Introduction

• Importance of automation in Linux server management
• Overview of Ansible and its benefits
• Introduce the purpose and structure of the ebook

Chapter 1: Getting Started with Ansible

• Understanding Ansible architecture
• Installing Ansible on Linux
• Configuring Ansible for first-time use
• Overview of Ansible’s YAML syntax
• Writing your first Ansible playbook

Chapter 2: Ansible Inventory and Host Configuration

• Introduction to the inventory file
• Defining hosts and host groups
• Specifying variables for hosts and groups
• Dynamic inventory management
• Practical examples and best practices

Chapter 3: Working with Ansible Modules

• Exploring Ansible’s module library
• Using common modules for system management tasks
• Module parameters and options
• Executing commands and scripts with Ansible
• Writing custom modules for specific use cases

Chapter 4: Playbooks and Tasks

• Understanding the structure of a playbook
• Writing tasks to perform specific actions
• Using conditionals and loops in playbooks
• Implementing error handling and retries
• Organizing playbooks for readability and reusability

Chapter 5: Ansible Roles and Role-based Tasks

• Introduction to Ansible roles
• Organizing tasks, files, and templates within roles
• Sharing and reusing roles from Ansible Galaxy
• Implementing role-based configuration management
• Best practices for creating and using roles effectively

Chapter 6: Ansible Vault and Security

• Securing sensitive data with Ansible Vault
• Encrypting and decrypting files with Vault
• Using encrypted variables in playbooks and templates
• Best practices for managing secrets in Ansible

Chapter 7: Ansible and Infrastructure as Code

• Overview of Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
• Integrating Ansible with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• Provisioning infrastructure with Ansible
• Managing and scaling infrastructure with Ansible
• Advanced use cases and best practices

Chapter 8: Ansible and Continuous Integration/Deployment (CI/CD)

• Integrating Ansible with CI/CD pipelines
• Automating application deployment with Ansible
• Implementing rolling updates and zero-downtime deployments
• Monitoring and managing Ansible-driven CI/CD processes
• Tips for streamlining DevOps workflows with Ansible

Conclusion

• Recap of key concepts and learnings
• Emphasize the power and flexibility of Ansible
• Encourage readers to continue exploring and mastering Ansible

Appendix: Useful Ansible Resources

• Recommended blogs, websites, and forums
• Books and video tutorials for further learning
• Ansible command reference and cheat sheet
• Glossary of commonly used Ansible terms