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File Manipulation with Ansible
A common theme in everyday systems administration is the need to work with system files. It follows that any good configuration management or automation engine must be able to do the same. This exercise challenges students to use Ansible to execute varying tasks on remote systems involving file manipulation.

Lab Info
Table of Contents
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Challenge
Become `ansible` user and then download http://software.xyzcorp.com/enigma.tgz to `/tmp` on each host in qa_servers and verify the sha256 checksum via http://software.xyzcorp.com/enigma-checksum.txt.
Note: This URL only works correctly when accessed on the lab servers. The domain name DNS entry is overridden in
/etc/hosts
on each lab server. If you attempt to access it from another system, you will reach a parked domain.On EACH of the hosts in 'qa_servers' inventory, become the
ansible
user:sudo su - ansible
As the
ansible
user (above), run the following commands on each host in theqa-servers
:CHECKSUM=$(curl http://software.xyzcorp.com/enigma-checksum.txt | cut -f1 -d' ')
ansible qa-servers -m get_url -a "url=http://software.xyzcorp.com/enigma.tgz dest=/tmp/enigma.tgz checksum=sha256:$CHECKSUM"
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Challenge
Extract `/tmp/enigma.tgz` to `/opt/` on all hosts in `qa_servers`.
Run
ansible qa_servers -b -m unarchive -a "src=/tmp/enigma.tgz dest=/opt/ remote_src=yes"
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Challenge
Update the line of text "DEPLOY_CODE" in `/opt/enigma/details.txt` to the "CODE_RED" on each server in `qa_servers`.
Run
ansible qa_servers -b -m lineinfile -a "regexp=DEPLOY_CODE line=CODE_RED path=/opt/enigma/details.txt"
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Challenge
Set the group ownership of the directory `/opt/enigma/secret/` and each file contained within the directory so that the group owner is `protected` for each host in `qa_servers`.
Run
ansible qa_servers -b -m file -a "recurse=yes state=directory path=/opt/enigma/secret group=protected"
. -
Challenge
Delete the file `/opt/enigma/tmp/deployment-passwords.txt` from all servers.
Run
ansible all -b -m file -a "state=absent path=/opt/enigma/tmp/deployment-passwords.txt"
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About the author
Real skill practice before real-world application
Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.
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Engage hands-on with the tools and technologies you’re learning. You pick the skill, we provide the credentials and environment.
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On average, you retain 75% more of your learning if you take time to practice. Hands-on labs set you up for success to make those skills stick.