10 Essential Ansible Modules for Kubernetes Administration

In the ever-evolving landscape of container orchestration, Kubernetes has emerged as a leading platform for managing containerized applications. As organizations embrace Kubernetes, automation becomes crucial for efficient management and scaling. Ansible, a powerful open-source automation tool, seamlessly integrates with Kubernetes, offering a robust solution for administrators. In this article, we'll explore 10 essential Ansible modules that streamline Kubernetes administration, making tasks more manageable and scalable.

1. Ansible and Kubernetes Integration:

Before diving into the essential modules, let's ensure Ansible and Kubernetes are seamlessly integrated. Ensure Ansible is installed, and the Kubernetes cluster configuration is set up. Use the following command to install Ansible:

$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install ansible

Once installed, set up the Kubernetes configuration:

$ mkdir -p ~/.kube
$ cp /etc/kubernetes/admin.conf ~/.kube/config

Now, Ansible can interact with the Kubernetes cluster.

2. Kubernetes Facts Module:

The k8s_facts module allows administrators to gather information about the Kubernetes cluster. This information includes details about nodes, pods, services, and more.

- name: Gather Kubernetes Facts
  hosts: localhost
  tasks:
    - name: Get Cluster Info
      k8s_facts:

Execute the playbook with:

$ ansible-playbook gather_k8s_info.yml

3. Managing Deployments with k8s Module:

Deploying applications in Kubernetes is a common task. The k8s Ansible module simplifies this process. Create a playbook as follows:

- name: Deploy Nginx
  hosts: localhost
  tasks:
    - name: Create Nginx Deployment
      k8s:
        state: present
        definition:
          apiVersion: apps/v1
          kind: Deployment
          metadata:
            name: nginx-deployment
          spec:
            replicas: 3
            selector:
              matchLabels:
                app: nginx
            template:
              metadata:
                labels:
                  app: nginx
              spec:
                containers:
                  - name: nginx
                    image: nginx:latest

Execute with:

$ ansible-playbook deploy_nginx.yml

4. Scaling Deployments:

Scaling applications is pivotal for handling varying workloads. Utilize the k8s_scale module:

- name: Scale Nginx Deployment
  hosts: localhost
  tasks:
    - name: Scale Deployment
      k8s_scale:
        name: nginx-deployment
        replicas: 5

Run the playbook with:

$ ansible-playbook scale_nginx.yml

5. Configuring Services:

Services in Kubernetes enable communication between different parts of an application. Use the k8s_service module:

- name: Expose Nginx Deployment
  hosts: localhost
  tasks:
    - name: Expose Service
      k8s_service:
        state: present
        definition:
          apiVersion: v1
          kind: Service
          metadata:
            name: nginx-service
          spec:
            selector:
              app: nginx
            ports:
              - protocol: TCP
                port: 80
                targetPort: 80

Execute with:

$ ansible-playbook expose_nginx.yml

6. Creating ConfigMaps:

Configuration management is simplified with the k8s_config module. Manage ConfigMaps using the following playbook:

- name: Create ConfigMap
  hosts: localhost
  tasks:
    - name: Create ConfigMap
      k8s_config:
        state: present
        definition:
          apiVersion: v1
          kind: ConfigMap
          metadata:
            name: app-config
          data:
            config.ini: |
              key1=value1
              key2=value2

Run the playbook with:

$ ansible-playbook create_configmap.yml

7. Handling Secrets:

Safeguard sensitive information using the k8s_secret module. Create a playbook like this:

- name: Create Secret
  hosts: localhost
  tasks:
    - name: Create Secret
      k8s_secret:
        state: present
        definition:
          apiVersion: v1
          kind: Secret
          metadata:
            name: app-secret
          type: Opaque
          data:
            username: YWRtaW4=
            password: cGFzc3dvcmQ=

Execute with:

$ ansible-playbook create_secret.yml

8. Managing Persistent Volumes:

When dealing with data persistence, the k8s_persistent_volume module comes in handy. Define a playbook as follows:

- name: Create Persistent Volume
  hosts: localhost
  tasks:
    - name: Create Persistent Volume
      k8s_persistent_volume:
        state: present
        definition:
          apiVersion: v1
          kind: PersistentVolume
          metadata:
            name: app-pv
          spec:
            capacity:
              storage: 1Gi
            accessModes:
              - ReadWriteOnce
            hostPath:
              path: "/mnt/data"

Run the playbook with:

$ ansible-playbook create_persistent_volume.yml

9. Managing Persistent Volume Claims:

Utilize the k8s_persistent_volume_claim module to manage persistent volume claims:

- name: Create Persistent Volume Claim
  hosts: localhost
  tasks:
    - name: Create Persistent Volume Claim
      k8s_persistent_volume_claim:
        state: present
        definition:
          apiVersion: v1
          kind: PersistentVolumeClaim
          metadata:
            name: app-pvc
          spec:
            accessModes:
              - ReadWriteOnce
            resources:
              requests:
                storage: 1Gi

Execute with:

$ ansible-playbook create_persistent_volume_claim.yml

10. Cleaning Up Resources:

Lastly, effective administration includes resource cleanup. Leverage the k8s module for deletion:

- name: Delete Nginx Deployment and Service
  hosts: localhost
  tasks:
    - name: Delete Deployment
      k8s:
        state: absent
        definition:
          apiVersion: apps/v1
          kind: Deployment
          metadata:
            name: nginx-deployment

    - name: Delete Service
      k8s:
        state: absent
        definition:
          apiVersion: v1
          kind: Service
          metadata:
            name: nginx-service

Execute with:

$ ansible-playbook cleanup_resources.yml