Cisco CCNA (200-301)Automation and ProgrammabilityMedium
A company wants to automate configuration of 200 switches using a tool that does not require installing any agent software on the managed devices and instead connects over SSH to push changes. Which automation tool best fits this description?
- AChef
- BAnsible
- CSaltStack (using minions)
- DPuppet
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Ansible
Ansible is agentless, using SSH (or NETCONF/API for network devices) from a control node to push configuration changes to managed nodes without requiring installed agents. Puppet, Chef, and Salt (in minion mode) traditionally rely on agents installed on managed nodes.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Chef also requires a client/agent installed on managed nodes to apply configurations.
- C. SaltStack in its traditional minion mode requires agent software on managed devices.
- D. Puppet typically requires an agent installed on each managed node to pull configurations.
Ansible Agentless Automation
Ansible is a push-based, agentless automation tool that uses SSH (for Linux/network devices) to apply configurations defined in YAML playbooks from a control node.
- No agent software needed on managed nodes
- Uses YAML playbooks and modules
- Push model: control node initiates connections
Memory trick: Ansible pushes with SSH, no agent needed—Ansible answers the call.