Introduction

What is Ansible?

Ansible is a powerful open-source tool for automation that helps in configuration management, application deployment, task automation, and much more. It uses a simple syntax written in YAML called playbooks that lets you describe automation jobs in a way that is easy for humans to understand.

The Role of Ansible in Server Configuration

Using Ansible for server configuration allows you to automate the setup and maintenance of your infrastructure, ensuring consistency across environments and reducing the potential for human error. It's particularly useful for configuring virtual machines (VMs) in the cloud, such as those hosted on Microsoft Azure.

Challenge Scenario

"WebTech Innovators" is a dynamic startup focusing on developing web applications. They have chosen Microsoft Azure to host their applications due to its scalability and extensive service offerings. They've manually created a VM on Azure for hosting their web application but want to streamline the process of configuring and deploying their web servers using automation.

Problem Statement: WebTech Innovators need a reliable and automated way to configure their Azure VMs with a web server and deploy their web applications to handle frequent updates and ensure consistency across their development and production environments.

Your Mission: Use Ansible to automate the configuration of an Azure VM with a web server (Nginx or Apache) and deploy a sample web application. Ensure the web server serves the sample application on the VM.

Prerequisites

Tools Required:

1. Microsoft Azure Account: If you don't have an Azure account, you can create one here.
2. AWS Cloud9 Environment: Set up a Cloud9 environment on AWS. Follow the Cloud9 setup guide.

Detailed Steps

Step 1: Create an Azure VM

1. Log in to Azure Portal:

   • Go to the Azure Portal and log in with your credentials.

2. Create a New Virtual Machine:

   • In the Azure Portal, click on "Create a resource" and select "Virtual Machine."
   • Fill in the necessary details:
     • Subscription: Select your subscription.
     • Resource Group: Create a new resource group (e.g., WebTechResourceGroup). This will allow you to delete all resources easily by deleting the resource group.
     • Virtual Machine Name: Enter AzureAnsibleVM.
     • Region: Select a region (e.g., East US).
     • Image: Choose an image (e.g., Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS).
     • Size: Select a size (e.g., Standard B1s for free tier).
     • Authentication Type: Choose "SSH public key."
     • Generate new key pair: Select this option to generate a new SSH key pair and download the private key. Name the key AzureAnsibleVM_key.pem.

3. Networking:

   • In the Networking tab, configure the following:
     • Virtual Network: Create a new virtual network (e.g., WebTechVNet).
     • Subnet: Select a subnet (e.g., default).
     • Public IP: Enable and create a new public IP.
     • Inbound Port Rules: Add a rule to allow HTTP traffic on port 80:

4. Review + Create:

   • Review your settings and click "Create."

Step 2: Set Up AWS Cloud9 Environment