As we have discussed so far in this book, effective enterprise automation on Linux involves several key elements, including standardization of both tools and technologies, and implementing processes and tools that make the management of the environment more efficient. Ansible is a great first step in this journey and can be supplemented with a complementary technology called AWX to further streamline its application.

AWX is, in short, a GUI-driven tool for the management of Ansible jobs. It does not replace Ansible functionality, but rather adds to it by providing a multi-user GUI-driven frontend that allows for the simple management and orchestration of playbooks. When managing large Linux environments such as those in an enterprise, AWX is the perfect complement to Ansible automation and is an important step in effective and efficient management. In this chapter, we will cover the following topics:

• Introduction to AWX
• Installing AWX
• Running your playbooks from AWX
• Automating routine tasks with AWX