Using top-level playbooks

In all of the examples so far, we have built out using the best practice directory structure recommended by Ansible and continually referred to a top-level playbook, typically called site.yml. The idea behind this playbook (and, indeed, its common name across all of our directory structures) is so that it can be used across your entire server estate—that is to say, your site.

Of course, this is not to say that you have to use the same set of playbooks across every server in your infrastructure or for every single function; rather, it means only you can make the best decision as to what suits your environment best. However, the whole aim of Ansible automation is that the created solution is simple to run and operate. Imagine handing a playbook directory structure with 100 different playbooks to a new system administrator—how would they know which ones to run and in which circumstances? The task of training someone to use the playbooks would...