15 Useful Ansible Playbooks for Kubernetes Operations

Ansible, the powerful open-source automation tool, has become an indispensable asset for managing complex IT infrastructures. When it comes to orchestrating and automating tasks in Kubernetes environments, Ansible Playbooks emerge as a reliable solution. In this article, we'll delve into 15 incredibly useful Ansible Playbooks tailored for Kubernetes operations. Whether you're a seasoned DevOps engineer or just venturing into the world of Kubernetes, these playbooks will streamline your operations and enhance your workflow.

1. Installing Kubernetes Components

To kick off your Kubernetes automation journey, the first playbook focuses on installing essential components. Save this playbook as install_k8s_components.yml:

- hosts: k8s_cluster
  become: true
  tasks:
    - name: Install Docker
      apt:
        name: docker.io
        state: present

    - name: Install Kubernetes components
      apt:
        name: kubelet kubeadm kubectl
        state: present

2. Setting Up a Kubernetes Cluster

Once you have the components installed, use the following playbook (setup_k8s_cluster.yml) to initialize a Kubernetes cluster:

- hosts: master
  become: true
  tasks:
    - name: Initialize Kubernetes Master
      command: kubeadm init

3. Joining Nodes to the Cluster

Expanding the cluster is seamless with the playbook join_k8s_nodes.yml:

- hosts: nodes
  become: true
  tasks:
    - name: Join Node to Cluster
      command: "{{ hostvars['master'].kubeadm_join_command.stdout }}"

4. Deploying Applications

Deploying applications is a breeze with this playbook (deploy_app.yml):

- hosts: k8s_cluster
  become: true
  tasks:
    - name: Deploy NGINX
      k8s:
        state: present
        definition: nginx-deployment.yml

5. Scaling Deployments

Easily scale your deployments with the scale_app.yml playbook:

- hosts: k8s_cluster
  become: true
  tasks:
    - name: Scale NGINX Deployment
      k8s_scale:
        name: nginx-deployment
        replicas: 3

6. Rolling Updates

Ensure seamless updates with rolling_update.yml:

- hosts: k8s_cluster
  become: true
  tasks:
    - name: Update NGINX Deployment
      k8s:
        state: reloaded
        definition: nginx-deployment.yml

7. Configuring Persistent Storage

Handle persistent storage configurations effortlessly with persistent_storage.yml:

- hosts: k8s_cluster
  become: true
  tasks:
    - name: Create Persistent Volume
      k8s:
        state: present
        definition: persistent-volume.yml

8. Backup and Restore

Safeguard your cluster data with backup_and_restore.yml:

- hosts: master
  become: true
  tasks:
    - name: Backup etcd
      command: etcdctl snapshot save /tmp/snapshot.db

9. Managing Secrets

Securely manage secrets with manage_secrets.yml:

- hosts: k8s_cluster
  become: true
  tasks:
    - name: Create Secret
      k8s:
        state: present
        definition: secret.yml

10. Network Policies

Implement network policies using network_policies.yml:

- hosts: k8s_cluster
  become: true
  tasks:
    - name: Apply Network Policy
      k8s:
        state: present
        definition: network-policy.yml

11. Monitoring with Prometheus

Monitor your Kubernetes cluster with monitor_with_prometheus.yml:

- hosts: k8s_cluster
  become: true
  tasks:
    - name: Deploy Prometheus
      k8s:
        state: present
        definition: prometheus-deployment.yml

12. Logging with Fluentd

Facilitate centralized logging with log_with_fluentd.yml:

- hosts: k8s_cluster
  become: true
  tasks:
    - name: Deploy Fluentd
      k8s:
        state: present
        definition: fluentd-deployment.yml

13. Horizontal Pod Autoscaling

Automatically adjust your pod count with horizontal_pod_autoscaling.yml:

- hosts: k8s_cluster
  become: true
  tasks:
    - name: Apply Horizontal Pod Autoscaler
      k8s:
        state: present
        definition: hpa.yml

14. Upgrading Kubernetes Version

Keep your cluster up-to-date with upgrade_k8s_version.yml:

- hosts: k8s_cluster
  become: true
  tasks:
    - name: Upgrade Kubernetes Version
      command: kubeadm upgrade apply v1.x.y

15. Removing Kubernetes Cluster

When it's time to decommission, utilize remove_k8s_cluster.yml:

- hosts: k8s_cluster
  become: true
  tasks:
    - name: Reset Kubernetes Cluster
      command: kubeadm reset -f

These Ansible Playbooks are just a glimpse into the powerful capabilities that automation can bring to Kubernetes operations. Feel free to customize and expand upon these playbooks to suit your specific needs.