Ansible Automation Hub: Publish & Manage Collections (Complete Guide)
By Luca Berton · Published 2024-01-01 · Category: installation
How to use Ansible Automation Hub and Private Automation Hub. Publish, install, and manage certified and validated collections. Configure ansible-galaxy with Automation Hub tokens.
Ansible Automation Hub: Publish & Manage Collections (Complete Guide)
Ansible Automation Hub is Red Hat's repository for certified and validated Ansible collections. It provides curated, supported content for enterprise automation. Private Automation Hub lets you host your own internal collection repository.
What is Automation Hub?
| Feature | Ansible Galaxy | Automation Hub | Private Automation Hub | |---------|---------------|----------------|----------------------| | Access | Public, free | Red Hat subscription | Self-hosted | | Content | Community | Certified + validated | Internal + synced | | Support | Community | Red Hat supported | Organization managed | | Hosting | galaxy.ansible.com | console.redhat.com | On-premise / AAP | | Use case | Development | Enterprise production | Air-gapped / regulated |
Configure Automation Hub
Get Your Token
Go to
Configure ansible.cfg
Install Collections from Automation Hub
Private Automation Hub
Private Automation Hub (PAH) is included with AAP. It lets you host collections internally.
Access PAH Web UI
Sync Collections from Red Hat
Publish Your Own Collections
Configure Clients for PAH
Execution Environments with Automation Hub
Certified vs Validated Collections
Certified Collections • Published by Red Hat partners • Fully tested and supported by Red Hat • Examples: cisco.ios, amazon.aws, microsoft.ad • Updated on Red Hat's release schedule
Validated Collections • Community collections tested by Red Hat • Not fully supported but verified to work • Broader selection than certified • Examples: community.general, community.crypto
Collection Namespaces
Best Practices Pin collection versions in requirements.yml for reproducible builds Use PAH for air-gapped environments — sync certified content internally Approve collections before publishing to PAH production namespace Use execution environments to bundle collections with their dependencies Separate dev and prod PAH repositories for staged rollouts
FAQ
What is Ansible Automation Hub?
Ansible Automation Hub is Red Hat's hosted repository for certified and validated Ansible collections. It provides enterprise-grade, tested content with Red Hat support. Access requires a Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform subscription.
What is the difference between Ansible Galaxy and Automation Hub?
Galaxy is public and community-driven — anyone can publish. Automation Hub hosts Red Hat certified and validated collections with commercial support. For production enterprise use, Automation Hub provides tested, supported content.
What is Private Automation Hub?
Private Automation Hub (PAH) is a self-hosted collection repository included with AAP. It lets organizations host internal collections and sync certified content from Red Hat for air-gapped or regulated environments.
How do I install collections from Automation Hub?
Configure your API token in ansible.cfg under [galaxy_server.automation_hub], then use ansible-galaxy collection install collection_name. The token authenticates your Red Hat subscription.
Can I publish my own collections to Automation Hub?
You can publish to Private Automation Hub (self-hosted). Publishing to the public Red Hat Automation Hub requires a Red Hat partner agreement. For community sharing, use Ansible Galaxy.
Conclusion
Automation Hub provides the enterprise backbone for Ansible content management. Use it for certified collections in production, Private Automation Hub for internal distribution, and Galaxy for community content in development.
Related Articles • Ansible Galaxy: Install, Create & Share Collections • Ansible Automation Platform (AAP) Guide • Ansible Collections: Complete Guide
Category: installation