How to Automate Switch and Server Configuration With Ansible

Step by step

1. Write an inventory

   Group devices by role and site.

   # inventory.ini
   [edge]
   site1-edge ansible_host=10.1.99.20
   site2-edge ansible_host=10.2.99.20
   
   [edge:vars]
   ansible_user=admin
   

2. Check connectivity

   Ansible connects over SSH with your key.

   ansible -i inventory.ini edge -m ping
   

3. Write a playbook

   Describe the desired state: here, Docker installed and the site stack deployed on every edge server.

   # edge.yml
   - hosts: edge
     become: true
     tasks:
       - name: Docker is installed
         ansible.builtin.package: { name: docker.io, state: present }
       - name: Compose files are in place
         ansible.builtin.copy: { src: files/compose.yaml, dest: /opt/site/compose.yaml }
       - name: Stack is running
         ansible.builtin.command: docker compose -f /opt/site/compose.yaml up -d
         changed_when: false
   

4. Dry run first

   --check --diff shows what would change without changing anything.

   ansible-playbook -i inventory.ini edge.yml --check --diff --limit site1-edge
   

5. Roll out in waves

   Apply to one site, verify, then the rest.

   ansible-playbook -i inventory.ini edge.yml --limit site1-edge
   ansible-playbook -i inventory.ini edge.yml
   

6. Network devices

   For switches, use the vendor's Ansible collection or its CLI over SSH with the same inventory and dry-run discipline.

Commands are generic, industry-standard examples. Exact syntax and menu names vary by model and firmware; check your device's manual on the Documentation page.