Basic Ansible Interview Questions

1. What Is Ansible ?

Ansible is an open-source automation tool developed by Redhat that is meant for simplifying
the configuration management, application deployment, and automation of tasks. It allows
us in automating repetitive tasks, ensuring consistency and efficiency in managing servers
and networks using SSH protocol for make communication with the network Agentlessly.

Ansible Architectures

2. What Is Inventory ?

In Ansible, an inventory is a file with specifying the information of hosts that going to be
managed. It contains information such as hostnames, IP addresses, and groups of
organization. The inventory can be either static or dynamic, and it may be with inclusion of
variables by specific host details. It's a key component for targeting and managing nodes
infrastructure in Ansible. A sample inventory file is given below.

[web]
webserver1 ansible_host=192.168.1.11
webserver2 ansible_host=192.168.1.12

[db]
dbserver1 ansible_host=192.168.1.21

3. Explain The Concept Of Configuration Management And Its Importance In IT Operations.

Configuration management is the process of systematically handling changes to a system's

configuration by ensure consistency, reliability of the IT environment of managed nodes in a
network. For better understanding refer how Ansible configure remote nodes article once.
4. What Are The Features Of Ansible ?

Ansible comes with several features that make it powerful and popular automation tool. A
few of the key features are listed here:

 Agentless: Ansible does not require any agent installation on the managed nodes. It
communicates with the nodes in the network using SSH simplifying deployment and
reduces complexity.

 Declarative Language: Ansible uses a simple human-readable YAML syntax to specify

the desired state of the system making it easy to write and understand automation
scripts.

 Idempotent Operations: Ansible ensures for the achievement of desired state i.e.,
running a playbook multiple times has the same effect as running it once. This
prevents from unintended changes ensuring consistency.

 Playbooks: Automation scripts in Ansible are known as playbooks. Playbooks are

written in YAML by defining a set of tasks that to be executed on remotely specifying
in the hosts section.

 Modules: Modules are used in ansible to perform specific tasks on managed

nodes.They are 2 types of modules as built-in modules ( that are already created and
comes with ansible ) and custom modules that are created by users.

 Inventory Management: Ansible uses an inventory file to specify the hosts

information such as IP address or domainname, user details etc.. on which the
automation tasks have to be executed. The inventory file can be either static or
dynamic include host groups.

5. Describe Infrastructure As Code (IaC) And How Ansible Aligns With This Concept.

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is the way of process used for managing and provisioning the
infrastructure using code instead of manual workflow process. Ansible follows this approach
allowing the users to describe and manage infrastructure in a code-like manner.

6. Explain Ansible Galaxy, modules, And Plugins In The Context Of Ansible Automation.

Ansible Galaxy is a platform providing the features of sharing and downloading Ansible roles.
Modules are task executional units, and plugins helps in enhancing Ansible's functionality by
extending its capabilities.

7. What Are Ansible Tasks, And How Do They Contribute To The Automation Process?

Ansible tasks are individual work units within a playbook coming with defined actions that to
be performed on remote hosts, contributing to the overall automation process.

8. What Makes Ansible Stand Out From Other Configuration Management Tools?
Ansible's agentless architecture and its simplicity in use (YAML syntax), and ease of setup
contribute to its standout features among other Configuration Management tools.

9.Briefly Explain Ansible's Architecture Through Outlining Its Different Components.

The control node communicates with managed nodes through SSH protocol executing tasks
defined in playbooks. Ansible consists of a control node, managed nodes, inventory,
modules, and plugins.

10. What Is The Foundational Programming Language Of Ansible?

Ansible is built on top of Python, enhancing its simplicity for clear playbooks and versatility
in creating robust modules. Python's wide range of adoption provided good community
support, making Ansible an effective and flexible automation tool.

11. What are handlers in Ansible, and how are they used in playbooks?

Handlers in Ansible are tasks that are triggered by other tasks, usually used to respond for
the changes that require start , stop , reload or restart the service actions. They are defined
in the playbook and executed as per need.

12. Explain The Concept Of Ansible Roles And Their Significance In Playbook Organization.

Ansible roles are a way of organizing package related tasks, files, and variables providing a
structured approach for playbook organization for effecient reusability.

