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Update docs, added TODO.md

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Michael DeHaan 2012-02-23 21:47:31 -05:00
parent 3da6370a65
commit 03647d64e9
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@ -3,24 +3,33 @@ Ansible
Ansible is a extra-simple Python API for doing 'remote things' over SSH. Ansible is a extra-simple Python API for doing 'remote things' over SSH.
While [Func](http://fedorahosted.org/func), which I co-wrote, aspired to avoid using SSH and have it's own daemon infrastructure, Ansible aspires to be quite different and more minimal, but still able to grow more modularly over time. This is based on talking to a lot of users of various tools and wishing to eliminate problems with connectivity and long running daemons, or not picking tool X because they preferred to code in Y. While [Func](http://fedorahosted.org/func), which I co-wrote,
aspired to avoid using SSH and have it's own daemon infrastructure,
Ansible aspires to be quite different and more minimal, but still able
to grow more modularly over time. This is based on talking to a lot of
users of various tools and wishing to eliminate problems with connectivity
and long running daemons, or not picking tool X because they preferred to
code in Y.
Why use Ansible versus something else? (Fabric, Capistrano, mCollective, Func, SaltStack, etc?) It will have far less code, it will be more correct, and it will be the easiest thing to hack on and use you'll ever see -- regardless of your favorite language of choice. Want to only code plugins in bash or clojure? Ansible doesn't care. The docs will fit on one page and the source will be blindingly obvious. Why use Ansible versus something else? (Fabric, Capistrano, mCollective,
Func, SaltStack, etc?) It will have far less code, it will be more correct,
and it will be the easiest thing to hack on and use you'll ever see --
regardless of your favorite language of choice. Want to only code plugins
in bash or clojure? Ansible doesn't care. The docs will fit on one page
and the source will be blindingly obvious.
Principles Design Principles
========== =================
* Dead simple setup * Dead simple setup
* Super fast & parallel by default * Super fast & parallel by default
* No server or client daemons, uses existing SSHd * No server or client daemons, uses existing SSHd
* No additional software required on client boxes * No additional software required on client boxes
* Everything is self updating on the clients. "Modules" are remotely transferred to target boxes and exec'd, and do not stay active or consume resources. * Everything is self updating on the clients
* Only SSH keys are allowed for authentication * Encourages use of ssh-agent
* usage of ssh-agent is more or less required (no passwords) * Plugins can be written in ANY language
* plugins can be written in ANY language * API usage is an equal citizen to CLI usage
* as with Func, API usage is an equal citizen to CLI usage * Can be controlled/installed/used as non-root
* use Python's multiprocessing capabilities to emulate Func's forkbomb logic
* all file paths can be specified as command line options easily allowing non-root usage
Requirements Requirements
============ ============
@ -33,11 +42,11 @@ For the server the tool is running from, *only*:
Inventory file Inventory file
============== ==============
The inventory file is a required list of hostnames that can be potentially managed by The inventory file is a required list of hostnames that can be
ansible. Eventually this file may be editable via the CLI, but for now, is potentially managed by ansible. Eventually this file may be editable
edited with your favorite text editor. via the CLI, but for now, is edited with your favorite text editor.
The default inventory file (-H) is ~/.ansible_hosts and is a list The default inventory file (-H) is /etc/ansible/hosts and is a list
of all hostnames to target with ansible, one per line. These of all hostnames to target with ansible, one per line. These
can be hostnames or IPs can be hostnames or IPs
@ -71,8 +80,8 @@ The API is simple and returns basic datastructures.
import ansible import ansible
runner = ansible.Runner( runner = ansible.Runner(
pattern='*', pattern='*',
module_name='inventory', module_name='inventory',
host_list=['xyz.example.com', '...'] module_args='...'
) )
data = runner.run() data = runner.run()
@ -83,15 +92,15 @@ The API is simple and returns basic datastructures.
} }
Additional options to Runner include the number of forks, hostname Additional options to Runner include the number of forks, hostname
exclusion pattern, library path, arguments, and so on. Read the source, it's not exclusion pattern, library path, arguments, and so on.
complicated. Read the source, it's not complicated.
Patterns Patterns
======== ========
To target only hosts starting with "rtp", for example: To target only hosts starting with "rtp", for example:
* ansible "rtp*" -n command -a "yum update apache" * ansible -p "rtp*" -n command -a "yum update apache"
Parallelism Parallelism
=========== ===========
@ -107,19 +116,21 @@ File Transfer
Ansible can SCP lots of files to lots of places in parallel. Ansible can SCP lots of files to lots of places in parallel.
* ansible -f 10 -n copy -a "/etc/hosts /tmp/hosts" * ansible -p "web-*.acme.net" -f 10 -n copy -a "/etc/hosts /tmp/hosts"
Bundled Modules Ansible Library (Bundled Modules)
=============== =================================
See the example library for modules, they can be written in any language See the example library for modules, they can be written in any language
and simply return JSON to stdout. The path to your ansible library is and simply return JSON to stdout. The path to your ansible library is
specified with the "-L" flag should you wish to use a different location specified with the "-L" flag should you wish to use a different location
than "~/ansible". There is potential for a sizeable community to build than "/usr/share/ansible". This means anyone can use Ansible, even without
root permissions.
There is potential for a sizeable community to build
up around the library scripts. up around the library scripts.
Existing library modules Modules include:
========================
* command -- runs commands, giving output, return codes, and run time info * command -- runs commands, giving output, return codes, and run time info
* ping - just returns if the system is up or not * ping - just returns if the system is up or not
@ -129,16 +140,7 @@ Existing library modules
Future plans Future plans
============ ============
* modules for users, groups, and files, using puppet style ensure mechanics * see TODO.md
* ansible-inventory -- gathering fact/hw info, storing in git, adding RSS
* ansible-slurp ------ recursively rsync file trees for each host
* very simple option constructing/parsing for modules
* Dead-simple declarative configuration management engine using
a runbook style recipe file, written in JSON or YAML
* maybe it's own fact engine, not required, that also feeds from facter
* add/remove/list hosts from the command line
* list available modules from command line
* filter exclusion (run this only if fact is true/false)
License License
======= =======
@ -148,8 +150,8 @@ License
Author Author
====== ======
Michael DeHaan -- michael.dehaan@gmail.com Michael DeHaan -- michael.dehaan@gmail.com
[http://michaeldehaan.net](http://michaeldehaan.net/) [http://michaeldehaan.net](http://michaeldehaan.net/)

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TODO.md Normal file
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@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
TODO list and plans
===================
* make remote user settable versus assuming remote login is named root
* modules for users, groups, and files, using puppet style ensure mechanics
* ansible-inventory -- gathering fact/hw info, storing in git, adding RSS
* ansible-slurp ------ recursively rsync file trees for each host
* very simple option constructing/parsing for modules
* Dead-simple declarative configuration management engine using
a runbook style recipe file, written in JSON or YAML
* maybe it's own fact engine, not required, that also feeds from facter
* add/remove/list hosts from the command line
* list available modules from command line
* filter exclusion (run this only if fact is true/false)