Automation with Ansible Playbooks - Hands On !!

🌟 **Course Overview:** The online course on Ansible, provided by Shikhar Verma, has garnered a global rating of 4.38, with all recent reviews being positive. The course is well-regarded for its comprehensive content, practical examples, and the instructor's deep insights into Ansible. It covers a wide range of topics from basic to intermediate levels, with an emphasis on hands-on labs that are essential for understanding the concepts of Ansible. **Pros:** - **Content Quality:** The course material is described as good, with a well-structured approach through each section and module. It's recognized as a better course compared to others available on Udemy. - **Instructor Knowledge:** Shikhar Verma is commended for his knowledge in Ansible, with several learners expressing gratitude for the deep insights provided. His unique way of explanation and accent is considered helpful by many. - **Practical Approach:** The course is highly practical, providing a solid foundation in both Ansible and shell scripting, particularly within database administration contexts. - **Real-World Application:** Learners appreciate the practical labs, which allow for real-world application of what is being taught. - **Lab Improvements:** Some learners suggest improvements to the practice labs, suggesting the inclusion of more realistic scenarios and hands-on examples. - **Accessibility:** The course has been beneficial for beginners, with some learners becoming confident in using Ansible, playbooks, and roles after completing it. **Cons:** - **Language and Accessibility Issues:** A few reviews mention that the English accent of the instructor can be hard to understand, and there is a suggestion to provide subtitles in other languages for clarity. Additionally, some learners find it necessary to have a Linux installation to fully benefit from the course, which could be a barrier for some users. - **Scripting Challenges:** Some learners experience difficulties with the scripts provided, as they sometimes differ from what is shown. It's recommended that all scripts should be included and properly attached for each lab or video number, particularly in section 14 (vid 67), where the scripts must be error-free to facilitate the subsequent lab exercises. - **Presentation Style:** There are concerns about the presentation style, with some learners finding it challenging to understand certain words and having to replay videos multiple times for comprehension. - **Course Structure Suggestions:** Some reviews recommend a more step-by-step approach to setting up the environment, as well as more detailed explanations of how components are set up and used. There is also a call for more basic examples in some cases. - **Volume Issues:** In section 14, the volume level was reportedly too low, which made it difficult for learners to follow along. **Additional Notes:** - The course seems to be more focused on system administration tasks and less on DevOps or DBA aspects of Ansible. Learners who are interested in these areas may need additional resources or self-learning to cover the broader scope of Ansible's use cases. - The inclusion of automation scripts for password changes, user creation/deletion, and health checks is highly appreciated, and it's recommended that the course be enhanced further with more insights into Ansible modules and shell scripting to elevate the overall learning experience. In conclusion, Shikhar Verma's course on Ansible provides a solid foundation for beginners to intermediate learners looking to understand and apply Ansible in practical scenarios. Despite some issues with language clarity and presentation style, the course content and hands-on labs are commended as valuable resources for anyone looking to enhance their knowledge and skills in Ansible and shell scripting.