2-Day1-2-Ad-hocCommands

Lab Exercise: Test Ansible Setup with Ad-Hoc Commands

In this step, participants will execute various ad-hoc commands to validate their Ansible setup and perform common tasks. These exercises are divided into core exercises and optional exercises for those who complete the basics early can go for the optional exercises.

---

Core Exercises (Mandatory for All Participants)

Exercise 1: Ping Managed Nodes

• Use the ping module to verify connectivity to all managed nodes.

  ansible all -m ping

  • Expected Output: A green success message confirming that the managed nodes are reachable.

---

Exercise 2: Check Host Uptime

• Use the command module to execute the uptime command on all nodes.

  ansible all -m command -a "uptime"

  • Expected Output: Uptime details of each managed node.

---

Exercise 3: Create a User on Managed Nodes

• Use the user module to create a new user named ansible_userXX.

  ansible all -m user -a "name=ansible_userXX state=present"

  • Expected Output: A new user ansible_userXX is created on all managed nodes.

---

Exercise 4: Verify the User avilability on Nodes

• Use the user module to create a new user named ansible_userXX.

  ansible all -m shell -a "id sible_userXX"

  • Expected Output: The new user ansible_userXX should be present on all managed nodes.

---

Exercise 5: Install a Package (e.g., tree)

• Use the yum or apt module to install the tree package.

  ansible all -m yum -a "name=tree state=present"  # CentOS/RHEL
  ansible all -m apt -a "name=tree state=present"  # Ubuntu/Debian

If it is already installed, please use "state=absent" then execute the above command angain observe the diffrence.

 ansible all -m yum -a "name=tree state=absent"  # CentOS/RHEL
 ansible all -m apt -a "name=tree state=absent"  # Ubuntu/Debian

• Expected Output: The tree package is installed on all managed nodes.

---

Exercise 6: Start a Service

• Use the service module to start the httpd service (or install it first if not present).

  ansible all -m yum -a "name=httpd state=present"  # Install httpd
  ansible all -m service -a "name=httpd state=started enabled=yes"

  • Expected Output: The httpd service is installed, started, and enabled on all managed nodes.

---

**Optional Exercises **

Exercise 7: Gather System Facts

• Use the setup module to gather facts about managed nodes and display the hostname.

  ansible all -m setup -a "filter=ansible_hostname"

  • Expected Output: The hostname of each managed node.

---

Exercise 8: Copy Files to Managed Nodes

• Use the copy module to copy a file from the control node to /tmp/ on managed nodes.

  • Create a file on the control node:

    echo "Welcome to Ansible Training" > /tmp/welcome.txt

  • Copy the file:

    ansible all -m copy -a "src=/tmp/welcome.txt dest=/tmp/"

  • Verify on managed nodes:

    cat /tmp/welcome.txt

---

Exercise 9: Execute a Shell Script on Managed Nodes

• Create a simple shell script on the control node:

  echo -e "#!/bin/bash\nhostname" > /tmp/hostname.sh
  chmod +x /tmp/hostname.sh

• Use the script module to execute the script on all nodes:

  ansible all -m script -a "/tmp/hostname.sh"

  • Expected Output: The hostname of each managed node is displayed.

---

Exercise 10: Manage Files on Managed Nodes

• Use the file module to create a directory /tmp/ansible_test:

  ansible all -m file -a "path=/tmp/ansible_test state=directory mode=0755"

• Use the file module to delete the directory:

  ansible all -m file -a "path=/tmp/ansible_test state=absent"

---

Exercise 11: Modify File Contents

• Use the lineinfile module to add a line to /etc/motd on managed nodes:

  ansible all -m lineinfile -a "path=/etc/motd line='Managed by Ansible' create=yes"

  • Expected Output: The line "Managed by Ansible" is added to the /etc/motd file.

---

Exercise 12: Retrieve Files from Managed Nodes

• Use the fetch module to retrieve a file (e.g., /var/log/messages) from managed nodes to the control node.

  ansible all -m fetch -a "src=/var/log/messages dest=/tmp/ logs/ flat=yes"

  • Expected Output: Files are copied to the specified location on the control node.

---

Summary of Commands

Exercise	Command/Module	Purpose
Ping	ping	Test connectivity to managed nodes
Uptime	command	Execute shell commands
Create User	user	Manage system users
Install Package	yum/apt	Install packages
Start Service	service	Manage system services
Gather Facts	setup	Collect system information
Copy Files	copy	Copy files to managed nodes
Run Scripts	script	Execute scripts on managed nodes
Manage Directories	file	Create or delete directories
Modify Files	lineinfile	Modify file contents
Retrieve Files	fetch	Copy files from managed nodes to control node

---

Outcome of This

• Participants will understand how to use Ansible ad-hoc commands effectively.

• They will gain confidence performing tasks like file management, service handling, and system information gathering.

• Fast learners can attempt optional exercises to deepen their knowledge and explore advanced modules.