Automating VM Deployment with Ansible
Our team created several virtual machines every day and configured them manually. These repetitive tasks consumed multiple hours daily and slowed down the overall workflow. The goal was to automate the entire VM creation and configuration process using Ansible.
The challenge
Manual provisioning of virtual machines was both time-consuming and error-prone. There was no unified configuration baseline, which led to inconsistent system setups.
- High time consumption due to manual tasks
- Lack of standardized server configurations
- Inconsistent system quality and software versions
Project goals
The project objectives were:
- Fully automate VM creation using Ansible
- Introduce a standard configuration for all new servers
- Train the team to independently provision and configure virtual machines
Solution approach
I developed an Ansible playbook that automated both the deployment and initial setup of new VMs. A standard configuration was created to ensure consistency across all servers. I also conducted internal training sessions to enable team members to perform the process independently.
The implementation
- Automation: Created an Ansible playbook for automated VM provisioning
- Standardization: Introduced a central configuration template for all servers
- Training: Taught the team how to use Ansible for deployment and configuration
- Optimization: Documented and extended the solution for multiple VM types
The result
- Significant time savings due to automated processes
- Consistent and reproducible server configurations
- Team members can now independently provision and configure VMs
Insights
This project strengthened my skills in Ansible automation and process standardization. I learned how to transform repetitive manual work into efficient, automated workflows and empower teams to adopt them.
- Hands-on experience with VM automation using Ansible
- Improved team efficiency through targeted training
- Established long-term automation practices within daily operations