13. How Do You Set Up a Basic Ansible Playbook to Install a Package On a Group Of
Servers?

To set up a basic Ansible playbook for installing a package on a group of servers, you should
start firstly by creating a YAML file, typically name something like install_package.yml. Within
this file, specify the hosts you want to target, specify the tasks, and include the package
installation. Here's a simplified example:

Here I used the apt module to install the packages in ubuntu os , try on using respective
package manager module with respective to the OS.

- name: Install Package Playbook

hosts: your_server_group
become: true # This allows running tasks with elevated privileges (sudo)
tasks:
- Install the desired package
apt:
name: your_package_name
state: present # You can use 'latest' to ensure the latest version

14. What Command Will You Use To Run An Ansible Playbook With a Specific Inventory
File?
I would use the `ansible-playbook` command by specifying the playbook file and the
inventory file with the `-i` option. The command will looks as follows:

ansible-playbook -i /path/to/your/inventory/file myplaybook.yml

Replace "/path/to/your/inventory/file" with the actual path to your inventory file

and "myplaybook.yml" with your Ansible playbook YAML file name. In this command the
inventory file specified using the -i option.

15. Can You Provide An Example Of Using Ansible To Check The Status Of a Service On
Multiple Servers?

For checking the status of a service on multiple servers using Ansible, you can create a
playbook with tasks on using Ansible's service module. A simple example is listed here:

- name: Check Service Status

hosts: your_server_group
become: true # This allows running tasks with elevated privileges (sudo)

tasks:
- name: Check status of the 'your_service_name' service
service_facts:
name: your_service_name # Replace with the actual service name

- name: Display the service status

debug:
var: ansible_facts.services['your_service_name'].state

Replace 'your_server_group' with the appropriate group name of servers from your
inventory and 'your_service_name' with the actual service name you want to check. This
playbook uses Ansible's service_facts module to gather facts/information about the
specified service and then it displays its status using the debug module. To run this playbook
run the following command on replacing with your apropriative inventory and playbook file
name.

ansible-playbook -i /path/to/your/inventory/file your_playbook.yml

Intermediate Ansible Interview Questions

16. How Do You Set Up a Jump Host In Ansible To Access Servers Without Direct Access?

A jump host or proxy host an intermediary server that is used to access other servers in a
network that are not directly not reachable from the ansible control machine. It acts as a
gateway for providing secure access to target servers especially in environments with
restricted network access.
Setting up a jump host in Ansible involves 2 ways either through configuring Proxy
Jump option in the SSH configuration or using the ansible_ssh_common_args variable in the
inventory file. Here's a brief guide on how to set up a jump host:

Method : Using the ProxyJump Option

i. Edit Your SSH Config File:

Open or create your SSH config file on the Ansible control machine:

nano ~/.ssh/config

ii. Add Jump Host Configuration:

Specify the jump host details in the SSH config file

Host jump_host
HostName jump_host_ip
User jump_host_user
IdentityFile /path/to/your/private/key
#Replace jump_host, jump_host_ip, jump_host_user, and
#/path/to/your/private/key with your specific jump host information.

iii. On using Jump Host in Ansible Playbooks:

In your Ansible playbook, specify the jump host using the ansible_ssh_common_args
variable:

- name: Your Playbook

hosts: your_target_hosts
vars:
ansible_ssh_common_args: '-o ProxyJump=jump_host'
tasks:
# Your tasks here

17. Can You Automate Password Input In An Ansible Playbook Using Encrypted Files?

Yes, Ansible helps in allowing you to automate password input in playbooks using encrypted
files, specifically using Ansible Vault. Ansible Vault provides a secured way for encrypting
sensitive data such as passwords, so that they can be stored safely for usage in your
playbooks.

18. What Is The Role Of Callback Plugins In Ansible, And How Can They Be Used?

Callback plugins in Ansible play a vital role in customizing output and behavior of ansible.
They are mostly used for logging, notifications, or any post-playbook actions, allowing for
impressive Ansible functionality.

19. Explain Ansible Inventory And Discuss Its Various Types.

Ansible Inventory is a list of managed nodes. It can be static that is manually defined
or dynamic that is generated by scripts. Dynamic inventories will fetch information from
external sources like cloud providers.

