Ansible-Windows

A repo to test Ansible in a Windows environment.

Installation

1. Clone this repo, eg: git clone git@github.com:adamrushuk/Ansible-Windows.git
2. To build an Ansible Control node and two Windows hosts, ensure you're in the root directory of this repo, then run vagrant up

Test Windows Connectivity

To confirm Windows connectivity, follow the steps below:

1. SSH into the Ansible Control VM:
   vagrant ssh ansible01
2. Navigate to ansible directory:
   cd /vagrant/ansible/
3. To use the win_ping module on all hosts in the host inventory file, run:
   ansible all -i hosts -m win_ping
4. To collect useful information (Ansible Facts) on all hosts, use the setup module:
   ansible all -i hosts -m setup
5. Facts for the Ansible Control node can be collected by running:
   ansible localhost -i hosts -m setup

Test Playbooks

Default values have been specified for the Inventory file and Roles Path in ansible.cfg:

[defaults]
inventory = hosts
roles_path = ${PWD}/roles

Test a Simple Playbook

This playbook starts a service, enables telnet, and shows a different message depending on if the telnet feature was already installed or not.

1. Navigate to ansible directory:
   cd /vagrant/ansible/
2. Run playbook:
   ansible-playbook testplaybook.yml

Test DSC and Delegation

This playbook uses serial: 1 to apply configuration to one host at a time. delegate_to: "{{ groups.webservers[0] }}" is used so the resource is only executed on groups.webservers[0], even when targetting other hosts.

1. Navigate to ansible directory:
   cd /vagrant/ansible/
2. Run playbook, showing verbose messages (-v):
   ansible-playbook invokedsc.yml -v

NOTE: You can increase verbose mode (-vvv for more, -vvvv to enable connection debugging).

Test a Role

This playbook uses a role called common to set the timezone and region / language settings.

1. Navigate to ansible directory:
   cd /vagrant/ansible/
2. Run playbook:
   ansible-playbook use_role.yml

Test a Site-level Playbook

This playbook uses the site.yml playbook, which contains the webservers.yml playbook. Other playbooks could be used here if required.

The webservers.yml playbook contains the common role, and also installs the IIS Windows Feature. A conditional reboot task is included.

1. Navigate to ansible directory:
   cd /vagrant/ansible/
2. Run playbook:
   ansible-playbook site.yml -v