Install OS/Ansible

Use this checklist for a new workstation before running the full lab software setup.

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. Install Git, Ansible, and Python prerequisites

Open a terminal on the new workstation and install the tools needed to run this repository:

sudo dnf -y install git ansible-core python3 python3-pip dnf-plugins-core
ansible --version
git --version
python3 --version

dnf-plugins-core provides dnf config-manager, which some repository setup tasks need.

3. Clone the repository and install Ansible collections

Clone the workstation setup repository and enter it:

git clone git@github.com:fs-ise/workstation-setup.git
cd workstation-setup
make deps

If SSH access to GitHub is not configured yet, use HTTPS for the first clone:

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

make deps installs or updates the exact Ansible Galaxy collection versions in requirements.yml. These versions are intentionally pinned so tagged releases use the same tested dependencies on every workstation.

4. Verify the inventory

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
ansible-inventory -i inventory --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 software installation

Continue to install software.