Ansible quick start using Docker and Eclipse Che

If you want to start playing with Ansible and don't want to create several VM's or don't have physical hosts, this is a good place to start.

Using docker you can create a private network for your virtual hosts and play with Ansible.
Eclipse Che allows you to interact with those virtual hosts in an integrated and "natural" environment.
Let's start!.

1. Setup a new stack in Eclipse Che.

• Login into Eclipse Che console.
  
• Select "Stacks" and click "Build Stack From Recipe".
• In Compose Tab paste the content of docker-compose.yml file and click "OK".
  
• Set name and description for the new stack.
  
• Enable Exec, Terminal and Workspace API to "ANSIBLE" machine.
• For S's machines enable just Terminal.
• Click "Save".

Now you have a new Stack with four machines: one with ansible and three "servers". Let's create a new workspace with that stack and start playing wth ansible.

2. Create a new workspace

• Go to workspaces section in Eclipse Che.
• Click "Add Workspace".
• Set the name for the new workspace.
• Select the stack created before.
  
• Click "Create".
  

And we are done!.

3. Play with Ansible

Open the new workspace.

Generate ssh key

From ansible machine run the following command:
ssh-keygen -t rsa

Copy ssh key to hosts

Again, from ansible machine run ssh-copy-id hostname for every server (s1, s2 and s3).

Install ping in all hosts

ansible all -m apt -a "name=iputils-ping state=present"

Do the same with a playbook

ansible-playbook example.yml

Code

All files used to build Docker images, create Eclipse Che Stacks and configure Ansible hosts are available and you are free to modify them as you want.

For more information visit:

• Docker Documentation
• Eclipse Che Documentation
• Ansible Documentation