"Using Automation Tools To Deploy And Operate Applications In Real World Scenarios"
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The document discusses the use of automation tools, specifically Ansible, to manage application deployment and operations effectively in a telecommunications environment. It highlights the challenges posed by manual updates and the advantages of using automation to create reproducible, error-free processes. Ansible was chosen for its simplicity and efficiency, enabling robust system management and easier migration across different environments.
![Slide 14
How does this help to make systems more robust?
• Use small groups and combine them
[appserverSolaris]
appserv001
appserv002
appserv003
mickey
minnie
[appserverRedHat]
appserv011
appserv012
gustav
[appserver:children]
appserverRedHat
appserverSolaris](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/consolansible-211222161110/85/Using-Automation-Tools-To-Deploy-And-Operate-Applications-In-Real-World-Scenarios-14-320.jpg)
"Using Automation Tools To Deploy And Operate Applications In Real World Scenarios"
- 1. Using Automation Tools To Deploy and Operate Applications in Real World Scenarios Christian Hilgers Senior Software Consultant
- 2. Slide 2 Agenda • Welcome • Where did we came from? • What was needed? • Which options did we had? • What and why was choosen? • How does this help to make systems more robust? • How does it look? Demo! • Summary
- 3. Slide 3 Where did we came from? • Example taken from Telco customer • Existing environment handles 6+ mio Requests per day • Production Environment: • From different combinations of Solaris 10 on Sparc and x86 to Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) on x86 on Hardware • HW was replaced 3 times since go-live • Test Environment: • VMs with Solaris 10 x86 and later RHEL x86 • Backend proxies are mixed VM and Hardware
- 4. Slide 4 Where did we came from? • Solaris needed manual compilation of apache httpd, openssl and apache add-ons every time a security issue was fixed every time an updated release showed up • Compiled code in test was not usable in prod (x86 vs. Sparc) • Update process took hours and needed lots of scripts to compile and distribute • All in all: error prone
- 5. Slide 5 What was needed? • Proxies on Apache httpd base • Decrypt incoming connections • Encrypt outgoing connections • Have all certificates at one place • No default certificate bundles • Rollout software, config, and certificates (+ removal) • Reproducible • Easy
- 6. Slide 6 Which options did we had? • Option 1: do it manually • Pro: quick the first time • Con: easy to forget files, executing command on all systems, … • Con: forget one system results in weird error scenarios • Option 1.5: write scripts • Sadly abt. 80% of code is error handling and special stuff • Option 2: Use automation tools • Con: takes longer the first time • Pro: reproducible • Pro: Works on all Environments
- 7. Slide 7 Which options did we test? • Option 1: do it manually • Been there • Option 1.5: write scripts • Done that • Option 2: Use automation tools • Seen that ;-) Evaluation which automation tool to use, started
- 8. Slide 8 What and why was choosen? • Automation tools • Compare target state with the actual status • Take actions to change actual state into target state • Work idempotent, can run several times without breaking things • Ansible was choosen due to specific contraints in that environment like • No extra software needed, only python • No extra port needed, just ssh • No permanent connection needed
- 9. Slide 9 What other option did we had? • Puppet • uses extra Port, Firewall Rule needed -> KO • Chef • uses extra Port, Firewall Rule needed -> KO • SaltStack • uses extra Port, Firewall Rule needed -> KO • Pretty fast • Ansible • Communicates via ssh -> OK • Only python needed
- 10. Slide 10 How can ansible be used? • With a playbook: • Typical way of using ansible • Combines plays and roles • Add-hoc commands: • ansible ts2ucipr007 -m ping ts2ucipr007 | SUCCESS => { "changed": false, "ping": "pong" } • ansible frontendproxy -m shell -a "uname –a" ts2ucipr007 | CHANGED | rc=0 >> Linux ts2ucipr007 3.10.0-1160.45.1.el7.x86_64 #1 SMP Wed Oct 13 17:20:51 UTC 2021 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
- 11. Slide 11 What does ansible use? • To describe the target state ansible uses • Inventory • Variables • Roles • Playbooks • Done in yaml
- 12. Slide 12 How does this help to make systems more robust? • Inventory • List of systems ansible needs to know • Allows grouping of systems and inheritance • Variables • Define specific attributes for hosts and groups
- 13. Slide 13 How does this help to make systems more robust? • How to create an inventory • Manually for static environments like VMs or HW • Automatically from eg. cloud provider API Infrastructure as code
- 14. Slide 14 How does this help to make systems more robust? • Use small groups and combine them [appserverSolaris] appserv001 appserv002 appserv003 mickey minnie [appserverRedHat] appserv011 appserv012 gustav [appserver:children] appserverRedHat appserverSolaris
- 15. Slide 15 How does this help to make systems more robust? • Grouping allows • Smooth migration and steering during installation • Changing default variables using group_vars • We used this to migrate from Solaris to RedHat Servers in Production • Ansible-playbook runs can be restricted to hosts or groups
- 16. Slide 16 How does it look? Demo! • Example installing apache and certificates takes a few minutes • Optional: Fix a mistake easily
- 17. Slide 17 Summary • Make small groups and combine them • Keep roles and playbooks generic • Put specific information into host_vars, group_vars, inventory • Use intrinsic ansibe_facts to eg. differentiate OS (Solaris vs. RedHat) or versions (RHEL 7 vs. RHEL 8) • Use tags • Result • Be able to run playbooks and roles on local test VMs for develpoment and debuging • Be able to migrate fast to new target environment in case of emergency change
- 18. Questions?
- 19. Thank you!
- 20. ConSol Consulting & Solutions Software GmbH St.-Cajetan-Straße 43 D-81669 Munich Germany Tel.: +49-89-45841-100 info@consol.de www.consol.com Twitter: @consol_de
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