- Lab
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- Core Tech
Set Up and Manage a Multi-Node Environment with Ansible
In this lab, you’ll practice setting up Ansible for automation, managing system configurations, and deploying a web server cluster. You’ll begin by configuring the Ansible server and managed nodes, establishing secure, passwordless communication between them. Then, you’ll automate user and firewall settings and deploy Apache/Nginx with virtual hosts to serve static content. By the end, you’ll have a fully automated infrastructure with web servers installed, configured, and accessible via a browser.
Lab Info
Table of Contents
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Challenge
Getting Started in the Lab Environment
Here are the initial instructions and explanation of the lab environment. Read this while your environment is busy creating itself from nothing. Yes, this violates physics; we know. How fun!
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Challenge
Configure Ansible Control and Managed Nodes
You will first learn how to manage an Ansible control node and a managed node by establishing secure communication between them. You will enable password authentication on the managed hosts by modifying the SSH daemon configuration file. Then, you will configure "passwordless" authentication by generating an SSH key and setting up SSH key-based authentication. Finally, you will then verify the connection between the host and the node.
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Challenge
Automate Basic System Configuration with Ansible Playbook
Learn how to automate key system administration tasks on managed hosts using Ansible. You will create and execute Ansible playbooks to check system updates, configure users and groups, manage firewall settings, and control system services. Additionally, you will verify configurations using ad-hoc commands.
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Challenge
Automate Apache Deployment with Ansible: Virtual Hosts & Static Content
In this challenge, you will create an Ansible playbook to automate the deployment of the Apache web server across managed nodes. You will configure virtual hosts using Jinja2 templates, ensuring that each host serves static content from a specified document root. Additionally, you will implement service management to ensure that Apache starts automatically after a reboot. Finally, you will verify the deployment by accessing the configured web servers through a browser, confirming that the virtual hosts are correctly set up and serving content.
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Challenge
The Last Challenge
Welcome to the final challenge! This is your last chance to experiment in the environment. Clicking Finish Lab will end this little world that flittered into existence just for you.
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.
Learn by doing
Engage hands-on with the tools and technologies you’re learning. You pick the skill, we provide the credentials and environment.
Follow your guide
All labs have detailed instructions and objectives, guiding you through the learning process and ensuring you understand every step.
Turn time into mastery
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.