Use Ansible for post-provisioning setup?

Archives Ansible Project
,
1

Hello, all.
I hope this is the correct group to post this. I am trying to learn more about Ansible.
I wanted to find if it is possible to use Ansible to remotely push configuration and software installs to machines with a brand new OS (Linux) installed, specifically desktop/workstation installs.
I often deploy virtual machines running either Ubuntu Desktop or Server, Fedora, and CentOS at home for testing and usually every time there’s a new version of Fedora to my laptop. I have custom shell scripts that I use for post-provision that usually configures a custom .bashrc, complete updates and installs software.They work well, the inconvenience of it is trying to get the custom shell scripts onto the machine right after OS installation.
I have some examples of what I have created here:

https://edsordinarylife.wordpress.com/2017/02/18/shell-scripting-my-story-my-post-install-part-1/

I was curious if it is possible to setup a main (CentOS) server running Ansible that could push configurations, updates and software to my new machines once they are complete. Is this possible?
Thanks.

2

Edward

You just described one of the primary use cases of Ansible. The answer is YES!

3

Does it require that I install Ansible on the client first?
Any good resources you could recommend for me to start learning, specifically learning my use case?

Thanks.

4

I suggest you start at https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/index.html

Ansible is Agent-less which means no client required…

5

You might also want to have a look at AWX/Tower and its “provisioning callback” feature, which is exactly meant for your use case:
https://github.com/ansible/awx and https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-tower/latest/html/userguide/job_templates.html

But, indeed, start first to learn Ansible.