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RubyConf AU 2014: http://www.rubyconf.org.au The ability to repeatably and automatically build your servers in code is essential for managing a modern Ruby application's server infrastructure. Solutions such as Chef and Puppet are often used to solve this issue, but for some teams, this might be too costly to learn and implement effectively. Bridging the gap between these larger solutions and shell scripting is Ansible, a light footprint provisioning tool using SSH and YAML files to quickly define repeatable server creation and configuration steps. This talk will cover: introduce server provisioning at a high level explain how Ansible fits into that pattern describe simple Ansible commands and modules run through a basic playbook example, bringing these elements together summarise other functionality offered by Ansible
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In the talk "Ansible - Your First Step Into Server Provisioning" presented by Ben Turner at RubyConf AU 2014, the focus is on introducing Ansible as a lightweight server provisioning tool and how it can be effectively utilized within a modern Ruby application's server infrastructure. The speaker shares his experience transitioning to Ansible in a Ruby-focused team and highlights the importance of automating server provisioning to avoid knowledge silos and dependency on a single individual's expertise. **Key Points Discussed:** - **Introduction to Server Provisioning:** Turner defines server provisioning and discusses its necessity in ensuring repeatable and reliable server configurations. - **Challenges with Existing Tools:** While mentioning other tools like Chef and Puppet, he describes concerns over complexity and cost, positioning Ansible as a simpler alternative. - **Personal Experience:** The speaker recounts a specific scenario where his team relied heavily on documentation to manage server configurations but faced difficulties during upgrades due to common pitfalls in documentation. - **Ansible's Features:** - **Installation and Execution:** Overview of the straightforward installation process and running basic commands using the Ansible command-line interface. - **Playbooks and Tasks:** Explanation of core concepts such as playbooks, tasks, and idempotency in provisioning, emphasizing the use of YAML for configuration. - **Modules and Idempotency:** Discussed how Ansible’s modules (like user and group management) ensure scripts can run multiple times without error. - **Templates and Variables:** Highlighted the use of templates for dynamic configuration management and defining variables for different environments. - **Handlers:** Introduction to how handlers can restart services post updates in a streamlined process. - **Best Practices:** Turner recommends organizing playbooks, separating production and staging environments, and leveraging the roles directory for modular and clean code. - **Conclusion and Takeaways:** He concludes that adopting Ansible transformed his team's workflow, improved server management, and reduced manual errors, while also suggesting valuable resources for attendees interested in further exploration of Ansible. Overall, Turner’s presentation serves as a practical guide for developers and DevOps teams interested in adopting Ansible for server provisioning, showcasing its benefits through his own team's experiences.
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