20. Define Ansible Vault And Its Significance in Playbook Security.

Ansible Vault is a tool for encrypting sensitive data in Ansible playbooks, providing secure
storage through usage of secrets such as passwords or API keys.

21. How Can You Implement Looping Over a List Of Hosts In a Group In Ansible Playbooks?

In Ansible playbooks, loop over a list of hosts in a group is performed by using

the `with_items` or `loop` keyword directly in tasks. This allows you to iterate through the
list of hosts and perform actions on each member of the group. The Jinja2 templating engine
is then used within these tasks for providing the dynamic content based on playbook
variables.

22. What Is The Ad-hoc Command In Ansible, And When Is It Typically Used?

In Ansible, an ad-hoc command is a fast, one liner task that you perform directly from the
command line. This command helps for quick fixes or checks on remote systems.

For example, to check free disk space on a group of servers ( lets the name be group1 ) , you
can use the ad-hoc command:

ansible group1 -m shell -a 'df -h'

23. Demonstrate The Installation Of Nginx using An Ansible Playbook.

For the installation of Nginx using Ansible playbook, Firstly create a playbook with tasks to
update the package cache, install Nginx, and start the service. Then run the playbook with
`ansible-playbook` command, specifying your inventory file and playbook name for a
streamline installation process on targeted hosts. Here the playbook for this installation of
Nginx is provided for Ubuntu/debian target nodes.

- name: Install Nginx

hosts: web_servers
become: true # To execute tasks with sudo privileges
tasks:
- name: Update package cache
apt:
update_cache: yes # For Ubuntu/Debian systems
- name: Install Nginx
apt:
name: nginx
state: present
- name: Start Nginx service
 service:
name: nginx
state: started
enabled: yes # Ensures Nginx starts on boot

24. How Can You Programmatically Access A Variable Name Within An Ansible Playbook?

To access a variable name programmatically within an Ansible playbook, setup the `set_fact`
module with a task like:

- name: Extract variable name

set_fact:
var_name: "{{ my_variable | dict2items | selectattr('value', 'eq', my_value) |
map(attribute='key') | first }}"

This task sets `var_name` based on the variable name corresponding to the specified
value (`my_value`). Try on adjusting `my_variable` and `my_value` accordingly.

25. Highlight The Key Differences Between Ansible And Puppet In Terms Of Architecture
And Approach.

The Ansible is agentless automation tool uses YAML syntax for wrting of scripts following a
push based model whereas Puppet is agent-based automation tool , uses its own DSL
( Domain Specific Language ) works on following a pull-based model.

26. What Is Ansible Tower, And What Features Does It Provide For Managing Ansible
Workflows And Playbooks?

Ansible Tower is a web-based User Interface that improves Ansible's capabilities. It comes up
with providing the features such as role-based access control, job scheduling, and a
centralized dashboard for efficient management and monitoring of playbooks.

27. Explain The Process Of Generating Encrypted Passwords For a User Module In Ansible.

By using Ansible-vault we are generating encrypted passwords for a user module in Ansible.

Example:

ansible-vault encrypt_string --vault-id @prompt --name 'ansible_become_pass'

'mypassword'

This command will prompt for a vault password interactively and encrypts the string
'mypassword' with the specified variable name 'ansible_become_pass'.

28. Generate An Encrypted Password For a User module Using The `password_hash` Filter.

To generate an encrypted password for a user module in Ansible using the `password_hash`
filter, use the following command:
ansible all -i inventory -m debug -a "msg={{ 'your_password' | password_hash('sha512',
'my_salt') }}" --vault-id @prompt

Try on replacing 'your_password' with the actual password and 'my_salt' with your chosen
salt value. This command will prompt for a vault password and outputs the encrypted
password suitable for using in an Ansible playbook.

29. Differentiate Between Dot Notation And Array Notation When Working With Variables
In Ansible.

Dot notation is useful for accessing variables directly with provides cleaner readability (e.g.,
`{{ variable.key }}`), while array notation is used for dynamic variable names when dealing
with special characters and spaces (e.g., `{{ variable[item] }}`).

