Containerized Ansible Automation Platform: A New Era in IT Automation — Video Tutorial

Introduction In the ever-evolving landscape of automation and orchestration, Red Hat’s Ansible Automation Platform has remained a go-to choice for IT professionals. With its flexibility and powerful capabilities, the Ansible Automation Platform has been instrumental in simplifying complex IT tasks. Since September 2023, Red Hat has been excited to introduce a significant milestone in the world of Ansible: the technical preview of a containerized version of the Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform. - [Containerized Ansible Automation Platform Update 2024.md](/articles/containerized-ansible-automation-platform-update-2024) Containerized Ansible Automation Platform Containerization has become a dominant trend in modern software development, and it’s only fitting that the Ansible Automation Platform joins the container revolution. With the containerized version, you can install and run Ansible Automation Platform’s core components, including the automation controller, Ansible automation hub, and the Event-Driven Ansible controller services, all within containers. The best part? This doesn’t require a Kubernetes-based platform. We’ve harnessed the power of native Red Hat Podman on top of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) hosts, supporting both x86_64 and ARM64 architectures. The Rationale Behind Containerization As the Ansible Automation Platform grew, we introduced more services and components, increasing complexity and interdependencies. While these additions brought new opportunities, they also posed maintenance, installation, and support challenges. Our move toward containerization is a strategic step to enhance the platform management experience, aligning with our future vision and strategy. The Benefits Red Hat's containerized Ansible Automation Platform isn’t just about containerizing existing services; it’s about delivering a streamlined and improved experience. We set several goals to provide: 1. A Slimmed-Down Installation Experience We’ve made the installation process more straightforward and efficient. 2. A Layered Installation Approach Our approach ensures that each component can be installed and managed independently. 3. Containerized Services Each component runs within its container, enhancing isolation and portability. 4. Security Out of the Box We’ve adopted rootless Podman containers for enhanced security by default. 5. A Launchpad for Future Features This containerized release sets the stage for exciting future enhancements. 6. A Lighter Footprint Our containerization strategy is designed to cater to various markets and solutions, offering a lighter footprint where applicable. 7. Alignment with Deployment Platforms We’ve ensured that this containerized version aligns with our supported deployment platforms and options. New Features In this technical preview release, we introduce some exciting new features, including: 1. License Application You can now apply your Ansible Automation Platform license at installation