Ansible for Network Automation - Hands On!! from Udemy

What's in this course?

If you are a Network Engineer or Network DevOps Engineer, then this course is for you.

In this course, we will cover the basic and core concepts of Ansible, and explain them with lots of demos, including inventory, playbook, play, task, variable, modules, etc.

there also has a demo project at the end of the course, we will do a simple ansible project together.

What is so special about THIS course?

Ansible course for network engineers, we will use lots of demos related to networks, especially Cisco routers, to see how can we use Ansible to automate our daily operation jobs.

What is Ansible?

Ansible is a radically simple IT automation platform that makes your applications and systems easier to deploy. Avoid writing scripts or custom code to deploy and update your applications— automate in a language that approaches plain English, using SSH, with no agents to install on remote systems.

Legal Notice:

Ansible® and Ansible Tower® are registered trademarks of Ansible, Inc. in the United States and other countries. This course is not certified, accredited, affiliated with, nor endorsed by Ansible, Inc.

Content of this Course

1. How to setup ansible environment with WSL2 or GNS3 VM

2. Ansible Basic concepts

3. How to use Jinja2 template

4. How to write Ansible playbooks

5. Cisco network modules

6. Project Demo: How to backup cisco running cfg

What's inside

Learning objectives

Core concepts of ansible
Network modules for cisco
Basic skills to create ansible playbook
Ansible best practise
Ansible vault

Regex filters
Ansible roles
Ansible galaxy
Ansible tower and awx

Core concepts of ansible
Network modules for cisco
Basic skills to create ansible playbook
Ansible best practise
Ansible vault
Regex filters
Ansible roles
Ansible galaxy
Ansible tower and awx

Syllabus

Introduction

Ansible Introduction

Source Code for this Course

Environment Setup

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Uses Cisco routers in many demos, showing how Ansible can automate daily network operation jobs, which is directly applicable to network engineers

Covers Jinja2 templating, which is useful for automating configuration file generation and management in network devices

Includes a project demo on backing up Cisco running configurations, providing a practical application of Ansible in network automation

Explores Ansible Vault for encrypting sensitive content, which is crucial for securely managing network configurations and credentials

Demonstrates pushing Cisco backup configuration files to GitLab, integrating network automation with version control systems

Focuses on Ansible 2.9.x, so learners should be aware that newer versions of Ansible may have different features or syntax

Reviews summary

Ansible for network automation - hands on

According to students, this course provides a highly practical introduction to using Ansible specifically for network automation tasks. Learners frequently highlight the extensive hands-on labs and real-world examples using Cisco devices as the most valuable aspects, which solidify understanding. The instructor is praised for clear explanations covering core Ansible concepts essential for network engineers. While the course is seen as building a strong foundational skill set, some learners note that environment setup, particularly with WSL, can present initial challenges requiring some troubleshooting.

Provides a solid foundation in Ansible basics.

"The course covers the core Ansible concepts thoroughly, giving a good base."

"I feel confident in the fundamentals after taking this course."

"It's a great starting point for using Ansible for networking automation."

Instructor explains complex topics clearly.

"The instructor explains Ansible concepts very clearly, making it easy to follow along."

"I found the explanations to be concise and easy to understand, even for tricky parts."

"His teaching style is effective and breaks down topics well."

Content is highly relevant for network engineers.

"This course is spot on for network engineers wanting to get into automation with Ansible."

"Using Cisco devices and network modules in the demos is very practical for my job."

"The focus on automating network configuration is exactly what I needed."

Practical exercises greatly aid learning.

"The hands-on labs are the strongest part of the course and really help solidify the concepts."

"Learning by doing with the practical exercises made a huge difference in my understanding."

"I particularly appreciated the extensive labs that mirror real-world network automation tasks."

Initial setup can be challenging for some.

"Getting the lab environment configured took a significant amount of time and troubleshooting."

"I ran into some issues with the WSL setup that required extra effort to resolve."

"Setting up GNS3 and connecting everything was a bit tricky initially."

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 Ansible for Network Automation - Hands On!! with these activities:

Review YAML Syntax

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Reviewing YAML syntax will help you write correct and efficient Ansible playbooks, as Ansible uses YAML for its configuration files.

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Read a YAML tutorial or guide.
Practice writing simple YAML files.
Validate your YAML files using an online validator.

Brush up on Cisco IOS commands

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Familiarizing yourself with Cisco IOS commands will enable you to better understand and utilize the Cisco network modules within Ansible.

