Ansible Automation Platform

Basic Information

• Model/Version: Ansible Automation Platform 2.6 (latest stable version).
• Release Date: Ansible Automation Platform 2.6 was generally available as of October 8, 2025.
• Minimum Requirements:
  • CPU: 2 CPUs minimum for basic installations; 4 CPU cores recommended for control nodes; 8 or more cores for larger environments.
  • RAM: 4 GB RAM minimum for basic installations; 8 GB RAM minimum for control nodes and Automation Hub; 16 GB RAM suggested for small deployments; 32 GB or more recommended for larger environments. Actual RAM requirements vary based on the number of hosts managed simultaneously, with 1 GB of memory per 10 forks plus a 2 GB reservation for the automation controller.
  • Storage: 20 GB of dedicated hard disk space for installation; 20 GB minimum for the control node; 40 GB minimum for Automation Controller with at least 20 GB available under /var/lib/awx; 50 GB minimum recommended for extensive automation processes, with SSDs preferred.
  • Operating System: Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 8.8 or later (64-bit x86, ppc64le, s390x, aarch64) or RHEL 9.2 or later (64-bit x86, ppc64le, s390x, aarch64). CentOS and Ubuntu are also mentioned as compatible for general Ansible, but RHEL is the primary supported OS for AAP. Supported on OpenShift Container Platform.
  • Python: Python 3.6 or later is required on the system. Ansible Automation Platform ships with execution environments containing ansible-core 2.16 (for AAP 2.5 and 2.6) or 2.14 (for AAP 2.4).
  • Database: PostgreSQL version 13 or later.
  • Browser: A currently supported version of Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome.
• Supported Operating Systems: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8+ (64-bit), Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2+ (64-bit). Also supported on OpenShift Container Platform.
• Latest Stable Version: Ansible Automation Platform 2.6.
• End of Support Date: Information regarding specific end-of-support dates for Ansible Automation Platform versions is typically detailed in Red Hat's lifecycle documentation. Features and bug fixes primarily target the latest versions.
• End of Life Date: Not explicitly stated in publicly available data, but Red Hat provides an 18-month support lifecycle for Ansible Automation Platform. RPM-based installations will be deprecated after version 2.6, with 2.7 and later supporting only containerized installations.
• License Type: Enterprise solution with a Red Hat subscription.
• Deployment Model: On-premise (Linux/RHEL), virtual machines, and containerized deployments on OpenShift Container Platform, Amazon EKS, Azure AKS, or Google Cloud GKE.

Technical Requirements

• RAM:
  • Minimum: 4 GB.
  • Recommended for Control Node/Automation Hub: 8 GB.
  • Recommended for Small Deployments: 16 GB.
  • Recommended for Large Deployments: 32 GB or more.
  • Specific to Automation Controller: 1 GB per 10 forks + 2 GB reservation; 42 GB for 400 forks.
• Processor:
  • Minimum: 2 CPUs.
  • Recommended for Control Node: 4 CPU cores.
  • Recommended for Larger Environments: 8 or more CPU cores.
• Storage:
  • Installation: 20 GB dedicated hard disk space.
  • Control Node: 20 GB minimum.
  • Automation Controller: 40 GB minimum, with 20 GB for /var/lib/awx.
  • Extensive Automation: 50 GB minimum, SSDs preferred.
  • Database Nodes: 20 GB dedicated hard disk space (150 GB+ recommended for nodes containing a database).
  • IOPS: Storage volume rated for a minimum baseline of 750 IOPS (for Tower service nodes) or 3000 IOPS (for Automation Controller).
• Display: Not specified, but requires a modern web browser for the user interface.
• Ports: Requires open ports for network connectivity between nodes.
• Operating System: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8+ or 9.2+ (64-bit). Python 3.6+ is a critical dependency.

Analysis of Technical Requirements: Ansible Automation Platform's technical requirements are scalable, ranging from modest for basic installations to substantial for large-scale enterprise deployments. The platform is optimized for Red Hat Enterprise Linux environments and can be deployed on virtual machines or container platforms. Resource allocation, particularly RAM and storage, is highly dependent on the scale and complexity of automation tasks and the number of managed hosts. SSDs are recommended for performance-critical storage. Python 3.6 or later is a core software dependency. The requirements reflect its enterprise-grade capabilities and its design for managing extensive IT automation workflows.

Support & Compatibility

• Latest Version: Ansible Automation Platform 2.6.
• OS Support: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8+ and 9.2+ (64-bit). Also supported on OpenShift Container Platform, Amazon EKS, Azure AKS, and Google Cloud GKE.
• End of Support Date: Red Hat provides an 18-month support lifecycle for Ansible Automation Platform. Specific dates depend on the version.
• Localization: Not explicitly detailed in search results, but as an enterprise product, it likely offers localization support for its user interface.
• Available Drivers: Not applicable in the traditional sense for a software automation platform. Compatibility is managed through Ansible modules and content collections that interact with various systems and applications.

Analysis of Overall Support & Compatibility Status: Ansible Automation Platform offers robust support and compatibility, primarily focusing on Red Hat Enterprise Linux and OpenShift environments. Its compatibility extends to major cloud providers through containerized deployments. Red Hat provides dedicated enterprise-grade support, including security updates and compatibility assurances. The platform's strength lies in its extensive content collections and modules, which ensure broad compatibility with diverse IT infrastructure and cloud services, enabling automation across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. The 18-month support lifecycle emphasizes regular updates and upgrades to leverage new features and maintain stability.

Security Status

• Security Features:
  • Enforces security and compliance policies.
  • Automates security testing and includes security steps in provisioning.
  • Policy enforcement to control automation actions.
  • Automated remediation for issues.
  • Automates penetration testing and hardening.
  • Enforces cloud hygiene.
  • Utilizes Ansible Vault for secure storage of sensitive data (passwords, API keys).
  • Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) for restricting access to control nodes and defining execution permissions.
  • Secure communication using SSH keys or certificates.
  • Regular rotation of secrets.
  • Firewall rule application and management.
  • Limited privilege escalation.
  • Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) support.
  • Monitoring and auditing of Ansible activities.
  • Integration with enterprise vaults for secret management.
• Known Vulnerabilities: Not specified in general searches, but Red Hat provides security updates and addresses vulnerabilities as part of its enterprise support.
• Blacklist Status: Not applicable.
• Certifications: Red Hat offers certifications related to Ansible Automation Platform, such as "Red Hat Certified Specialist in Developing Automation with Ansible Automation Platform" and "Red Hat Certified Specialist in Managing Automation with Ansible Automation Platform," indicating a focus on best practices and security.
• Encryption Support: Ansible Vault provides encryption for sensitive data.
• Authentication Methods:
  • Local authentication.
  • LDAP.
  • SAML.
  • TACACS+.
  • RADIUS.
  • Azure AD.
  • Google OAuth.
  • Generic OIDC.
  • Keycloak.
  • GitHub, GitHub organization, GitHub team, GitHub enterprise, GitHub enterprise organization, GitHub enterprise team.
  • Session Authentication, Basic Authentication, OAuth 2 Token Authentication, SSO Authentication for API access.
• General Recommendations: Implement well-known security principles like least privilege, defense-in-depth, and RBAC. Minimize access to managed nodes. Regularly update Ansible and plugins. Use SSH key encryption. Limit access to sensitive files.

Analysis on Overall Security Rating: Ansible Automation Platform provides a strong security posture through a comprehensive suite of features and adherence to best practices. It emphasizes a "security by design" approach, integrating robust authentication methods, granular access controls (RBAC), and encryption for sensitive data via Ansible Vault. The platform facilitates compliance and policy enforcement, enabling organizations to automate security tasks and respond to threats efficiently. Red Hat's certification programs further reinforce a commitment to secure automation practices. The wide array of supported authentication methods allows seamless integration into existing enterprise identity management systems.

Performance & Benchmarks

• Benchmark Scores: Not explicitly detailed in publicly available search results.
• Real-world Performance Metrics:
  • Improved IT operation efficiency, speed, and scalability.
  • Organizations realize an annual average of US$14.81 million in benefits and a 668% 3-year ROI.
  • Reduced human error with repeatable processes.
  • Consistency and compliance across environments.
  • Deployment times cut from 50 minutes to 10 minutes in some cases.
  • Ability to push changes to 250+ sites simultaneously.
  • Scales and deploys applications, updates, and configuration changes with reliability and minimal human intervention.
  • Automated 223 processes across departments, saving over 80,993 work hours for the City and County of Denver.
• Power Consumption: Not directly applicable for a software platform; power consumption depends on the underlying hardware infrastructure where the platform is deployed.
• Carbon Footprint: Not directly applicable for a software platform; depends on the efficiency of the data centers and hardware used for deployment.
• Comparison with Similar Assets:
  • Praised for user-friendly syntax and agentless architecture, making it easier to learn and implement compared to other options.
  • Agentless model can be slower than agent-based tools in large environments or with many repetitive tasks.
  • Excels in automating tasks across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
  • Provides a more secure and stable foundation for deploying end-to-end automation solutions compared to upstream open-source tools.
  • Offers certified and validated automation content and technical support, differentiating it from community-only Ansible.

Analysis of Overall Performance Status: Ansible Automation Platform demonstrates strong real-world performance, primarily through significant efficiency gains, cost savings, and improved operational speed for enterprises. While specific benchmark scores are not readily available, user feedback and case studies highlight its ability to streamline complex IT tasks, reduce human error, and achieve substantial ROI. Its agentless architecture is a key differentiator, simplifying deployment, though it can sometimes lead to slower execution in very large-scale, highly repetitive tasks compared to agent-based systems. The platform's strength lies in its scalability, consistency, and ability to manage diverse, hybrid cloud environments effectively.

User Reviews & Feedback

Users consistently praise Ansible Automation Platform for its user-friendly syntax and agentless architecture, which simplifies learning and implementation. The platform's ability to automate complex IT tasks consistently across hybrid environments is a significant strength, providing a powerful framework for provisioning, configuration management, and application deployment with minimal overhead. Features like role-based access control, visual dashboards, and certified content collections are highly valued for scaling automation securely in large organizations. Many users report significant benefits, including pushing changes to hundreds of sites simultaneously, integrating self-service options, and automating software updates and patching.

However, some weaknesses are noted. The platform's environment can be perceived as large, complicated, and daunting for new users. A common issue is the slow execution of playbooks, particularly in large-scale environments or when performing numerous repetitive tasks, which is attributed to its agentless model. Users also mention that the logging could be improved. Another challenge is the difficulty in hiring employees with existing Ansible Automation Platform knowledge. The installation of dependencies in isolated environments can also be challenging.

Recommended Use Cases:

• Configuration Management: Automating system configuration across diverse IT infrastructure.
• Application Deployment: Streamlining CI/CD pipelines and deploying applications consistently.
• Cloud Provisioning and Management: Automating the provisioning and management of resources across public, private, and hybrid clouds.
• Virtual Infrastructure Management: Deploying, configuring, and managing virtual machines across various platforms like VMware and OpenShift Virtualization.
• Network Automation: Automating network device configuration and management.
• Security and Compliance Automation: Enforcing security policies, automating vulnerability scanning, patch management, and incident response.
• Operating System Automation: Automating tasks like patching, user management, and system settings for various operating systems.
• Orchestration: Managing and coordinating complex workflows across multiple systems and applications.
• Disaster Recovery Automation: Automating backup, recovery testing, and ensuring business continuity.
• Edge Automation: Extending automation capabilities to edge locations.

Summary

Ansible Automation Platform is a robust, enterprise-grade solution designed to streamline IT operations through comprehensive automation. Its core strength lies in its agentless architecture and YAML-based playbooks, which contribute to its ease of use and broad compatibility across various operating systems, virtual environments, and cloud platforms, including Red Hat Enterprise Linux, OpenShift, and major public clouds. The platform offers significant scalability, enabling organizations to manage complex, large-scale automation tasks efficiently and consistently. User feedback consistently highlights its ability to deliver substantial ROI, reduce human error, and accelerate deployment times, translating into improved operational efficiency and cost savings.

From a security perspective, Ansible Automation Platform is well-equipped with features such as Ansible Vault for data encryption, extensive Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), and support for a wide array of enterprise authentication methods including LDAP, SAML, and OAuth. It facilitates policy enforcement and automated security tasks, aligning with best practices like least privilege and defense-in-depth. Red Hat's dedicated support and certification programs further enhance its reliability and security posture.

However, the platform is not without its challenges. Some users find the overall environment complex and daunting, and the agentless nature can lead to slower playbook execution in very large or highly repetitive scenarios. While specific performance benchmarks are not widely publicized, real-world metrics demonstrate significant gains in efficiency and operational speed.

Overall, Ansible Automation Platform is an indispensable tool for organizations seeking to achieve consistent, scalable, and secure automation across their hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructure. Its strengths in ease of use, broad compatibility, and robust security features make it highly recommended for configuration management, application deployment, cloud provisioning, network automation, and security compliance. While it presents a learning curve and potential performance considerations for extreme scale, the benefits in operational efficiency and strategic IT management are substantial.

Information provided is based on publicly available data and may vary depending on specific device configurations. For up-to-date information, please consult official manufacturer resources.