I. Overview:

Introduction to performing core system administration tasks by creating and running automation for a Windows Server using Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform.

Microsoft Windows Automation with Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform (DO417) is designed for System administrators, DevOps engineers, and developers who want to learn how to automate the deployment and management of Microsoft Windows servers and applications hosted on them using Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform.

This course is based on Red Hat® Ansible Automation Platform 2.4.

Course Content Summary

• Writing Ansible Playbooks that automate tasks on Microsoft Windows servers
• Managing Ansible Playbooks stored in a Git-based version control system
• Running Ansible Playbooks by using the automation controller web-based UI
• Managing and ensuring software and Windows features are installed and up-to-date using Ansible automation
• Writing efficient tasks in Ansible Playbooks by using loops, conditional tests, and handlers
• Writing Ansible Playbooks that ensure plays can recover when tasks fail
• Deploying, modifying, and managing files with Ansible on your Windows servers, using completed files and Jinja2 templates
• Managing local and domain users, managing Active Directory domains, and generating dynamic inventory of managed hosts in automation controller based on domain membership
• Automating specific, common Windows Server administration tasks
• Reusing existing automation code by using Ansible Content Collections, Ansible Roles, and Ansible integration with PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC) resources

II. Duration: 4 days (32 hours)

III. Objectives:

Impact on the Organization

Impact to the enterprise

• Automation of Microsoft Windows systems with Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform can reduce the time needed for maintenance windows, ensure consistency in configuration and deployment of servers and applications, and reduce cost incurred due to human error. It also provides a single automation solution that can be extended to management of network administration and Linux systems in the datacenter

Impact on the Individual

Impact to the student

• Students learn how to create and run automation for Windows Server using Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform, in order to perform core system administration tasks
• Students can use automation to perform their tasks consistently, repeatably, and automatically, saving time and avoiding errors that might be caused by performing these tasks manually

IV. Intended Audience:

• System administrators, DevOps engineers, and developers who are responsible for automating the deployment and management of Microsoft Windows servers and applications hosted on them using Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform

V. Prerequisites:

• A basic understanding of Windows Server administration is expected
• Students do not need any previous experience with Ansible or Linux
• There are no prerequisites for this course

VI. Course outlines:

1. Introducing Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform

Describe the fundamental concepts of Ansible and how it is used, and install development tools from Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform

2. Preparing for Ansible Operations

Prepare Microsoft Windows hosts for Ansible automation and automation controller to run automation on those hosts

3. Implementing Ansible Playbooks

Write a simple playbook to automate tasks on multiple Microsoft Windows-based hosts, and then run the playbook with automation controller

4. Managing Variables and Facts

Write playbooks that use variables to simplify management of the playbook and facts to reference information about managed hosts

5. Installing and Configuring Software

Install, manage, and ensure software is up to date using Ansible Playbooks.Install, manage, and ensure software is up to date using Ansible Playbooks

6. Implementing Task Control

Manage task execution using loops, conditional tests, and handlers, and recover when tasks fail

7. Deploying Files to Managed Hosts

Deploy, modify, and manage files on your managed hosts

8. Reusing Code with Ansible Roles and Ansible Content Collections

Write playbooks that are optimized for larger and more complex projects and that reuse existing automation code

9. Interacting with Users and Domains

Manage local and domain users and Active Directory domains on managed hosts, and generate a dynamic inventory of managed hosts in automation controller based on domain membership

10. Automating Windows Administration Tasks

Automate common Windows Server administration tasks

11. Comprehensive Review

Review tasks from Microsoft Windows Automation with Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform