Getting Started with Ansible for Network Automation from Pluralsight

The Ansible IT automation platform is spearheading the automation revolution in the computer networking industry. This course will teach you the basics of automating your network with Ansible through practical use cases and applications.

Within the past few years, more IT operations teams are applying DevOps principles to computer networks. Specifically, modern network engineers are expected to use Infrastructure as Code (IaC) philosophies and leverage IT automation tools like Ansible to define the state of their network. In this course, Getting Started with Ansible for Network Automation, you'll learn Ansible fundamentals. First, you'll explore how they apply to automate computer networks. Next, you'll learn a variety of methods to gather data from and configure network devices using basic Ansible automation techniques. Finally, you'll discover how to improve the automation you write to be scalable and reusable. When you're finished with this course, you'll have a foundational understanding of Ansible needed to begin automating tasks within your network.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Ansible Philosophy & Network Automation Applications

Install Ansible

Understand Ansible Concepts & Terminology

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores Ansible fundamentals and applies them to automate computer networks, which is standard across the industry

Taught by Christopher Hart, a recognized advocate of Ansible in network automation, which ensures students learn from an expert

Covers topics such as gathering data from and configuring network devices, which are core skills for network automation

Includes a mix of video lectures, hands-on labs, and discussions, providing diverse learning methods

Suitable for beginners with minimal knowledge of automation, providing a solid foundation

Explicitly requires students to come in with extensive background knowledge in computer networking

Reviews summary

Ansible fundamentals for network automation

According to learners, this course offers a highly practical and effective introduction to Ansible for network automation. Students frequently praise the hands-on labs and real-world examples, which are crucial for applying concepts. Many find the instructor's explanations clear and the pace appropriate, making it an excellent starting point for beginners in network automation. While some more advanced users desired greater depth, the course consistently delivers on its promise of providing a foundational understanding.

Great for basics; less depth for advanced users noted by some.

"Found the course content to be a bit too simplistic for my needs. It barely scratches the surface."

"Good course overall, but I felt some parts could have gone into more depth on advanced topics. Still, a solid introduction."

"It's a decent course for beginners, but those with some prior automation experience might find it too basic. It really is 'getting started'."

Course content remains relevant and up-to-date.

"The course material is up-to-date and relevant. I particularly liked the module on Ansible Roles."

"Newer reviews confirm that the course has kept pace with current technologies, addressing earlier concerns about outdated material."

"It feels very current and directly applicable to today's networking challenges."

Instructor provides clear explanations at an appropriate pace.

"The instructor explains concepts clearly. I feel much more confident in automating my network tasks now."

"The instructor's pace was just right, not too fast, not too slow, which made complex topics easier to grasp."

"I appreciated the step-by-step guidance through Ansible concepts. The explanations were very easy to follow."

Ideal for those new to Ansible or network automation.

"As a beginner, I found this course incredibly helpful. The instructor broke down complex topics into digestible parts. Highly recommend for beginners."

"A very good foundational course. The syllabus covers all the essentials needed to get started."

"It's a solid introduction for anyone looking to get into network automation with Ansible, even with little prior experience."

Focuses on practical application with effective labs and demos.

"The hands-on labs were incredibly useful and the instructor explains concepts clearly. I feel much more confident in automating my network tasks now."

"Absolutely loved the practical examples and how the course focuses on real-world use cases. It's a great starting point."

"The labs are well-designed and functional, helping to solidify the learning through direct application."

Initial environment setup can be a hurdle for some learners.

"The initial setup was a bit tricky for me, which took some time away from the actual learning."

"The lab environment setup was frustrating and took a lot of time away from learning. I wish there was a pre-configured environment provided."

"I spent a considerable amount of time troubleshooting the environment before even starting the lessons."

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 Getting Started with Ansible for Network Automation with these activities:

Review Networking Fundamentals

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Refreshing your knowledge of networking fundamentals will provide a strong foundation for understanding the concepts of network automation covered in the course.

Browse courses on Networking Basics

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Review your previous coursework or study materials on networking.
Focus on key concepts such as IP addressing, network protocols, and network topologies.
Complete practice exercises or quizzes to test your understanding.
Identify areas where you need additional review.

Organize Your Course Materials and Notes

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Keeping your course materials and notes well-organized will make it easier to review and retain the information covered in the course.

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Create a system for organizing your course materials.
Take comprehensive notes during lectures and readings.
Review your notes regularly and make any necessary additions or revisions.
Keep your materials accessible for easy reference.

Review the Ansible Installation Steps

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Reviewing the steps to install Ansible will familiarize you with the software and prepare you for the course's lessons.

Browse courses on Ansible

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Locate the Ansible installation documentation.
Identify the steps required to install Ansible on your system.
Follow the steps to install Ansible.
Verify that Ansible is installed successfully.

Four other activities

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Complete Practice Exercises on Ansible Syntax and Commands

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Completing practice exercises will help you master the syntax and commands used in Ansible, strengthening your foundation for the course.