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Review common Cisco IOS commands for configuration and monitoring.
Practice using these commands in a Cisco IOS simulator or lab environment.
Consult the Cisco documentation for specific command syntax and usage.

Read 'Network Warrior' by Gary A. Donhue

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Reading 'Network Warrior' will provide a solid foundation in network engineering principles, which is essential for effectively using Ansible for network automation.

View Network Warrior on Amazon

Show steps

Obtain a copy of 'Network Warrior'.
Read the chapters relevant to your network environment and interests.
Take notes on key concepts and configurations.

Four other activities

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Practice writing Ansible playbooks for basic network tasks

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Practicing writing Ansible playbooks will reinforce your understanding of Ansible syntax and modules, and help you develop your automation skills.

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Write playbooks to configure basic network settings on Cisco devices.
Test your playbooks in a lab environment or simulator.
Debug and refine your playbooks based on the results.

Create a cheat sheet of common Ansible modules for network automation

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Creating a cheat sheet will help you quickly reference and remember the most important Ansible modules for network automation tasks.

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Identify the most commonly used Ansible modules for network automation.
Summarize the purpose, syntax, and options for each module.
Organize the information in a clear and concise format.

Automate network device configuration backups

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Starting a project to automate network device configuration backups will allow you to apply your Ansible skills to a real-world problem and gain practical experience.

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Design an Ansible playbook to backup network device configurations.
Implement the playbook and test it in a lab environment.
Schedule the playbook to run automatically on a regular basis.
Store the backups in a secure location.

Read 'Ansible for DevOps' by Jeff Geerling

Show steps

Reading 'Ansible for DevOps' will provide a deeper understanding of Ansible concepts and best practices, helping you become a more proficient network automation engineer.

View Ansible for DevOps: Server and configuration... on Amazon

Show steps

Obtain a copy of 'Ansible for DevOps'.
Read the chapters relevant to your network automation goals.
Experiment with the examples and exercises in the book.

Career center

Learners who complete Ansible for Network Automation - Hands On!! will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Network Automation Engineer

As a Network Automation Engineer, you'll design, implement, and manage automated processes to improve network efficiency and reliability. This course directly aligns with the core skills required for this role, focusing on using Ansible to automate network tasks. By learning how to create Ansible playbooks and use Cisco network modules as taught in this course, you will be equipped to automate configurations, backups, and other routine tasks on Cisco routers. This course specifically caters to network engineers, making it an ideal starting point for a career as a Network Automation Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Automation Engineer

Automation Engineer

Automation Engineers design and implement automated systems and processes across various industries. This course directly aligns with the skills needed to automate network tasks using Ansible. The course helps build the ability to create Ansible playbooks, use network modules, and automate configurations. The hands-on demos and project on backing up Cisco configurations will equip an Automation Engineer to develop and deploy automated solutions for network management. The fact that this course focuses on network engineers makes it very relevant for an Automation Engineer working with network infrastructure.

See salaries and explore the career path for Automation Engineer

Network Engineer

Network Engineers design, implement, and manage computer networks. This course enhances a Network Engineer's skills by introducing network automation. The course helps build the ability to automate tasks using Ansible, including configuration management and backups. The course's focus on Cisco network modules directly translates to increased efficiency and reduced manual errors in managing Cisco devices, which is a very common need for Network Engineers. A Network Engineer who takes this course will expand their ability to deliver and maintain network solutions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Engineer

Network Security Engineer

Network Security Engineers focus on securing network infrastructure. As a Network Security Engineer, tasks are to implement and manage security measures on network devices. This course on Ansible for network automation directly supports this role by providing skills to automate security configurations and compliance checks on Cisco devices. The course's hands-on approach and focus on Cisco network modules makes it an ideal resource. A Network Security Engineer who takes this course will be better equipped to automate security tasks and improve overall network security posture.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Security Engineer

Infrastructure Engineer

Infrastructure Engineers are responsible for designing, building, and maintaining IT infrastructure. This course is directly relevant to Infrastructure Engineers who want to automate infrastructure management tasks. This course helps build the ability to use Ansible for configuration management, software deployments, and other routine operations. The hands-on demos and practical project equip Infrastructure Engineers to develop and deploy automated solutions for infrastructure management. Because this course is geared towards network engineers, it may be especially useful for an Infrastructure Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Infrastructure Engineer

Technical Consultant

Technical Consultants provide expert advice and guidance to clients on technical issues and solutions. This course may be attractive to Technical Consultants who advise clients on network automation strategies. The course helps build an understanding of how Ansible can be used to automate network tasks, including configuration management and backups. The hands-on demos and project work may equip a Technical Consultant to recommend and implement Ansible-based solutions for their clients. The specific focus on Cisco devices makes this course particularly relevant for consultants working with Cisco-heavy environments.

