This is the second NUC in the Stack of NUCs. This will be the Ansible controller. We will build it using the USB install and autoconfiguration method we tested with NUC 1.

References

• https://cloudinit.readthedocs.io/en/latest/reference/examples.html

Hardware:

• 5i3
• 8GB RAM
• 32GB storage
• Wireless

Software:

• Ubuntu 22.04 LTS server

Purpose:

• Ansible controller

Steps:

1. Modify the CIDATA USB stick file user_data to set up an Ansible controller

   • #cloud-config
     autoinstall:
       version: 1
       ssh:
         install-server: true
         # option "allow-pw" defaults to `true` if authorized_keys is empty, `false` otherwise.
         allow-pw: false
      
       # "[late-commands] are run in the installer environment with the installed system mounted at /target."
       late-commands:
         # randomly generate the hostname & show the IP at boot
         - echo nuc-ansible-$(openssl rand -hex 3) > /target/etc/hostname
         # dump the IP out at login screen
         - echo "Ubuntu 22.04 LTS \nIP - $(hostname -I)\n" > /target/etc/issue
         # merge storage to use 100% use of the file system
         - curtin in-target --target=/target -- lvextend -l +100%FREE /dev/mapper/ubuntu--vg-ubuntu--lv
         - curtin in-target --target=/target -- resize2fs /dev/mapper/ubuntu--vg-ubuntu--lv
         # shut-down the host to avoid an infinite installer loop
         - shutdown -h now
     
       user-data:
         disable_root: true
         timezone: America/New_York
         package_upgrade: false
         packages:
         - network-manager
         - git
         - python3-pip
         runcmd:
         - nmcli d wifi connect SSID password PASSWORD
         users:
           - name: tux
             primary_group: users
             groups: sudo
             lock_passwd: true
             # don't need PW since using SSH, leaving this in though...
             # password is "changeme" - created with `docker run -it --rm alpine mkpasswd --method=SHA-512`
             # passwd: "$5$IWwNqL9VUSDoc4Jv$DEUGR.cZQcbz/QvdCOmU13fX5ZW0rANg8LqkAtX3nBA"
             shell: /bin/bash
             # use cat ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub or generate to get your public key
             ssh_authorized_keys:
               - "ssh-rsa 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 jimangel@Jims-MacBook-Pro.local"
             sudo: ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD:ALL
           - name: ansible
             gecos: Ansible User
             primary_group: users
             groups: sudo
             sudo: ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD:ALL
             shell: /bin/bash
             lock_passwd: true
             ssh_authorized_keys:
               - "ssh-rsa AAAAB3NzaC1yc2EAAAADAQABAAABgQDTK3YYoKho9SvTejt9430NRwu5ZQpwtAQGBbX8piLvLfsrJzzXxWljTvmC63VMAbCy3ii/Z4yReeCt4h7JiFNf+4ggfUmG+SN+6WvRlfKdaQBXKqojNNxVDg/M73CYF/CYjifJYombA1WIFYoZwMSnd4pzuS7pSiMFKEYTznmImgqa40uZfK6My98KTFpbuebeRvF1u/2Q2ISEYRQmHbm79NAj2WPoI73vNDtkKOPn8NU13xQgC4EMlk/Yu0p36THYlMl30iJePhFgNNBTxXBZL41+nn6W9wgfwo78VDNSa0A2Cambad/lYEerSWevsPATU7bf2an7RsDJhvCx58hI4BMl0KQ3/R0MT2OSGU+GHjBzL/T9UHIxN1FynzmwYpI96MEmEqETjG2DzboO93Oo5EkuX/e6wo/ptQ1g9Qarmk66E0shYpTtwQn2mz0Lhv8PD9C/CbZl9QqcQ43yah1MD9PH/OaCj32FpBqDNJp+NuyYbjBDhG5TgGza4yrgww8= jimangel@Jims-MacBook-Pro.local"
         ansible:
           install_method: pip
           package_name: ansible
           run_user: ansible
           galaxy:
             actions:
               - ["ansible-galaxy", "collection", "install", "community.general"]
           setup_controller:
             repositories:
               - path: /home/ansible/my-repo
                 source: git@github.com:doritoes/nuc-ansible-lab.git
         # shutdown after first host initial provisioning
         power_state:
           mode: poweroff

2. Boot with the custom Lab bootable USB and the customized CIDATA USB inserted
3. You now have an Ansible controller!
4. Continue from here
   • install the user ansible's key