Step-by-Step Guide: Using Ansible with Windows

Ansible is a powerful open-source automation tool that simplifies complex tasks, making them more manageable and efficient. While traditionally associated with Linux environments, Ansible has expanded its capabilities to include Windows systems. In this step-by-step guide, we'll explore how to use Ansible with Windows, enabling seamless automation across diverse IT environments.

1. Setting Up Your Environment:
Before diving into Ansible and Windows integration, ensure you have Ansible installed on a Linux control node. You can use tools like Cygwin or the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) to set up Ansible on a Windows machine.

# Install Ansible on Ubuntu
sudo apt update
sudo apt install ansible

2. Configuring Ansible for Windows:
Ansible requires some configuration adjustments to work smoothly with Windows hosts. Edit the Ansible configuration file (ansible.cfg) to include the necessary settings.

# ansible.cfg
[defaults]
inventory = ./inventory.ini
ask_pass = True
transport = winrm

3. Creating an Inventory File:
Define your Windows hosts in an inventory file. Specify the connection type, username, and password for each Windows machine.

# inventory.ini
[windows]
win_host1 ansible_user=admin ansible_password=your_password
win_host2 ansible_user=admin ansible_password=your_password

4. Testing the Connection:
Ensure Ansible can communicate with your Windows hosts by using the win_ping module.

ansible windows -i inventory.ini -m win_ping

5. Executing Basic Commands:
Run simple commands on Windows hosts using Ansible's win_shell module.

ansible windows -i inventory.ini -m win_shell -a "Get-Process"

6. Installing Software:
Leverage Ansible to install software on Windows machines effortlessly.

ansible windows -i inventory.ini -m win_chocolatey -a "name=googlechrome state=present"

7. Configuring Windows Features:
Modify and configure Windows features using Ansible.

ansible windows -i inventory.ini -m win_feature -a "name=Web-Server state=present"

8. Managing Services:
Control Windows services with Ansible for streamlined automation.

ansible windows -i inventory.ini -m win_service -a "name=spooler state=stopped"

9. Handling Reboots:
Manage reboots seamlessly with Ansible's win_reboot module.

ansible windows -i inventory.ini -m win_reboot -a "post_reboot_delay=300"

10. Advanced Playbooks:
Craft sophisticated Ansible playbooks to orchestrate complex tasks across Windows environments.

# playbook.yml
- name: Install and Configure Software
  hosts: windows
  tasks:
    - name: Install Notepad++
      win_chocolatey:
        name: notepadplusplus
        state: present

Execute the playbook with:

ansible-playbook -i inventory.ini playbook.yml

This step-by-step guide has equipped you with the knowledge to seamlessly integrate Ansible with Windows, unlocking a world of automation possibilities. Whether you're managing configurations, installing software, or orchestrating complex tasks, Ansible provides a robust solution for Windows automation. Now, go ahead and automate with confidence!