implement, and maintain security measures to protect computer systems and networks. This course may be helpful for Security Engineers as it provides an introduction to SaltStack, an automation framework that can be used to automate security configuration and management tasks. By understanding how to use SaltStack, Security Engineers can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their security measures and ensure the protection of their systems and data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Engineer

Software Developer

Software Developers design, develop, and maintain computer software. This course may be helpful for Software Developers who are interested in learning about SaltStack, an automation framework that can be used to automate software deployment and management tasks. By gaining proficiency in SaltStack, Software Developers can improve the efficiency and reliability of their software delivery pipelines.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use scientific methods and techniques to extract knowledge and insights from data. This course may be helpful for Data Scientists who are interested in learning about SaltStack, an automation framework that can be used to automate data pipeline management tasks. By understanding how to use SaltStack, Data Scientists can improve the efficiency and reliability of their data pipelines and ensure the quality and accuracy of their data analysis results.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Business Analyst

Business Analysts analyze business processes and systems to identify areas for improvement. This course may be helpful for Business Analysts who are interested in learning about SaltStack, an automation framework that can be used to automate business process management tasks. By understanding how to use SaltStack, Business Analysts can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their analysis and recommendations.

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Project Manager

Project Managers plan, execute, and close projects. This course may be helpful for Project Managers who are interested in learning about SaltStack, an automation framework that can be used to automate project management tasks. By understanding how to use SaltStack, Project Managers can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their project management processes.

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Technical Writer

Technical Writers create and maintain technical documentation. This course may be helpful for Technical Writers who are interested in learning about SaltStack, an automation framework that can be used to automate documentation generation tasks. By understanding how to use SaltStack, Technical Writers can improve the efficiency and quality of their documentation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Sales Engineer

Sales Engineers provide technical support to customers and help them understand and use products and services. This course may be helpful for Sales Engineers who are interested in learning about SaltStack, an automation framework that can be used to automate sales and marketing processes. By understanding how to use SaltStack, Sales Engineers can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their sales and marketing efforts.

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Quality Assurance Analyst

Quality Assurance Analysts test and evaluate software and systems to ensure they meet quality standards. This course may be helpful for Quality Assurance Analysts who are interested in learning about SaltStack, an automation framework that can be used to automate testing and evaluation tasks. By understanding how to use SaltStack, Quality Assurance Analysts can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their testing and evaluation processes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Analyst

IT Auditor

IT Auditors evaluate the effectiveness of IT systems and controls. This course may be helpful for IT Auditors who are interested in learning about SaltStack, an automation framework that can be used to automate audit and compliance tasks. By understanding how to use SaltStack, IT Auditors can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their audit and compliance processes.

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Automation With Salt

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