Ansible Controller (Docker)

Ubuntu-based Docker image for running Ansible playbooks with support for SSH, sudo, and external inventory mounts.

Bring-your-own config/inventory

• Put configs/ansible.cfg and configs/inventory/hosts.ini on the host.
• Optionally add playbooks under configs/.

Build & run - Makefile

make build
make up
# SSH in (optional)
ssh -p 2222 ansible@localhost
# Or exec a shell
make sh

Build the image (Docker)

docker build -t ansible-ctrl ./docker

Run with Docker

# Start the container (SSH exposed on host port 2222)
docker run -d --name ansible-ctrl \
  -p 2222:22 \
  -v "$PWD/configs":/configs:rw \
  -v "$PWD/logs":/var/log/ansible:rw \
  -v "$PWD/ssh/authorized_keys":/home/ansible/.ssh/authorized_keys:ro \
  ansible-ctrl:latest

# Open a shell inside the container
docker exec -it ansible-ctrl bash

# From that shell, run Ansible using your mounted config/inventory
ansible --version
ansible -m ping all
ansible-playbook /configs/playbooks/site.yml

Run with Docker compose

docker compose up -d
docker compose exec ansible bash
# then run Ansible:
ansible -m ping all
ansible-playbook /configs/playbooks/site.yml

Inside the Container

ansible --version             # confirms which config file is used
ansible -m ping all
ansible-playbook /control/playbooks/site.yml

Notes

• If configs/ansible.cfg exists, it is used; otherwise the image default /etc/ansible/ansible.cfg is used.

• ssh/authorized_keys (host) is mounted to the ansible user for SSH access.

• The ansible user exists inside the container; add more users only if you extend the entrypoint.

• PermitRootLogin no, key-only auth via mounted ssh/authorized_keys.