Ansible for Network Engineers - Beginners Guide

learn ansible install options across operating systems, including linux on a vm or direct install, with windows or macos users choosing suitable environments.

Install ansible on Windows using the WSL Ubuntu app from the Microsoft Store. Create a Unix user, run sudo apt-get update, then pip install ansible, and verify with ansible --version.

Install Ubuntu in a VirtualBox VM by downloading the Ubuntu ISO, creating a Linux 64-bit VM, booting from the ISO, completing installation, and using the terminal.

Provide macOS installation guidance for Mac users, linking Apple installation documentation and inviting tips to share with the class in the Ansible for Network Engineers course.

Use GNS3 to install and import the network automation appliance, configure IP addresses, and verify connectivity to automate routers, switches, and other devices.

Learn basic Linux navigation and file editing to prepare for Ansible use: change directories, list and view files, create and edit with nano, and use sudo for elevated privileges.

Create a host inventory file in your home directory, define address groups and IP ranges for automation, save with nano, and verify with cat to prepare the upcoming Ansible configuration.

Create and customize the Ansible config file, point to the host inventory, disable host key checking, set a 5-second connection timeout, and organize group_vars with devices.yaml for OS checks.

Learn to run Ansible raw commands across multiple devices, verify SSH connectivity, configure user accounts, and filter command output with grep to identify hostnames, MAC addresses, and running configurations.

Learn how to create and run Ansible playbooks to automate Cisco device configurations, including loading and applying ACL lines, clearing old ACLs, and verifying changes across multiple lab devices.

Create a backup workflow for network device configurations with an Ansible playbook, outputting 'show run' results to timestamped files in a dedicated show outputs directory.

Discover valuable learning resources with a bonus lecture that links to Cisco CCMA and Cisco cyber ops courses, encouraging enrollment via the lecture resources.