Install OS

Use this checklist to install Fedora and prepare a new workstation to run the Ansible automation.

ImportantSupported platform

The repository is tested/supported on Fedora Workstation 44 x86_64. Install that edition, major version, and architecture; the main playbook fails its preflight check before making changes on any other platform.

1. Install Fedora Workstation

  • Download the Fedora Workstation 44 x86_64 installation image from the official Fedora website.
  • Install it with the default GNOME desktop unless you have a documented reason to do otherwise.
  • Apply the first system update offered by GNOME Software or dnf before installing the lab stack.

2. Prepare the system

Install Git and Make, which are the only tools needed before invoking the repository’s workflow:

sudo dnf install git make

3. Clone the repository

Clone the workstation setup repository over HTTPS and enter it:

git clone https://github.com/fs-ise/workstation-setup.git
cd workstation-setup

4. Verify the checkout

The repository includes the local Ansible inventory used by the documented commands. It tells Ansible to configure the current machine. If a workstation needs host-specific variables, create host_vars/localhost.yml separately and do not put secrets in it.

✅ Check

test -f inventory
test -f Makefile

5. Install Ansible and its prerequisites

Run the repository’s setup target:

make setup

This installs ansible-core, Python prerequisites, and dnf-plugins-core, then installs or updates the pinned Ansible Galaxy collections from requirements.yml. The later make configure workflow reruns this idempotent setup before applying the workstation configuration.

✅ Check

ansible --version
ansible-galaxy collection list

Optional: Enable SSH if remote administration is needed

Most local workstation setup does not require an SSH server. Enable it only when this machine must be administered remotely:

sudo systemctl enable --now sshd
systemctl status sshd --no-pager

Continue to configuration

Continue to Apply configuration.