Chapter 26. Installing and configuring web console with the cockpit RHEL System Role
With the cockpit RHEL System Role, you can install and configure the web console in your system.
26.1. The cockpit System Role
You can use the cockpit System Role to automatically deploy and enable the web console and thus be able to manage your RHEL systems from a web browser.
26.2. Variables for the cockpit RHEL System Role
The parameters used for the cockpit RHEL System Roles are:
| Role Variable | Description |
|---|---|
| cockpit_packages: (default: default) | Sets one of the predefined package sets: default, minimal, or full. * cockpit_packages: (default: default) - most common pages and on-demand install UI * cockpit_packages: (default: minimal) - just the Overview, Terminal, Logs, Accounts, and Metrics pages; minimal dependencies * cockpit_packages: (default: full) - all available pages Optionally, specify your own selection of cockpit packages you want to install. |
| cockpit_enabled: (default:true) | Configures if the web console web server is enabled to start automatically at boot |
| cockpit_started: (default:true) | Configures if the web console should be started |
| cockpit_config: (default: nothing) |
You can apply settings in the |
| cockpit_port: (default: 9090) | The web console runs on port 9090 by default. You can change the port using this option. |
| cockpit_manage_firewall: (default: false) |
Allows the |
| cockpit_manage_selinux: (default: false) |
Allows the |
| cockpit_certificates: (default: nothing) |
Allows the |
Additional resources
-
The
/usr/share/ansible/roles/rhel-system-roles.cockpit/README.mdfile. - The Cockpit configuration file man page.
26.3. Installing the web console by using the cockpit RHEL System Role
You can use the cockpit System Role to install and enable the RHEL web console.
By default, the RHEL web console uses a self-signed certificate. For security reasons, you can specify a certificate that was issued by a trusted certificate authority instead.
In this example, you use the cockpit System Role to:
- Install the RHEL web console.
-
Allow the web console to manage
firewalld. -
Set the web console to use a certificate from the
ipatrusted certificate authority instead of using a self-signed certificate. - Set the web console to use a custom port 9050.
You do not have to call the firewall or certificate System Roles in the playbook to manage the Firewall or create the certificate. The cockpit System Role calls them automatically as needed.
Prerequisites
- Access and permissions to one or more managed nodes.
Access and permissions to a control node.
On the control node:
- Red Hat Ansible Engine is installed.
-
The
rhel-system-rolespackage is installed. - An inventory file exists that lists the managed nodes.
Procedure
Create a new
playbook.ymlfile with the following content:--- - hosts: all tasks: - name: Install RHEL web console include_role: name: rhel-system-roles.cockpit vars: cockpit_packages: default #cockpit_packages: minimal #cockpit_packages: full cockpit_port:9050 cockpit_manage_selinux: true cockpit_manage_firewall: true cockpit_certificates: - name: /etc/cockpit/ws-certs.d/01-certificate dns: ['localhost', 'www.example.com'] ca: ipa group: cockpit-wsOptional: Verify the playbook syntax:
# ansible-playbook --syntax-check -i inventory_file playbook.ymlRun the playbook on your inventory file:
# ansible-playbook -i inventory_file /path/to/file/playbook.yml
Additional resources
