Red Hat Ansible for Network Automation

Execute an ad hoc command that displays the current state of interface eth6 on the leaf01 machine.

[student@workstation proj]$ ansible -m vyos_command \
> -a "commands='sh int eth eth6|grep ^eth6'" leaf01
leaf01 | SUCCESS => {
    "changed": false,
    "stdout": [
        "eth6: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc pfifo_fast
 state UP group default qlen 1000"
    ],
    "stdout_lines": [
        [
            "eth6: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc pfifo_fast
 state UP group default qlen 1000"
        ]
    ]
}

Perform a play that shuts down eth6 on leaf01.

1. Compose a playbook named ifdown.yml with required extra variables named target and intf that shuts down the interface on the host.

   [student@workstation proj]$ cat ifdown.yml
   ---
   - name: play to shutdown an interface
     # Required arguments: target, intf
     hosts: "{{ target }}"
   
     tasks:
   
     - name: disable interface {{ intf }} on a VyOS box
       vyos_interface:
         name: "{{ intf }}"
         enabled: False
       when: ansible_network_os == 'vyos'
   
     - name: disable interface {{ intf }} on an IOS box
       ios_interface:
         name: "{{ intf }}"
         enabled: False
       when: ansible_network_os == 'ios'

2. Perform the play in the playbook.

   [student@workstation proj]$ ansible-playbook -e "target=leaf01 intf=eth6" \
   > ifdown.yml

3. Display the state of eth6 on leaf01 after performing the play.

   [student@workstation proj]$ ansible -m vyos_command \
   > -a "commands='sh int eth eth6|grep ^eth6'" leaf01
   leaf01 | SUCCESS => {
       "changed": false,
       "stdout": [
           "eth6: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST> mtu 1500 qdisc pfifo_fast
    state DOWN group default qlen 1000"
       ],
       "stdout_lines": [
           [
               "eth6: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST> mtu 1500 qdisc pfifo_fast
    state DOWN group default qlen 1000"
           ]
       ]
   }

Perform a play that brings up interface eth6 on leaf01.

1. Compose a playbook named ifup.yml with required extra variables named target and intf that brings up the specified interface on the specified host.

   [student@workstation proj]$ cat ifup.yml
   ---
   - name: bring up an interface
     # Required arguments: target, intf
     hosts: "{{ target }}"
   
     tasks:
   
     - name: enable interface {{ intf }} on a VyOS box
       vyos_interface:
         name: "{{ intf }}"
         enabled: True
       when: ansible_network_os == 'vyos'
   
     - name: enable interface {{ intf }} on an IOS box
       ios_interface:
         name: "{{ intf }}"
         enabled: True
       when: ansible_network_os == 'ios'

2. Perform the play in the playbook.

   [student@workstation proj]$ ansible-playbook -e "target=leaf01 intf=eth6" \
   > ifup.yml

3. Display the state of eth6 on leaf01 after performing the play.

   [student@workstation proj]$ ansible -m vyos_command \
   > -a "commands='sh int eth eth6|grep ^eth6'" leaf01
   leaf01 | SUCCESS => {
       "changed": false,
       "stdout": [
           "eth6: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc pfifo_fast
    state UP group default qlen 1000"
       ],
       "stdout_lines": [
           [
               "eth6: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc pfifo_fast
    state UP group default qlen 1000"
           ]
       ]
   }

Perform a play that bounces an interface.

1. Compose a playbook named bounce-if.yml containing a play that first shuts down an interface, then brings it up.

   [student@workstation proj]$ cat bounce-if.yml
   ---
   - name: bounce an interface (shut/no shut)
     # Required arguments: target, intf
     hosts: "{{ target }}"
   
     tasks:
   
     - name: shut interface {{ intf }} on a VyOS box
       vyos_interface:
         name: "{{ intf }}"
         enabled: False
       when: target in groups['vyos']
   
     - name: shut interface {{ intf }} on an IOS box
       ios_interface:
         name: "{{ intf }}"
         enabled: False
       when: target in groups['ios']
   
     - name: pause briefly before enabling interfaces
       pause:
         seconds: 1
   
     - name: enable interface {{ intf }} on a VyOS box
       vyos_interface:
         name: "{{ intf }}"
         enabled: True
       when: target in groups['vyos']
   
     - name: enable interface {{ intf }} on an IOS box
       ios_interface:
         name: "{{ intf }}"
         enabled: True
       when: target in groups['ios']

2. Check the playbook's syntax, then perform its play, applying it to the eth6 interface on leaf01.

   [student@workstation proj]$ ansible-playbook -e "target=leaf01 intf=eth6" \
   > --syntax-check bounce-if.yml
   
   Playbook: bounce-if.yml
   [student@workstation proj]$ ansible-playbook -e "target=leaf01 intf=eth6" \
   > bounce-if.yml
   
   PLAY [bounce an interface (shut/no shut)] **************************************
   
   TASK [shut interface eth6 on a VyOS box] ***************************************
   changed: [leaf01]
   
   TASK [shut interface eth6 on an IOS box] ***************************************
   skipping: [leaf01]
   
   TASK [pause briefly before enabling interfaces] ********************************
   Pausing for 1 seconds
   (ctrl+C then 'C' = continue early, ctrl+C then 'A' = abort)
   ok: [leaf01]
   
   TASK [enable interface eth6 on a VyOS box] **************************************
   changed: [leaf01]
   
   TASK [enable interface eth6 on an IOS box] *************************************
   skipping: [leaf01]
   
   PLAY RECAP *********************************************************************
   leaf01                     : ok=3    changed=2    unreachable=0    failed=0

3. Display the state of eth6 on leaf01 after performing the play.

   [student@workstation proj]$ ansible -m vyos_command \
   > -a "commands='sh int eth eth6|grep ^eth6'" leaf01
   leaf01 | SUCCESS => {
       "changed": false,
       "stdout": [
           "eth6: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc pfifo_fast
    state UP group default qlen 1000"
       ],
       "stdout_lines": [
           [
               "eth6: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc pfifo_fast
    state UP group default qlen 1000"
           ]
       ]
   }