# ProLUG Automation - Unit 3 Worksheet


## Instructions

Fill out this sheet as you progress through the lab and discussions. Hold your worksheets until
the end to turn them in as a final submission packet.


## Discussion Questions

Unit 3 Discussion Post 1: Find a blog post or open source tool that focuses on IT inventory
management

1. What is meant by the term “inventory” in an IT context?
   ```answer
   Your answer here.
   ```

2. What are some of the issues with inventories in a company?
   ```answer
   Your answer here.
   ```
    - How have people attempted to overcome these issues?
      ```answer
      Your answer here.
      ```
3. What different formats of inventories can you find for IT management?
   ```answer
   Your answer here.
   ```
    - Why would formatting matter?
      ```answer
      Your answer here.
      ```


Unit 3 Discussion Post 2: You are a system administrator for a small company with ~100
total Linux systems. The security engineer approaches you and shows you vulnerabilities in
your 110 total Linux systems. He then asserts, “without a good inventory, you cannot have
security in the system.”

1. Do you agree with him, why or why not?
   ```answer
   Your answer here.
   ```
    1. How do you plan to start to “true up” your inventories?
       ```answer
       Your answer here.
       ```

    2. How can you prevent this type of problem (if you think it is one) in the future?
       ```answer
       Your answer here.
       ```

2. We often say in engineering, “Or you can do nothing”. This speaks to the possibility
   of just accepting the situation and allowing a system to keep running.

    1. Can you do that in this situation, or must this be corrected? Why or why not?
       ```answer
       Your answer here.
       ```


## Definitions/Terminology

- IT Inventory: 

- File formats (be able to identify and parse them with your tools): 
    - `.csv`: 
    - `.ini`: 
    - `.yaml`: 

- Grouping: 

- Variables (in relation to inventories): 

- Ranges (and their usefulness): 
    - `[01:50]` 
    - `[01:50:2]` 


## Notes During Lecture/Class:

### Links:

<https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/inventory_guide/intro_inventory.html>

### Terms:

### Useful tools:


## Lab and Assignment
Unit3 Lab from Lab book
<https://killercoda.com/het-tanis/course/Automation-Labs/Unit3_Inventories>


## Digging Deeper

1. Build some inventories like the ones here:
<https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/inventory_guide/intro_inventory.html>
    1. Parse these down using ansible-inventory to see if you understand the syntax
       and formatting.
2. Run through this lab for understanding: <https://killercoda.com/hettanis/course/Ansible-Labs/02-Ansible-Host-File>


## Reflection Questions
1. What questions do you still have about this week?
2. How are you going to use what you’ve learned in your current role?