Browse courses on Network Automation

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Find practice exercises on Ansible syntax and commands.
Complete the exercises and review the solutions.
Identify areas where you need additional practice.
Focus on practicing those areas until you gain proficiency.

Join a Study Group or Online Forum for Ansible Users

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Engaging with other Ansible users in a study group or online forum will provide you with opportunities to ask questions, share knowledge, and learn from others' experiences.

Browse courses on IT Automation

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Find an Ansible study group or online forum.
Join the group or forum.
Participate in discussions and ask questions.
Share your knowledge and experiences with others.

Follow a Tutorial on Creating Ansible Playbooks

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Going through a tutorial on creating Ansible playbooks will provide you with practical experience and reinforce the concepts covered in the course.

Browse courses on Ansible Playbooks

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Find a tutorial on creating Ansible playbooks.
Follow the steps in the tutorial.
Create your own simple Ansible playbook.
Test your playbook and make any necessary adjustments.

Develop an Ansible Playbook for a Specific Network Task

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Creating your own Ansible playbook for a network task will allow you to apply your knowledge, gain hands-on experience, and build a valuable tool for your future work.

Browse courses on Network Automation

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Identify a specific network task that you want to automate.
Design and write an Ansible playbook to perform the task.
Test your playbook and make any necessary adjustments.
Deploy your playbook to automate the network task.

Career center

Learners who complete Getting Started with Ansible for Network Automation will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Network Automation Engineer

A Network Automation Engineer works with software to create and manage automated processes that enhance network functions. They might use Ansible for these purposes. This course's coverage of Ansible fundamentals and its application to network automation can be useful for building a foundation in this career.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Automation Engineer

Network Analyst

A Network Analyst works to make sure that networks are working efficiently. This role sometimes involves network optimization, which may entail implementing Ansible playbooks. The concepts and techniques taught in this course can provide a foundational knowledge of Ansible to help a Network Analyst work more effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Analyst

DevOps Engineer

A DevOps Engineer is responsible for automating infrastructure. This role may involve using Ansible playbooks to provision, configure, and manage network devices. This course can help form a foundation of Ansible that is applicable to the field of DevOps engineering.

See salaries and explore the career path for DevOps Engineer

Cloud Architect

A Cloud Architect designs and implements cloud-based solutions, which may involve automating network configurations. This course can offer an introduction to Ansible and its practical applications within network automation for cloud-based solutions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Architect

Network Administrator

A Network Administrator maintains computer networks, and may use automation tools to improve network efficiency. This course covers key concepts and techniques for network automation using Ansible, which would be helpful for someone seeking to excel as a Network Administrator.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Administrator

Network Engineer

A Network Engineer designs, deploys, and manages computer networks, and may work with network automation tools like Ansible. This course's introduction to Ansible can help build the foundational knowledge needed for successful network engineering.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Engineer

DevOps Analyst

A DevOps Analyst helps to optimize the development and release process for software and applications. This may involve using automation tools, such as Ansible for network automation. This course would be useful in gaining an understanding of how to use Ansible for network management, which could be helpful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for DevOps Analyst

Software Engineer

A Software Engineer develops and maintains software, and may use automation as part of their work. Specifically, they might work with Ansible, among other automation tools. This course could help someone pursuing a career as a Software Engineer to become proficient using Ansible for network automation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Site Reliability Engineer

A Site Reliability Engineer ensures that a company's IT infrastructure is reliable and scalable. This may involve using Ansible playbooks to automate various network functions. This course could help build a foundation for using Ansible that can be applied to this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Site Reliability Engineer

Network Security Engineer

A Network Security Engineer secures computer networks. This might include implementing security measures through automation with tools like Ansible. This course would be useful for building a foundation for using Ansible, which can be helpful when working in network security.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Security Engineer

Systems Engineer

A Systems Engineer designs, deploys, and maintains computer systems. This may involve using Ansible playbooks to automate network configurations and other operations. This course provides an introduction to Ansible and its applications for network automation, which would be useful for success as a Systems Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Engineer

Automation Engineer

An Automation Engineer develops and maintains software and tools for automating various tasks. This may include working with Ansible for network automation. This course's coverage of Ansible fundamentals and techniques for network automation could be useful for those looking to pursue a career in automation engineering.

See salaries and explore the career path for Automation Engineer

Cloud Engineer

A Cloud Engineer designs, deploys, and manages cloud computing solutions. This may involve using Ansible playbooks to automate network configurations and other related tasks. This course may be useful for obtaining a foundational understanding of using Ansible for network automation that could be applied in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Engineer

Network Operations Engineer

A Network Operations Engineer maintains and operates computer networks. They may use Ansible and other tools to enhance the efficiency of their operations. This course's focus on Ansible for network automation can help prepare someone for the tasks and responsibilities of a Network Operations Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Operations Engineer

IT Consultant

An IT Consultant provides guidance and expertise on IT-related matters to organizations. This may include advising clients on the use of network automation tools such as Ansible. This course offers a foundational understanding of Ansible for network automation, making it useful for those seeking to become IT Consultants.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Consultant

Getting Started with Ansible for Network Automation

What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Ansible fundamentals for network automation

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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