Ansible Apt Module

Introduction

In this lab, you will explore the Ansible Apt module, which allows you to manage packages on Debian-based systems using the Apt package manager. The Apt module provides a wide range of options to install, update, and remove packages, as well as manage repositories.

Install a Package

In this step, you will use the Ansible Apt module to install a package on a target system.

First, create a new Ansible playbook file called /home/labex/project/apt-module-playbook.yaml (you can also use .yml extension) and open it in a text editor.
Add the following content to the playbook file:

- hosts: localhost
  tasks:
    - name: Install a package
      become: yes
      apt:
        name: docker-compose
        state: present

This is an Ansible playbook for installing a package called docker-compose on a local host. The use of privileged access to perform the task is specified via become: yes. In the apt module, name specifies that the package to be installed is named docker-compose, and state: present ensures that the package is in the installed state.

Then, run the playbook using the following command:

ansible-playbook apt-module-playbook.yaml

Example output:

[WARNING]: No inventory was parsed, only implicit localhost is available
[WARNING]: provided hosts list is empty, only localhost is available. Note that
the implicit localhost does not match 'all'

PLAY [localhost] ***************************************************************

TASK [Gathering Facts] *********************************************************
ok: [localhost]

TASK [Install a package] *******************************************************
changed: [localhost]

PLAY RECAP *********************************************************************
localhost : ok=2 changed=1 unreachable=0 failed=0 skipped=0 rescued=0 ignored=0

Finally, check if docker-compose was successfully installed and see the docker-compose version.

docker-compose --version

Example output:

docker-compose version 1.29.2, build unknown

Successfully install a package on the target system using the Apt module.

Update a Package

In this step, you will use the Ansible Apt module to update a package on a target system.

First, modify the existing playbook file by removing all content and adding the following content to the playbook file:

- hosts: localhost
  tasks:
    - name: Update a package
      become: yes
      apt:
        name: docker-compose
        state: latest

This is an Ansible playbook for updating a package called docker-compose on the local host. The use of privileged access to perform the task is specified via become: yes. In the apt module, name specifies that the package to be updated is named docker-compose and state: latest indicates that the package is to be updated to the latest version.

Then, run the playbook using the following command:

ansible-playbook apt-module-playbook.yaml

Example output:

[WARNING]: No inventory was parsed, only implicit localhost is available
[WARNING]: provided hosts list is empty, only localhost is available. Note that
the implicit localhost does not match 'all'

PLAY [localhost] ***************************************************************

TASK [Gathering Facts] *********************************************************
ok: [localhost]

TASK [Update a package] ********************************************************
ok: [localhost]

PLAY RECAP *********************************************************************
localhost : ok=2 changed=0 unreachable=0 failed=0 skipped=0 rescued=0 ignored=0

Finally, check if docker-compose was successfully updated and view docker-compose version.

docker-compose --version

Example output:

docker-compose version 1.29.2, build unknown

Successfully update a package on the target system using the Apt module.

Remove a Package

In this step, you will use the Ansible Apt module to remove a package from a target system.

First, modify the existing playbook file by removing all content and adding the following content to the playbook file:

- hosts: localhost
  tasks:
    - name: Remove a package
      become: yes
      apt:
        name: docker-compose
        state: absent

This is an Ansible playbook for removing a package called docker-compose on the local host. The become: yes specifies that privileged access is used to perform the task. In the apt module, name specifies that the package to be removed is named docker-compose, and state: absent ensures that the package is removed in the uninstalled state.

Then, run the playbook using the following command:

ansible-playbook apt-module-playbook.yaml

Example output:

[WARNING]: No inventory was parsed, only implicit localhost is available
[WARNING]: provided hosts list is empty, only localhost is available. Note that
the implicit localhost does not match 'all'

PLAY [localhost] ***************************************************************

TASK [Gathering Facts] *********************************************************
ok: [localhost]

TASK [Remove a package] ********************************************************
changed: [localhost]

PLAY RECAP *********************************************************************
localhost : ok=2 changed=1 unreachable=0 failed=0 skipped=0 rescued=0 ignored=0

Finally, check if docker-compose was successfully removed.

docker-compose --version

Example output:

zsh: command not found: docker-compose

Successfully remove a package from the target system using the Apt module.

Summary

Congratulations! You have successfully completed the Ansible Apt module lab. You have learned how to install, update, and remove packages.

The Apt module is a powerful tool that enables you to automate package management tasks on Debian-based systems. With this knowledge, you can efficiently manage software installations and updates.