30. In Ansible, How Can Callback Plugins Be Configured To Modify The Default Behavior,
And What Role Do They Play In Optimizing Automation Workflows?

Callback plugins in Ansible are configured through the ansible.cfg file or command-line
options for modifying the default behavior. They play a crucial role in optimizing automation
workflows by enhancing personalized adjustments to logging, notifications, and result
processing during the period of playbook execution.

Advanced Ansible Interview Questions

31. How Does The Ansible Synchronize Module Work?

The synchronize module of Ansible is used for efficiently copying files between the local and
remote systems. It ensures that only the changes between the source and destination are
transferred, optimizing the file synchronization process.

32. How Does The Ansible firewalld Module Work?

The firewalld module in Ansible is used for design and management of firewall rules on Linux
systems on using firewalld daemon. It allows in addition or removal of rules and services
providing a flexible way of controlling the configuration of firewall.

33. How Is The Ansible set_fact Module Different From vars, vars_file, Or include_var?

While vars, vars_file, or include_var are used for static variable assignments, the set_fact
module in Ansible dynamically sets variables during playbook execution. This dynamic
nature provides flexibility by allowing the creation of variables based on the playbook's
state.

34. How Can We Delegate tasks In Ansible?

Delegating tasks in Ansible involves using the `delegate_to` parameter within a task. This
allows specific tasks to be executed on a different host than the one defined in the play. It's
useful for scenarios where certain tasks need to run on a designated host.
35. What Is Ansible Registry?

Ansible registry is a mechanism to store variables persistently, enabling data to be passed

between different parts of a playbook or even between plays. It provides a way to share data
without the need for complex variable passing, enhancing the playbook's modularity.

36. What Features Does The Ansible Tower Provide?

Ansible Tower offers a web-based user interface with providing functionalites such as role-
based access control, job scheduling, and a centralized dashboard for visualization of
playbooks run. It provides an enterprise-level solution for monitoring and management of
Ansible workflows.

37. How Is Ansible Used In a Continuous Delivery Pipeline? Explain.

Ansible plays role in integration of Continuous Delivery pipeline on automating various

stages including testing, deployment, and provisioning of infrastructure. Playbooks can also
be used for triggering at different points in the pipeline for ensuring consistency and
efficiency in the delivery process.

38. How Can You Create a LAMP stack And Deploy a Webpage By Using Ansible?

In the creation of a LAMP stack and deploy a webpage, Ansible playbooks are used for the
installation and configurations of softwares such as Apache, MySQL, PHP and deploy their
webpage files. Each component will be configured with assignment of specific tasks,
resulting in a fully functional LAMP stack.

39. How Can You Speed Up The Management Process Inside EC2?

Management inside EC2 can be accelerated by utilizing dynamic EC2 inventory scripts. These
scripts automatically fetch information about EC2 instances, allowing for dynamic and
efficient management of hosts in an Ansible environment.

40. Is It Possible To Increase The Ansible Reboot Module Timeout?

Yes, the Ansible reboot module timeout can be adjusted using the `reboot_timeout`
parameter. This parameter allows users to specify a longer timeout if hosts require more
time to complete the reboot process.

Scenario-Based Ansible Interview Questions

41. Can We Manage Windows Nano Server Using Ansible?

Yes, Ansible supports managing Windows Nano Server using the WinRM connection plugin.
This allows Ansible to communicate with Windows hosts, enabling automation in Windows
environments.

42. How Can You Speed Up Management Inside EC2?

Management inside EC2 can be accelerated by leveraging dynamic EC2 inventory scripts.
These scripts automatically fetch information about EC2 instances, ensuring dynamic and
efficient management of hosts in an Ansible environment.

43. Is It Possible To Increase The Ansible reboot Module Timeout To More Than 600
Seconds?

Yes, On adjusting the `reboot_timeout` parameter , it is possible to increase the Ansible

reboot module timeout in the playbook. This parameter allows users to set a longer timeout
if hosts require more time to complete the reboot process.

44. Explain How You Will Copy Files Recursively Onto a Target Host.

On using the `ansible.builtin.copy` module with the `recurse` parameter setting to true , you
copy the files recursively onto the target host. It helps in ensuring the copy operation with
inclusion of all files and subdirectories.

