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Chapter 2. Managing Ansible Automation Platform licensing, updates and support

Ansible is an open source software project and is licensed under the GNU General Public License version 3, as described in the Ansible Source Code.

You must have valid subscriptions attached before installing Ansible Automation Platform.

For more information, see Attaching Subscriptions.

2.1. Trial and evaluation

A license is required to run Ansible Automation Platform. You can start by using a free trial license.

  • Trial licenses for Ansible Automation Platform are available at the Red Hat product trial center.
  • Support is not included in a trial license or during an evaluation of the Ansible Automation Platform.

2.2. Component licenses

To view the license information for the components included in Ansible Automation Platform, see /usr/share/doc/automation-controller-<version>/README.

where <version> refers to the version of automation controller you have installed.

To view a specific license, see /usr/share/doc/automation-controller-<version>/*.txt.

where * is the license file name to which you are referring.

2.3. Node counting in licenses

The Ansible Automation Platform license defines the number of Managed Nodes that can be managed as part of your subscription.

A typical license says "License Count: 500", which sets the maximum number of Managed Nodes at 500.

For more information about managed node requirements for licensing, see How are "managed nodes" defined as part of the Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform offering.

Note

Ansible does not recycle node counts or reset automated hosts.

2.4. Subscription Types

Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform is provided at various levels of support and number of machines as an annual subscription.

All subscription levels include regular updates and releases of automation controller, Ansible, and any other components of the Ansible Automation Platform.

For more information, contact Ansible through the Red Hat Customer Portal or at the Ansible site.

2.5. Attaching your Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform subscription

You must have valid subscriptions attached on all nodes before installing Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform. Attaching your Ansible Automation Platform subscription provides access to subscription-only resources necessary to proceed with the installation.

Procedure

  1. Make sure your system is registered: 

    $ sudo subscription-manager register --username <$INSERT_USERNAME_HERE> --password <$INSERT_PASSWORD_HERE>

  2. Obtain the pool_id for your Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform subscription: 

    $ sudo subscription-manager list --available --all | grep "Ansible Automation Platform" -B 3 -A 6
    Note

    Do not use MCT4022 as a pool_id for your subscription because it can cause Ansible Automation Platform subscription attachment to fail.

    Example

    An example output of the subsciption-manager list command. Obtain the pool_id as seen in the Pool ID: section: 

    Subscription Name: Red Hat Ansible Automation, Premium (5000 Managed Nodes)
  Provides: Red Hat Ansible Engine
  Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform
  SKU: MCT3695
  Contract: ````
  Pool ID: <pool_id>
  Provides Management: No
  Available: 4999
  Suggested: 1

  3. Attach the subscription: 

    $ sudo subscription-manager attach --pool=<pool_id>

    You have now attached your Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform subscriptions to all nodes.

  4. To remove this subscription, enter the following command: 

    $ sudo subscription-manager remove --pool=<pool_id>

Verification

  • Verify the subscription was successfully attached: 
$ sudo subscription-manager list --consumed

Troubleshooting

  • If you are unable to locate certain packages that came bundled with the Ansible Automation Platform installer, or if you are seeing a Repositories disabled by configuration message, try enabling the repository by using the command:

    Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.5 for RHEL 8 

    $ sudo subscription-manager repos --enable ansible-automation-platform-2.5-for-rhel-8-x86_64-rpms

    Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.5 for RHEL 9 

    $ sudo subscription-manager repos --enable ansible-automation-platform-2.5-for-rhel-9-x86_64-rpms

2.6. Obtaining a manifest file

You can obtain a subscription manifest in the Subscription Allocations section of Red Hat Subscription Management. After you obtain a subscription allocation, you can download its manifest file and upload it to activate Ansible Automation Platform.

To begin, login to the Red Hat Customer Portal using your administrator user account and follow the procedures in this section.

2.6.1. Create a subscription allocation

Creating a new subscription allocation allows you to set aside subscriptions and entitlements for a system that is currently offline or air-gapped. This is necessary before you can download its manifest and upload it to Ansible Automation Platform.

Procedure

  1. From the Subscription Allocations page, click New Subscription Allocation.
  2. Enter a name for the allocation so that you can find it later.
  3. Select Type: Satellite 6.8 as the management application.
  4. Click Create.

