Install F5 BIG-IP Next Collection

This section provides necessary information to install and setup the f5next_ansible collection.

Prerequisites

• Install Python: http://www.python.org/
• Install Ansible 2.9+: http://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/intro_installation.html
• F5 recommends you install Ansible by using virtualenv/pip.

Install the Collection

After installing Python and Ansible, the final task is to install the F5 Ansible Collections.

In the following examples, we assume that the collections are stored in a relative path to the working directory. All commands are run in the working playbook directory.
To set the working directory, add the following line to ansible.cfg in your working directory: collections_paths = ./collections.
If you do not set the relative path, the default path is ~/.ansible/collections.

Install Location

The installation location is relative based on the previous configuration steps: ./collections/ansible_collections/f5next_ansible

Installation

• Install the most recent release, run the following command:

  ansible-galaxy collection install f5networks.next

  For more information, see the F5 Collection release on Ansible Galaxy.

• Alternatively, you can also install the F5 collection from the Github, run the following command.

  ansible-galaxy collection install git+https://github.com/F5Networks/f5-ansible-next#ansible_collections/f5networks/next -p ./collections/

Note

-p is the location in which the collection is installed. This location should be defined in the path for Ansible to search for collections. An example of this would be adding collections_paths = ./collections to your ansible.cfg.

Referencing a Collection in a playbook

1. Preface each module, role, or resource with the collection name:

   - name: Use Collections
       hosts: f5
       connection: httpapi
   
       tasks:
       - f5networks.next.cm_device_info:
           gather_subset:
             - all
   

2. Specify the collection for the entire play (any module found in the collection is used before core):

   - name: Use Collections
       hosts: f5
       connection: httpapi
   
       collections:
       - f5networks.next
   
       tasks:
       - cm_device_info:
           gather_subset:
             - all
   

Ansible community documentation

For more details on Ansible Collections, see the Using Ansible collections

See also

• Learn more about Ansible collections.
• Declarative collection overview
• F5 HTTPAPI connection plugin v2
• Playbook setup guide