Top 7 Ansible Playbooks for Infrastructure Automation

In the ever-evolving landscape of IT infrastructure management, automation has become a crucial aspect for efficiency and scalability. Ansible, an open-source automation tool, has gained immense popularity for its simplicity and flexibility. In this article, we will explore the top 7 Ansible Playbooks that can streamline your infrastructure automation processes, making your tasks more manageable and less time-consuming.

1. Web Server Deployment:
   One of the most common use cases for Ansible is deploying web servers. To automate this process, create a playbook that installs and configures the necessary software, such as Apache or Nginx. Here's a snippet to get you started:

   ---
   - name: Deploy Web Server
     hosts: web_servers
     tasks:
       - name: Install Apache
         apt:
           name: apache2
           state: present
       - name: Start Apache service
         service:
           name: apache2
           state: started
   

   Customize the playbook according to your needs, and execute it with the command:

   ansible-playbook web_server_playbook.yml
   

2. Database Setup:
   Simplify database management by creating a playbook for database setup. Whether it's MySQL, PostgreSQL, or another database system, Ansible can handle it. An example playbook snippet:

   ---
   - name: Setup Database
     hosts: db_servers
     tasks:
       - name: Install PostgreSQL
         apt:
           name: postgresql
           state: present
       - name: Start PostgreSQL service
         service:
           name: postgresql
           state: started
   

   Execute the playbook with:

   ansible-playbook database_setup_playbook.yml
   

3. User Management:
   Ansible makes user management across multiple servers a breeze. Create a playbook to add or remove users and manage their permissions. An example playbook snippet:

   ---
   - name: Manage Users
     hosts: all
     tasks:
       - name: Add User
         user:
           name: john_doe
           state: present
           groups: sudo
       - name: Remove User
         user:
           name: unwanted_user
           state: absent
   

   Execute the playbook with:

   ansible-playbook user_management_playbook.yml
   

4. Security Hardening:
   Strengthen the security of your servers with a playbook that implements essential security measures. This may include firewall configuration, updates, and other security-related tasks. A snippet example:

   ---
   - name: Harden Security
     hosts: all
     tasks:
       - name: Update packages
         apt:
           update_cache: yes
           upgrade: dist
       - name: Configure firewall
         ufw:
           rule: allow
           port: 22
   

   Execute the playbook with:

   ansible-playbook security_hardening_playbook.yml
   

5. Load Balancer Configuration:
   For scalable and resilient infrastructures, load balancers are crucial. Automate the configuration of load balancers with Ansible. An example playbook snippet:

   ---
   - name: Configure Load Balancer
     hosts: load_balancers
     tasks:
       - name: Install HAProxy
         apt:
           name: haproxy
           state: present
       - name: Configure HAProxy
         template:
           src: haproxy.cfg.j2
           dest: /etc/haproxy/haproxy.cfg
         notify: Restart HAProxy
     handlers:
       - name: Restart HAProxy
         service:
           name: haproxy
           state: restarted
   

   Execute the playbook with:

   ansible-playbook load_balancer_playbook.yml
   

6. Docker Container Orchestration:
   Ansible seamlessly integrates with Docker for container orchestration. Simplify the deployment and management of Docker containers with a dedicated playbook. A snippet example:

   ---
   - name: Docker Orchestration
     hosts: docker_servers
     tasks:
       - name: Install Docker
         apt:
           name: docker.io
           state: present
       - name: Deploy Docker Compose
         docker_compose:
           project_src: /path/to/docker-compose
   

   Execute the playbook with:

   ansible-playbook docker_orchestration_playbook.yml
   

7. Backup and Restore:
   Automate the crucial task of backup and restore procedures with Ansible. Ensure your data's safety and streamline recovery processes. A snippet example:

   ---
   - name: Backup and Restore
     hosts: backup_servers
     tasks:
       - name: Backup
         command: /path/to/backup_script.sh
       - name: Restore
         command: /path/to/restore_script.sh
   

   Execute the playbook with:

   ansible-playbook backup_restore_playbook.yml
   

So, Ansible provides a powerful platform for infrastructure automation, and these seven playbooks can significantly enhance your operational efficiency. Tailor them to your specific needs, combine them, and witness the transformative power of Ansible in managing your IT infrastructure.