I am new to ansible. I want to use it to automate network device upgrades at a large client with several locations using Cisco catalyst switches. Each location may use 2 - 3 different model switches, 2960X for access switches and 9500’s for MDF switches.
Looking for recommendations on creating an inventory file. Should this be 1 big file with each location and model switch? Should I create an inventory file for each location with the 2 different models? Should I create inventory file for each hardware model and break that out by location within the file?
If I were you I’d use a YAML rather than a INI inventory file, see the documentation and I’d start with one file and then split it up when it becomes too big, when that time comes it might be clearer what the best way of splitting it up is?
I’d group them for the first use case you have in mind, which is upgrades. Group them together by what order they have to be upgraded in, IE side of the building, secondary before primary, whatever you do in your org manually today.
Then with time you’ll grow your strategy the more use-cases you have, so you’ll probably want some kind of centralized source like a CMDB, but would still be early for that.