Ansible first steps

First install Ansible on master node. On Manjaro Linux you use this:

sudo pacman -Syyu ansible

Make sure all managed nodes can connect via SSH without password (NB may use different ports).

mkdir ~/ansible
cd ansible
ansible-config init --disabled -t all > ansible.cfg
sudo vim /etc/ansible/hosts

In this file (the inventory) list your nodes’ IP addresses and SSH ports:

[ubuntu_webservers]
xx.xxx.xxx.xxx ansible_port=xxxx
xx.xxx.xxx.xx ansible_port=xxxx
xx.xxx.xxx.xxx ansible_port=xxxx
xx.xxx.xxx.xx ansible_port=xxxx
xx.xxx.xxx.xxx ansible_port=xxxx

Then run a test:

ansible ubuntu_webservers -m ping

and see something like:

xx.xxx.xxx.xxx | SUCCESS => {
    "ansible_facts": {
        "discovered_interpreter_python": "/usr/bin/python3"
    },
    "changed": false,
    "ping": "pong"
}
xx.xxx.xxx.xx | SUCCESS => {
    "ansible_facts": {
        "discovered_interpreter_python": "/usr/bin/python3"
    },
    "changed": false,
    "ping": "pong"
}
# etc

Get info on the managed nodes.

ansible -m setup ubuntu_webservers

Update software on managed nodes.

NB fails unless sudo password same on all managed nodes.

ansible ubuntu_webservers -m apt -a "upgrade=yes update_cache=yes cache_valid_time=86400" --become --verbose -u paul -K

You can also force a reboot where required (TBA).