Getting Started with Ansible for Network Automation
Network infrastructure is moving faster than manual processes can handle—Ansible bridges that gap by automating repetitive configuration tasks at scale. This course cuts through the noise and gets you writing functional playbooks in under 4 hours, with real sandbox environments to practise on immediately.
AIU.ac Verdict: Ideal for network engineers and junior DevOps practitioners who need to automate infrastructure without deep Python knowledge. The hands-on labs are genuinely useful, though you’ll need foundational Linux/networking knowledge to extract full value—it’s not a networking primer.
What This Course Covers
You’ll start with Ansible architecture and inventory management, then move into writing and executing playbooks for common network tasks: device configuration, backup automation, and change management. The course covers variables, handlers, and conditional logic—the practical building blocks you’ll use daily. Christopher Hart walks through real-world scenarios using Pluralsight’s sandbox labs, so you’re not just watching; you’re configuring actual network devices.
The second half focuses on scaling your automation: roles, templates, and integrating Ansible into CI/CD pipelines. You’ll learn how to structure playbooks for maintainability and how to troubleshoot common failures. By the end, you’ll have the muscle memory to tackle network automation tasks independently and understand where Ansible fits within a broader infrastructure-as-code strategy.
Who Is This Course For?
Ideal for:
- Network Engineers: Tired of SSH-ing into 50 switches to apply the same config. This teaches you to automate that in minutes.
- Junior DevOps/SRE Engineers: You know Linux but haven’t touched network automation. Ansible is your entry point—vendor-agnostic and Python-optional.
- Systems Administrators: Managing hybrid infrastructure (servers + network gear). Ansible unifies both under one automation framework.
May not suit:
- Complete Beginners: You’ll need working knowledge of Linux command line, basic networking (IP, routing), and ideally some exposure to YAML syntax.
- Advanced Ansible Users: If you’re already writing complex roles and using Ansible Tower, this foundational course won’t challenge you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Getting Started with Ansible for Network Automation take?
3 hours 43 minutes of video content. Most learners complete it in 1–2 sittings, though hands-on lab time may extend that depending on your pace.
Do I need to install Ansible locally, or can I use the sandbox?
Pluralsight provides browser-based sandbox environments, so no local installation required. You can practise immediately without setup friction.
Will this course teach me networking fundamentals?
No—it assumes you already understand basic networking (subnetting, routing, device types). It focuses purely on automating network tasks with Ansible.
Is this course vendor-specific (Cisco, Juniper, etc.)?
Ansible is vendor-agnostic, so the principles apply across Cisco, Juniper, Arista, and others. The labs use standard network devices, and you’ll learn how to adapt playbooks to your own environment.
Course by Christopher Hart on Pluralsight. Duration: 3h 43m. Last verified by AIU.ac: March 2026.