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Network Architect

Network Architects design and plan network infrastructure. A Network Architect can use the skills taught in this course to design networks that are easily automated and managed using Ansible. The course provides hands-on experience with Ansible playbooks and network modules, which may help a Network Architect understand how to implement automation at the design phase. The project demo, which involves backing up Cisco configurations, may allow a Network Architect to design more robust and manageable network solutions. This course may broaden a Network Architect's understanding of automation possibilities.

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DevOps Engineer

DevOps Engineers work to streamline software development and deployment processes, automating tasks and improving collaboration between development and operations teams. This course may be valuable for DevOps Engineers as it teaches Ansible, a popular tool for automating infrastructure and application deployments. The ability to create Ansible playbooks and use modules to manage configurations, which is taught within this course, helps build a robust Infrastructure as Code (IaC) pipeline. The course content and hands on demos may help a DevOps Engineer automate network configurations.

See salaries and explore the career path for DevOps Engineer

Security Engineer

Security Engineers are responsible for protecting an organization's networks and systems from security threats. This course may be useful for Security Engineers looking to automate security-related tasks. Ansible can be used to automate security configurations, patch management, and compliance checks. The course's coverage of Ansible concepts and playbook creation may empower Security Engineers to automate these tasks. The hands-on demos and practical project may allow Security Engineers to implement automated security measures more effectively.

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Cloud Engineer

Cloud Engineers are responsible for designing, building, and managing cloud-based infrastructure and services. This course may be useful for Cloud Engineers, as it covers Ansible, a tool often used for automating cloud deployments and configurations. The course's coverage of Ansible concepts, playbook creation, and module usage may give Cloud Engineers the skills to automate the provisioning and management of cloud resources. A Cloud Engineer who takes this course may be better equipped to implement Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and automate cloud infrastructure tasks.

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IT Manager

IT Managers oversee the IT infrastructure and operations of an organization. This course may be valuable for IT Managers looking to implement network automation to improve efficiency and reduce costs. The course's coverage of Ansible concepts, playbook creation, and network modules may help IT Managers understand how automation can streamline network management. The hands-on demos and project work help build a practical understanding of Ansible's capabilities. The course may enable IT Managers to make informed decisions about adopting Ansible for network automation.

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Systems Administrator

Systems Administrators are responsible for maintaining and managing computer systems and servers. This course may be useful for Systems Administrators looking to automate their daily tasks. It teaches how to use Ansible for configuration management, software deployment, and other routine operations. The focus on core Ansible concepts and playbook creation may help Systems Administrators streamline their workflows. This course's hands-on approach and practical demos will likely improve a Systems Administrator's ability to manage systems efficiently.

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Site Reliability Engineer

Site Reliability Engineers (SREs) focus on ensuring the reliability and performance of systems. This course may be helpful for SREs who want to automate network-related tasks to improve system reliability. The course's focus on Ansible and network modules may empower SREs to automate network configurations, monitor network performance, and quickly resolve network issues. The hands-on approach and real-world project work may help SREs implement automation strategies to enhance system uptime and performance. An SRE might consider this course to improve their networking ability.

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Solutions Architect

Solutions Architects design and implement IT solutions that meet business needs. This course may be helpful for Solutions Architects who need to incorporate network automation into their designs. Understanding how Ansible can be used to automate network configurations and deployments, as is covered in this course, may improve a Solutions Architect's ability to create scalable and efficient solutions. The focus on Cisco network modules may be useful for architects designing solutions that include Cisco devices. This course may broaden a Solution Architect's skill set.

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IT Support Specialist

IT Support Specialists provide technical assistance to users. This course may be useful for IT Support Specialists who want to automate common troubleshooting and maintenance tasks. By learning how to use Ansible to automate network configurations and system updates, as taught by this course, an IT Support Specialist will be prepared to resolve issues quicker. The knowledge of Ansible within this course may allow for career growth for an IT Support Specialist. This course may enable IT support specialists to improve their efficiency and responsiveness.

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Ansible for Network Automation - Hands On!!

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Ansible for network automation - hands on

Activities

Career center

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