Creating and Scheduling Job Templates with Ansible

Introduction

Ansible is a powerful automation tool that allows you to manage and configure systems efficiently. Job templates in Ansible provide a way to define and execute tasks or playbooks repeatedly, either manually or on a schedule. In this tutorial, we will explore how to create and schedule job templates, enabling you to automate tasks and streamline your workflow.

Creating Job Templates

Job templates in Ansible are defined using the YAML format. They specify the playbook or tasks to be executed and any required input variables. Here's an example of a job template definition:

---

name: My Job Template
hosts: all
gather_facts: false
tasks:

name: Install packages
package:
name: apache2
state: latest

This job template installs the latest version of the Apache web server package on all hosts. You can define more complex playbooks with multiple tasks and handlers as per your requirements.

To create a job template, follow these steps:

1. Save the job template definition in a YAML file.
2. Ensure you have an Ansible control node set up to execute the job template.
3. Use the Ansible command-line interface (CLI) to execute the job template with the following command:

ansible-playbook my-job-template.yml

This command runs the job template using the specified playbook file. Make sure to replace "my-job-template.yml" with the actual filename of your job template.

Scheduling Job Templates

Ansible Tower or AWX (the open-source version) provides additional features to schedule job templates automatically. With these tools, you can define recurring schedules for job execution, such as hourly, daily, or weekly. Here's an example of how to schedule a job template using Ansible Tower/AWX:

1. Login to Ansible Tower/AWX.
2. Create a new job template or select an existing one.
3. Configure the schedule for the job template, specifying the frequency and time of execution.
4. Save the configuration and activate the schedule.

Once the schedule is active, Ansible Tower/AWX will automatically execute the job template according to the defined schedule, saving you time and effort.

Common Mistakes

• Not properly defining the YAML syntax in the job template file can lead to syntax errors.
• Forgetting to specify the correct hosts or groups in the job template may result in tasks executing on unintended systems.
• Failure to test the job template thoroughly before scheduling it can lead to unexpected behavior.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: Can I pass variables to a job template?

  Yes, you can pass variables to a job template by defining them in the playbook or through prompt values during job execution.

• Q: How can I view the execution status and results of job templates?

  Ansible Tower/AWX provides a user interface where you can view the execution status, logs, and results of job templates.

• Q: Can I schedule job templates to run on specific hosts or groups?

  Yes, Ansible Tower/AWX allows you to define targets for job template execution, such as specific hosts or groups, using inventory settings.

• Q: Is it possible to pass sensitive information, such as passwords, to job templates?

  Yes, you can use Ansible Vault to encrypt sensitive data and pass it securely to job templates.

• Q: Can I configure notifications for job template completion or failure?

  Yes, Ansible Tower/AWX supports configuring notifications through various channels like email, Slack, and webhooks.

Summary

Creating and scheduling job templates in Ansible enables you to automate repetitive tasks and streamline your workflows. By defining job templates in YAML format, you can execute tasks or playbooks on-demand or schedule them to run automatically using Ansible Tower/AWX. Avoid common mistakes such as YAML syntax errors and incorrect target specifications to ensure smooth execution. With Ansible, you can achieve efficient automation and improve productivity in managing your systems.