45. How Can You Access a List Of Ansible Variables?

A list of Ansible variables can be accessable within playbooks on using Jinja2 templating
syntax. For instance, you can access a variable named `my_ansible_variable` as
` {{ my_ansible_variable }}` inside the playbook.

46. What Is The Difference Between a Play And a Playbook?

A Play is a set of tasks applied to a specific specified group of hosts where as Playbook is set
of Plays. Plays are the individual units within a playbook that define what tasks should be
executed on a specific set of hosts.

47. Can You Build Your Own Modules With Ansible?

Yes, On using Python programing ,Ansible helps in allowing users to create their own custom
modules. This provides flexibility in allowing you to extend the Ansible's functionality by
writing modules tailored to specific use cases.

48. Explain Module Utilities In Ansible.

Module Utilities in Ansible are helper functions and libraries provided by Ansible for use
within custom modules. They assist in common tasks such as parameter validation, result
reporting, and handling complex data structures.

49. How Would You handle The Scenario Where a Playbook Task Fails, And You Need To
Proceed With The Next Task?

To handle the failures of tasks and proceed for the next task, you can use
the `ignore_errors` parameter in the task definition. This helps in ensuring the Ansible
continuity with the playbook execution even if a particular task get fails.
50. In a Scenario Where You Need To Install Different Packages Based On The Target
System's Operating System, How Would You Approach This Using Ansible?

You can use the conditional statements in Ansible playbooks for checking the target system's
operating system and installing different packages on it accordingly. For example, on
using `ansible.builtin.when` condition we can install packages based on OS types.

hosts: group_name
- name: Install packages based on OS type
hosts: your_target_hosts
become: true
- tasks:
- name: Install packages for Debian-based systems (e.g., Ubuntu)
apt:
name: "{{ item }}"
state: present
loop:
- package1_for_debian
- package2_for_debian
when: "ansible_distribution == 'Debian' or ansible_distribution == 'Ubuntu'"
- name: Install packages for Red Hat-based systems (e.g., CentOS)
yum:
name: "{{ item }}"
state: present
loop:
- package1_for_redhat
- package2_for_redhat
when: "ansible_distribution == 'RedHat' or ansible_distribution == 'CentOS'"
- name: Install common packages for all systems
package:
name: "{{ item }}"
state: present
loop:
- common_package1
- common_package2

Conclusion

In this article, we have gone through covering most of the Ansible Interview Questions. We
discussed the interview questions by classifying them into sections based on the complexity
level and depth of Ansible concepts. Beginning from the fundamentals and diving into
Intermediate-level, Advanced, and Scenario based Concepts, to keep your understanding
with the flow while moving to the complexity level. In the field of DevOps, The role of the
Ansible Automation tool is significant in configuring multiple nodes effectively through
remote mode. Ansible brought Agentless configuration with a push mechanism bringing
Agility with quicker software updates, Application configurations, and file modifications in
the Target Environments (Testing or Production Environments ). It Finally made its
contribution making the Software Development Life Cycle with Effective workflow with
Automation.

Once you get a thorough understanding of Ansible with the preparation of these Interview
Questions, you can move forward with confidence to expose insights into learning with
effective DevOps practices. This article is enough for your Ansible in-depth preparation for
giving Interviews on the Ansible tool.

Ansible Interview Questions - FAQs

What is Ansible, and how does it differ from other configuration management tools?

Ansible is an open-source automation engine that automates cloud provisioning,

configuration management, application deployment, and more. Unlike other tools, Ansible
operates agentlessly and relies on SSH for communication, making it lightweight and easy to
use.

What are Ansible playbooks, and how do they work?

Ansible playbooks are YAML files that define a series of tasks to be executed on remote
hosts. They facilitate the automation of complex tasks by allowing users to define
configurations, orchestrate workflows, and manage infrastructure as code.

How do Ansible roles enhance playbook organization and reusability?

Ansible roles are a way to organize tasks, variables, and files into reusable units. They
promote modularity and maintainability by encapsulating common configurations and
functionalities, making playbooks more concise and easier to manage.

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