Create a network banner automation job template

Basics Lab 4

Challenge 1, learn how to create a Network-Banner job template in Automation controller

Lab 4 - Learning about Ansible Automation Platform Surveys

Demonstrate the use of automation controller https://docs.ansible.com/automation-controller/latest/html/userguide/job_templates.html#surveys. Surveys set extra variables for the playbook similar to 'Prompt for Extra Variables', but in a user-friendly question and answer way. Surveys allow for validation of user input.

Survey

An Ansible Controller survey is a simple question-and-answer form that allows users to customize their job runs. Combine that with Controller’s role-based access control, and you can build simple, easy self-service for your users.

Use cases for surveys are numerous. An example might be if operations wanted to give developers a "push to stage" button they could run without advanced Ansible knowledge. When launched, this task could prompt for answers to questions such as, "What tag should we release?"

Many types of questions can be asked, including multiple-choice questions.

Create a Job Template first

  • Once a Job Template is created and saved the top menu will have a tab Survey

    picture of where survey button is

Lets get started

That is the end of of your lab briefing!

For this exercise we are going to create an automation job on Automation controller

Login to automation controller

To login to automation controller select the Automation controller WebUI tab at the top of your screen.

  • Login with the following credentials:

    username

    admin

    password

    ansible123!

Step 1 - Create an automation job

  • In the left navigation menu, expand Automation Execution and then click on Templates.

  • You will see any created Job Templates. Job templates encourage the reuse of Ansible playbook content and collaboration between teams.

  • Click the blue Add button and select Create job template

  • Assign the following values

    Name Value

    Name

    Network-Banner

    Job Type

    Run

    Inventory

    Network Inventory

    Project

    Network Toolkit

    Execution Environment

    Default execution environment

    Playbook

    playbooks/network_banner.yml

    Credential

    Network Credential

  • Click the blue Create job template button to save your job template.

Step 2 - Verify

  • Click the Next button below to verify the job template was created and go to next challenge.