Ansible
Simple, agentless IT automation that anyone can use
Overview
Ansible is an open-source automation tool that automates software provisioning, configuration management, and application deployment. It uses a simple, human-readable language (YAML) to describe automation jobs. Ansible is agentless, meaning it connects to managed nodes over SSH or WinRM and pushes out small programs called 'Ansible modules' to them.
✨ Key Features
- Agentless Architecture
- Declarative (YAML-based Playbooks)
- Extensible with Modules
- Orchestration
- Configuration Management
- Application Deployment
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Agentless architecture
- Simple, human-readable YAML syntax
- Large community and extensive module library
Unique Value: Provides a simple, powerful, and agentless way to automate IT infrastructure and applications.
🎯 Use Cases (5)
✅ Best For
- Configuring a fleet of web servers
- Deploying an application from a CI/CD pipeline
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Initial cloud infrastructure provisioning (less state-aware than Terraform)
- Real-time monitoring
🏆 Alternatives
Its agentless nature and simple YAML syntax offer a lower barrier to entry and reduced management overhead compared to agent-based tools like Puppet and Chef.
💻 Platforms
✅ Offline Mode Available
🔌 Integrations
🛟 Support Options
- ✓ Email Support
- ✓ Phone Support
- ✓ Dedicated Support (Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform tier)
🔒 Compliance & Security
💰 Pricing
✓ 60-day free trial
Free tier: Ansible is open-source and free. Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform is the commercial offering.
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