In this video, I’ll show you how easy it is to take control of patching across both Linux and Windows systems using Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform.
We’ll walk through a complete, automated workflow that:
Builds a dynamic inventory from VMware, AWS, or your CMDB
Classifies systems by OS, environment, and maintenance window
Applies patches with built-in safety checks
Validates success, rolls back on failure, and generates compliance reports
What You’ll Learn:
Step 1 — Inventory:
Use Ansible’s dynamic inventory plugins to gather live host data and group systems intelligently with keyed_group.
Step 2 — Schedule:
Create job templates in Ansible Automation Platform that run during approved maintenance windows—integrate with ServiceNow if needed.
Step 3 — Patch:
Linux: Use dnf or apt, snapshot LVM volumes, pause services, and optionally use RHEL’s image mode.
Windows: Use ansible.windows.win_updates, apply security-only patches, and reboot only when required. Employ rollback logic with snapshots or DISM if needed.
Step 4 — Report:
Track everything in the Automation Dashboard and export PDF reports or push to Slack with a single click.
Why It Matters:
Agentless: No software to install or maintain
Extensible: Add checks, custom logic, and integrations
Visible: Real-time dashboards for security and compliance
Top 3 Takeaways:
Centralize patching across heterogeneous fleets
Standardize with repeatable playbooks and roles
Visualize with dashboards that prove compliance
With Ansible, Patch Tuesday (or any day) becomes just another job in the queue. Stay secure, stay compliant—and take back your evenings.