Implementing and Operating Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies (ENCOR) v1.2AutomationMedium
A network team is evaluating different orchestration tools for provisioning new branch office routers. The requirements include agentless operation, strong community support, and a declarative language for configuration. Which tool best fits these criteria?
- AAnsible
- BSaltStack
- CChef
- DPuppet
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Ansible
Ansible is well-known for its agentless architecture (using SSH), large and active community, and its use of YAML for declarative playbooks, which aligns perfectly with the specified requirements for provisioning new branch office routers.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. SaltStack can operate agentless (via SSH) but is more commonly used with agents (minions) and typically uses YAML or Python for states, with a steeper learning curve for agentless compared to Ansible.
- C. Chef is also agent-based and uses Ruby for its recipes, not fully meeting the agentless and declarative language (YAML) criteria.
- D. Puppet is primarily agent-based and uses its own DSL, making it less suitable for the agentless requirement.
Ansible Key Features
Ansible is an open-source automation engine that automates software provisioning, configuration management, and application deployment. It's popular for its simplicity, agentless nature, and use of human-readable YAML playbooks.
- Agentless (uses SSH, WinRM).
- Declarative language (YAML playbooks).
- Strong community support and extensive modules.
- Idempotent operations.
Memory trick: Agentless, Community, Declarative: Think A-C-D, think Ansible.