As you have worked through this book, you will have completed many steps to define and build a Linux environment for your enterprise that supports automation. However, Ansible's assistance with your environment does not end here. Even an environment that has been built and is in active use requires maintenance and intervention from time to time. Historically, these interventions would have been performed manually by system administrators, using shell commands or scripts.
As we have discussed many times throughout this book, tasks that are run by hand present a number of challenges for the enterprise—not least that they may not be well documented, and hence there is a steep learning curve for new members of staff. In addition, our old friends auditability and repeatability come into play—how can you be sure of who did...
