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This lesson briefly reviews the prerequisites needed for the course — both the knowledge you should already have and the lab resources you’ll need to complete the exercises.

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Knowledge prerequisites

You should be comfortable with the following fundamentals before proceeding:
SkillWhy it mattersExample / What to practice
Linux basicsYou’ll administer the control and managed nodes (install packages, manage services, work with files and permissions)Install packages with dnf, manage systemd services
YAML syntaxAnsible playbooks are written in YAMLPractice indentation, lists, and mapping structures
Ansible fundamentalsHelps you focus on AI-assisted workflows rather than relearning conceptsUnderstand playbooks, plays, tasks, handlers, and inventories
Command-line navigationWe’ll run and validate playbooks from a terminalUse ssh, scp, and basic shell commands
A presentation slide titled "Knowledge Prerequisites" showing a left panel of required skills with icons: Linux Basics, YAML Syntax, Ansible Fundamentals, and Command-Line Skills. To the right is a note saying "Navigate and run playbooks in RHEL."

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Lab environment requirements

For hands-on labs you will need an environment with the following components. This setup mirrors typical enterprise RHEL deployment scenarios and ensures the examples work as shown.
ResourcePurposeRecommendation
Control node (RHEL 10)Install Ansible and run playbooks from a central locationRHEL 10 VM or physical host
Managed node(s) (RHEL 10)Targets where Ansible applies configurationsAt least one RHEL 10 VM
Network connectivityAnsible uses SSH to connect to managed nodesEnsure SSH access and routing between nodes
Internet accessRequired for cloud-authenticated AI tools and downloading packagesRequired for Copilot, Lightspeed, and package repos
A presentation slide titled "Lab Environment Prerequisites" showing four requirement cards: 01 Control Node (RHEL 10) to install Ansible and run playbooks, 02 Managed Node (RHEL 10) to execute configurations, 03 Network Connection to ensure SSH between systems, and 04 Internet Access required for Copilot and Lightspeed.

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Account and access requirements

You will need the following accounts and access configured before starting the labs:
Account / ServicePurpose
Red Hat Developer accountAccess RHEL packages and developer resources
GitHub Copilot trialAI-assisted code suggestions while authoring playbooks (GitHub Copilot course)
Red Hat Ansible Lightspeed trialAI-enhanced Ansible content and recommendations
Cursor trial accountOptional: for additional AI coding tools (Cursor course)
Cloud account (optional)Host lab VMs if you are not using local VMsNote: cloud service free-tier availability varies; plan accordingly
Configure SSH key-based authentication between the control node and managed node(s) before running playbooks. SSH keys prevent repeated password prompts and are the recommended practice for secure, automated Ansible runs.

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Quick checklist

  • Install RHEL 10 on control node and managed node(s).
  • Ensure network connectivity and SSH reachability.
  • Create and distribute SSH keys for key-based authentication.
  • Sign up for required trials (GitHub Copilot, Red Hat Ansible Lightspeed, Cursor if needed).
  • Confirm internet access from your control node for downloads and AI auth.

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Next steps

With prerequisites satisfied, proceed to:
  1. Install Ansible on the control node.
  2. Configure SSH key-based access to managed node(s).
  3. Run a first, simple playbook to verify connectivity and apply a basic configuration.
This setup ensures you have a stable environment for learning AI-assisted Ansible workflows and follow-up labs.

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