Getting Started with Ansible on IBM i

Ansible is a revolutionary open-source automation platform that simplifies and streamlines IT infrastructure management. Its powerful architecture allows you to manage complex deployments, configurations, and application rollouts with ease, across a myriad of platforms.

Ansible boasts a unique, agentless architecture. Unlike traditional tools, it doesn’t require permanent agents on managed systems. Instead, it utilizes a push-based approach, communicating with endpoints via lightweight Modules executed directly on them. This architecture offers several benefits:

• Simplicity: No agents or central servers to manage, reducing complexity and cost.
• Scalability: Effortlessly manages large fleets of diverse systems without impacting performance.
• Security: Modules execute and are removed from endpoints promptly, minimizing potential security vulnerabilities.

This white paper provides a comprehensive introduction to Ansible, dissecting its key components and highlighting its advantages in today’s dynamic IT landscape.