Ansible AWX

Install Ansible AWX on CentOS/RHEL8/9
If you want to manage automation at scale, Ansible AWX (the open-source version of Ansible Tower) is a powerful solution. This guide walks you through installing AWX 17.1.0 on a CentOS/RHEL-based system using Docker and Docker Compose.

Prerequisites:

Before starting, ensure you have:

• A fresh CentOS/RHEL system (8/9 preferred)
• Root or sudo access
• Internet connectivity

Step 1: Install Required Packages
# dnf -y install git gcc gcc-c++ nodejs gettext device-mapper-persistent-data lvm2 bzip2 python3-pip wget libseccomp

Step 2: Remove Old Docker Installation
# dnf remove docker* -y

Step 3: Configure Docker Repository
# dnf config-manager --add-repo=https://download.docker.com/linux/centos/docker-ce.repo

Step 4: Install Docker CE
# dnf -y install docker-ce
# systemctl enable docker
# systemctl start docker 

# systemctl status docker

Step 5: Install Python Build Dependencies
# python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip
# pip3 install setuptools_rust 

# pip3 install wheel 

# pip3 install ansible

# pip3 install docker-compose

Step 6: Download AWX Installer
# git clone -b 17.1.0 https://github.com/ansible/awx.git
# cd awx/installer

Step 7: Create Required Directories
# mkdir -p /opt/awx/pgdocker /opt/awx/awxcompose /opt/awx/projects

Step 8: Generate a Secret Key
# openssl rand -base64 30
Copy this key for later use.

Step 9: Edit the AWX Inventory File
Open the inventory file:
# vi inventory
Update the following parameters as needed:

admin_password=Welcome@123

awx_official=true

pg_database=awx

pg_password=Welcome@123

awx_alternate_dns_servers="192.168.10.100,192.168.20.100"

postgres_data_dir="/opt/awx/pgdocker"

docker_compose_dir="/opt/awx/awxcompose"

project_data_dir="/opt/awx/projects"

secret_key=XXXXXXXXXX   # openssl rand -base64 30 command output

Save and exit the file.

Step 10: Run the AWX Installer
Once the inventory file is updated, run:
ansible-playbook -i inventory install.yml
This may take several minutes.

Step 11: Access AWX Web Interface
After the installation completes, open a browser and go to:
http://<server-ip>
http://<server_hostname or FQDN>

Log in using:
Username: admin
Password: Welcome@123 (or the password you set)

Conclusion
Installing Ansible AWX on CentOS/RHEL 8/9 provides a powerful and centralized way to manage automation across your infrastructure. By following this guide, you’ve prepared your system with all required dependencies, deployed Docker and Docker Compose, configured AWX using the official installer, and successfully launched the AWX web interface.

• With AWX now running, you can:
• Create and manage projects, inventories, and credentials
• Build and schedule playbook automation workflows
• Monitor job executions in real time
• Integrate AWX with Git, cloud providers, and external systems
• Scale automation across teams and environments

This setup forms the foundation for enterprise-grade automation and can be expanded further with clustering, HTTPS/SSL configuration, LDAP/AD integration, and backup strategies.