Ansible
Simple, agentless IT automation that anyone can use
Overview
Ansible is a simple IT automation engine that automates cloud provisioning, configuration management, application deployment, intra-service orchestration, and many other IT needs. Designed for multi-tier deployments since day one, Ansible models your IT infrastructure by describing how all of your systems inter-relate, rather than just managing one system at a time.
✨ Key Features
- Agentless architecture (uses SSH/WinRM)
- Declarative YAML syntax (Playbooks)
- Extensive module library
- Idempotent execution
- Orchestration capabilities
- Tower/AWX for web-based UI and RBAC
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Agentless architecture simplifies setup and management
- Human-readable YAML syntax is easy to learn
- Large and active community
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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