Next steps

2.6.2. Adding subscriptions to a subscription allocation

Once an allocation is created, you can add the subscriptions you need for Ansible Automation Platform to run properly. This step is necessary before you can download the manifest and add it to Ansible Automation Platform.

Procedure

  1. From the Subscription Allocations page, click on the name of the Subscription Allocation to which you would like to add a subscription.
  2. Click the Subscriptions tab.
  3. Click Add Subscriptions.
  4. Enter the number of Ansible Automation Platform Entitlement(s) you plan to add.
  5. Click Submit.

Next steps

2.6.3. Downloading a manifest file

After an allocation is created and has the appropriate subscriptions on it, you can download the manifest from Red Hat Subscription Management.

Procedure

  1. From the Subscription Allocations page, click on the name of the Subscription Allocation to which you would like to generate a manifest.
  2. Click the Subscriptions tab.

  3. Click Export Manifest to download the manifest file.

    This downloads a file manifest<allocation name>_<date>.zip_ to your default downloads folder.

Next steps

2.7. Activating Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform

Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform uses available subscriptions or a subscription manifest to authorize the use of Ansible Automation Platform. To obtain a subscription, you can do either of the following:

  1. Use your Red Hat customer or Satellite credentials when you launch Ansible Automation Platform.
  2. Upload a subscriptions manifest file either using the Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform interface or manually in an Ansible playbook.

2.7.1. Activate with credentials

When Ansible Automation Platform launches for the first time, the Ansible Automation Platform Subscription screen automatically displays. You can use your Red Hat credentials to retrieve and import your subscription directly into Ansible Automation Platform.

Note

You are opted in for Automation Analytics by default when you activate the platform on first time log in. This helps Red Hat improve the product by delivering you a much better user experience. You can opt out, after activating Ansible Automation Platform, by doing the following:

  1. From the navigation panel, select Settings System.
  2. Clear the Gather data for Automation Analytics option.
  3. Click Save.

Procedure

  1. Log in to Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform.
  2. Select Username / password.
  3. Enter your Red Hat username and password.

  4. Select your subscription from the Subscription list.

    Note

    You can also use your Satellite username and password if your cluster nodes are registered to Satellite through Subscription Manager.

  5. Review the End User License Agreement and select I agree to the End User License Agreement.
  6. Click Finish.

Verification

After your subscription has been accepted, subscription details are displayed. A status of Compliant indicates your subscription is in compliance with the number of hosts you have automated within your subscription count. Otherwise, your status will show as Out of Compliance, indicating you have exceeded the number of hosts in your subscription. Other important information displayed include the following: Hosts automated:: Host count automated by the job, which consumes the license count Hosts imported:: Host count considering all inventory sources (does not impact hosts remaining) Hosts remaining:: Total host count minus hosts automated

2.7.2. Activate with a manifest file

If you have a subscriptions manifest, you can upload the manifest file either by using the Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform interface.

Note

You are opted in for Automation Analytics by default when you activate the platform on first time log in. This helps Red Hat improve the product by delivering you a much better user experience. You can opt out, after activating Ansible Automation Platform, by doing the following:

  1. From the navigation panel, select Settings System.
  2. Uncheck the Gather data for Automation Analytics option.
  3. Click Save.

Prerequisites

You must have a Red Hat Subscription Manifest file exported from the Red Hat Customer Portal. For more information, see Obtaining a manifest file.

Procedure

  1. Log in to Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform.
  2. If you are not immediately prompted for a manifest file, go to Settings Subscription.
  3. Select Subscription manifest.
  4. Click Browse and select the manifest file.
  5. Review the End User License Agreement and select I agree to the End User License Agreement.
  6. Click Finish.
Note

If the BROWSE button is disabled on the License page, clear the USERNAME and PASSWORD fields.

Verification

After your subscription has been accepted, subscription details are displayed. A status of Compliant indicates your subscription is in compliance with the number of hosts you have automated within your subscription count. Otherwise, your status will show as Out of Compliance, indicating you have exceeded the number of hosts in your subscription. Other important information displayed include the following: Hosts automated:: Host count automated by the job, which consumes the license count Hosts imported:: Host count considering all inventory sources (does not impact hosts remaining) Hosts remaining:: Total host count minus hosts automated

Next steps

  • You can return to the license screen by selecting Settings Subscription from the navigation panel and clicking Edit subscription.
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