Drive DNS automation with the BlueCat Ansible module
The BlueCat Ansible module makes it easy to use playbooks to provision DNS, DHCP, and IPAM resources.
As networks grow in scale and complexity, network teams increasingly find themselves struggling just to keep the lights on. With cloud, DevOps, SD-WAN, and other strategic IT initiatives driving a massive increase in traffic, network teams are trying to keep up with the sheer volume of service requests.
Most network teams are turning to automation so they can keep their heads above water. Entire networks are now deployed using automated tools and pre-built playbooks. From provisioning IP addresses to applying options, configuring firewalls to setting zones, automation can set up an entire end-to-end system in a fraction of the time it would take through a manual process. Even better, automation ensures system integrity by reducing the number of errors and “fat finger” mistakes which could creep in at every stage of the network creation process.
DNS is a prime candidate for any automation effort. Managing DNS with manual processes is time-consuming, error-prone, and ultimately unsustainable in the long term. Given the fact that its tentacles reach into just about every network element, automating the integration of DNS into the rest of the enterprise should be a key priority of every IT manager.
Introducing the BlueCat Ansible module
BlueCat is deeply invested in DNS automation. Over the past several years, we’ve been building out an entire ecosystem designed to make the deployment, management, and integration of DNS as simple as possible. Our newest addition to that ecosystem: the BlueCat Ansible Module.
With the BlueCat Ansible module, network teams can extend Ansible automation playbooks to include critical components like DNS. By adding the module in any playbook that automates provisioning of resources, DNS, DHCP, and IPAM (DDI) actions are automatically written into BlueCat Address Manager. Using this module means that resources are never without DNS. The moment they are built, they have access to the entire supporting infrastructure without the need to log service tickets.
Unlike other DDI companies, BlueCat’s automation strategy provides maximum flexibility to end users. We don’t just provide a “black box” integration and call it a day. With BlueCat’s Adaptive Plug-Ins like the Ansible module, users can create their own playbooks, adding data to Address Manager across any number of applications and use cases.
Customers can also leverage pre-built and custom Ansible playbooks by including them in their master playbook. This is important because it enhances visibility into the full spectrum of Ansible actions, in particularly spinning compute up or down. It also removes the manual work of determining which IP addresses are free and provisioning them accordingly.
P.S. Looking for advice on getting the most out of Ansible? We’ve made a list of the 10 best Ansible modules for infrastructure as code that anyone can use.
Key takeawaysKey takeaways are generated with AI assistance. Because automated summaries can occasionally contain errors or miss important context, always refer to the full blog post for complete information.The article discusses how growing network scale and complexity from cloud, DevOps, and SD-WAN increases service request volume and makes manual DNS management unsustainable, driving network teams to adopt automation. It introduces the BlueCat Ansible Module as part of BlueCat’s DNS automation ecosystem, enabling teams to extend Ansible playbooks to perform DNS, DHCP, and IPAM (DDI) actions directly in BlueCat Address Manager so resources are provisioned with DNS immediately. The piece emphasizes BlueCat’s flexible, non–black box approach—Adaptive Plug-Ins let users create or include pre-built and custom playbooks to enhance visibility, remove manual IP selection, and maintain system integrity by reducing errors.
What real-world problems does the BlueCat Ansible Module address for network teams?
The BlueCat Ansible Module addresses the practical problem of scaling DNS, DHCP, and IPAM tasks as network complexity grows due to cloud, DevOps, and SD-WAN initiatives. Instead of manually provisioning DNS records or filing service tickets, the module allows these DDI actions to be executed automatically as part of Ansible playbooks, ensuring newly built resources immediately have DNS and related configurations. This reduces time-consuming, error-prone manual work, eliminates the need to determine free IP addresses by hand, and preserves system integrity by minimizing “fat finger” mistakes during network creation and changes.
How does BlueCat’s approach to automation differ from other DDI vendors?
BlueCat’s approach emphasizes flexibility rather than a closed “black box” integration. The Ansible Module is part of an Adaptive Plug-Ins strategy that enables customers to write their own playbooks or include pre-built and custom playbooks in a master playbook, extending automation across many applications and use cases. This grants visibility into the full set of Ansible actions—such as spinning compute up or down—while embedding DDI changes directly into BlueCat Address Manager, rather than hiding automation logic or preventing customization.
What operational benefits do teams gain by adding DNS automation into Ansible playbooks?
Integrating DNS automation into Ansible playbooks ensures that when resources are provisioned, DNS, DHCP, and IPAM entries are created automatically in BlueCat Address Manager, so resources have immediate access to supporting infrastructure without manual tickets. This speeds deployments dramatically compared to manual processes and reduces configuration errors, improving system integrity. Additionally, combining DDI actions with other automation removes manual IP allocation work, increases visibility over provisioning workflows, and allows teams to leverage reusable pre-built or custom playbooks across diverse environments.
Here’s a quick demo we put together which shows how the BlueCat Ansible module works.
Learn more on our Adaptive Catalog.
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Mark is a Senior Product Marketing Manager at BlueCat Networks.
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