Step-by-Step Guide to Using Ansible with Windows

In the dynamic landscape of IT infrastructure management, Ansible has emerged as a powerful tool for automation, streamlining repetitive tasks, and ensuring consistency across servers. While Ansible is renowned for its compatibility with Linux environments, it's equally adept at handling Windows systems. This step-by-step guide aims to demystify the process of using Ansible with Windows, empowering both beginners and seasoned professionals to harness its capabilities seamlessly.

1. Setting Up the Environment:
   Before diving into Ansible-Windows orchestration, ensure that you have Ansible installed on a Linux machine or a Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). Additionally, make sure the Windows machines you intend to manage are reachable and properly configured for remote management.

2. Configuring WinRM on Windows:
   Ansible communicates with Windows machines through Windows Remote Management (WinRM). Configure WinRM on the Windows servers by running the following PowerShell command:

   winrm quickconfig
   

   This command enables the basic WinRM settings required for Ansible to establish a connection.

3. Installing Required Modules:
   Ansible provides a set of modules specifically designed for managing Windows systems. Ensure you have these modules installed by executing:

   ansible-galaxy collection install ansible.windows
   

   This command fetches the necessary modules, including win_updates, win_service, and win_shell.

4. Creating Ansible Playbooks for Windows:
   Craft Ansible playbooks tailored for Windows automation. An example playbook might look like this:

   ---
   - name: Windows Configuration
     hosts: windows_servers
     tasks:
       - name: Ensure a service is running
         ansible.windows.win_service:
           name: servicename
           state: started
   

   Replace "windows_servers" with your Windows server group and customize the tasks accordingly.

5. Running Ansible Playbooks:
   Execute your playbook using the following command:

   ansible-playbook your_playbook.yml
   

   This command deploys your configuration to the specified Windows servers.

6. Handling Windows Updates:
   Automate Windows updates using Ansible by incorporating the win_updates module into your playbook. For example:

   - name: Update Windows
     hosts: windows_servers
     tasks:
       - name: Install updates
         ansible.windows.win_updates:
           category_names:
             - SecurityUpdates
             - UpdateRollups
             - CriticalUpdates
   

   Customize the playbook to suit your update preferences.

7. Executing PowerShell Scripts:
   Leverage Ansible to run PowerShell scripts on Windows machines. Include the win_shell module in your playbook like so:

   - name: Execute PowerShell Script
     hosts: windows_servers
     tasks:
       - name: Run PowerShell script
         ansible.windows.win_shell: |
           $scriptPath = "C:\path\to\your\script.ps1"
           & $scriptPath
   

   Replace the script path with your actual PowerShell script.

More Examples:

• Configuring Firewalls on Windows:
  Use the ansible.windows.win_firewall_rule module to manage Windows Firewall rules. Create rules based on your security requirements within your Ansible playbook.

• Managing Windows Users and Groups:
  Employ Ansible to create, modify, or delete users and groups on Windows machines. The ansible.windows.win_user and ansible.windows.win_group modules facilitate these operations.