Ansible Playbook for Apache installation step-by-step guide

Ansible

Apache

Playbook

Reviewed on January 22, 2025

Apache is one of the most used open-source web servers globally. This tutorial explains how to deploy and configure Apache on Scaleway Instances with the power of Ansible automation. Before diving in, ensure you meet the prerequisites:

Before you start

To complete the actions presented below, you must have:

Owner status or IAM permissions allowing you to perform actions in the intended Organization
Familiarity with Ansible for seamless execution

Configuring Ansible for Apache

Begin by setting up Ansible to communicate with your Scaleway Instances:

Create a dedicated directory:
```
mkdir ansible-apache
```
Navigate to the directory:
```
cd ~/ansible-apache/
```
Create an ansible.cfg file:
```
nano ansible.cfg
```
Populate it with the host file configuration:
```
[defaults]
hostfile = hosts
```
Create and edit a hosts file:
```
nano hosts
```

Define your host information:

[apache]
secondary_server_ip ansible_ssh_user=username

Creating a playbook

Utilize Ansible playbooks for configuration and deployment:

Craft a playbook named apache.yml:
```
nano apache.yml
```

Insert the following content:

- hosts: apache
  tasks:
    - name: run echo command
      command: /bin/echo hello world

Execute the playbook:
```
ansible-playbook apache.yml
```

Installing Apache

Install Apache on your Scaleway Instance:

Update apache.yml with the apt module:
```
nano apache.yml
```

Replace the existing content with:

---
- hosts: apache
  become: yes
  tasks:
    - name: install apache2
      apt:
        name: apache2
        update_cache: yes
        state: latest

Run the playbook:

ansible-playbook apache.yml --ask-become-pass

Configuring Apache modules

Enable Apache modules as needed:

Open apache.yml:
```
nano apache.yml
```

Include module activation and restart handler:

---
- hosts: apache
  become: yes
  tasks:
    - name: install apache2
      apt:
        name: apache2
        update_cache: yes
        state: latest

    - name: enable mod_rewrite
      apache2_module:
        name: rewrite
        state: present
      notify:
        - restart apache2

  handlers:
    - name: restart apache2
      service:
        name: apache2
        state: restarted

Execute the playbook:

ansible-playbook apache.yml --ask-become-pass

Configuring Apache options

Customize Apache configuration as per your requirements:

Open apache.yml for editing:
```
nano apache.yml
```

Adjust port settings:

---
- hosts: apache
  become: yes
  tasks:
    - name: install apache2
      apt:
        name: apache2
        update_cache: yes
        state: latest

    - name: enable mod_rewrite
      apache2_module:
        name: rewrite
        state: present
      notify:
        - restart apache2

    - name: apache2 listen on port 8081
      lineinfile:
        dest: /etc/apache2/ports.conf
        regexp: "^Listen 80"
        line: "Listen 8081"
      notify:
        - restart apache2

    - name: apache2 virtualhost on port 8081
      lineinfile:
        dest: /etc/apache2/sites-available/000-default.conf
        regexp: "^<VirtualHost \*:80>"
        line: "<VirtualHost *:8081>"
      notify:
        - restart apache2

  handlers:
    - name: restart apache2
      service:
        name: apache2
        state: restarted

Run the playbook:

ansible-playbook apache.yml --ask-become-pass

Once Ansible is fully set up, you can visit your web browser on port 8081 (rather than port 80). In most web browsers, this can be easily achieved by adding :port onto the end of the URL: http://public_ip_address:8081/.

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