Ansible Tower Installation on CentOS 7 – Complete AWX Guide
Ansible Tower Installation on CentOS 7 helps teams manage automation from a single, secure web interface. Instead of running playbooks manually, Tower provides visibility, access control, and job tracking. As a result, automation becomes easier to scale and safer to operate.
Ansible Tower, also known as AWX in its open-source form, acts as the control hub for Ansible automation. It simplifies infrastructure management while improving collaboration across DevOps and operations teams.
At the same time, organizations adopting large-scale automation often combine Tower with expert support. ZippyOPS supports such journeys by delivering consulting, implementation, and managed services across DevOps, Cloud, Infrastructure, and Security domains.
What Is Ansible Tower (AWX)?
Ansible Tower is a web-based automation platform built on top of Ansible. It adds role-based access control, job scheduling, and audit logs. Moreover, it offers a powerful REST API that integrates easily with CI/CD tools such as Jenkins.
Because of these features, Tower fits well into DevOps and DevSecOps workflows. It also supports dynamic inventories from cloud providers, making it ideal for hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
For enterprise-grade automation strategies, teams often align Tower with broader solutions such as AIOps, MLOps, and Automated Operations. ZippyOPS regularly helps organizations design these integrated automation platforms through its service offerings: https://zippyops.com/services/
Prerequisites for Ansible Tower Installation on CentOS 7
Before starting the Ansible Tower Installation on CentOS 7, ensure the system meets the following requirements:
- Ansible version 2.8 or higher
- Minimum 4 GB RAM
- At least 2 CPU cores
- 20 GB of free disk space
- CentOS 7 with sudo or root access
Meeting these prerequisites ensures smooth installation and stable performance later.
Ansible Tower Installation on CentOS 7 Using AWX
The open-source version of Ansible Tower is AWX. It follows the same core concepts while remaining community-supported.
For the latest and officially maintained installation steps, follow the AWX documentation here:
https://awx.wiki/blog/new-build-server-new-installer-new-maintainers-same-project
This resource is maintained by the AWX community and explains container-based and installer-based deployments in detail.
However, for production environments, many teams prefer guided implementations. ZippyOPS provides hands-on support for AWX and Ansible Tower deployments across Cloud and Microservices architectures: https://zippyops.com/solutions/
Ansible Tower Quick Setup Guide
Log in as a Superuser
After installation completes, open a browser and navigate to the Tower URL:
Log in using the admin credentials generated during installation. Once logged in, the dashboard appears immediately.
Examine the Tower Dashboard
The Tower Dashboard offers a clean interface for orchestration tasks. On the left navigation bar, you can quickly access:
- Projects
- Inventories
- Job Templates
- Jobs
Because of this layout, even new users can navigate automation workflows with ease.
Create an Inventory in Ansible Tower
An inventory is a collection of managed hosts. Inventories belong to organizations, while user and team permissions control access.
Steps to Create an Inventory
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Click Inventories from the left menu
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Click Add and select Inventory
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Provide the following details:
- Name: Windows Inventory
- Organization: Default
Inventory Variables (Windows Example)
Use YAML format for Windows hosts:
Then, move to the Hosts tab and add the host details:
- Hostname: Node hostname
- Variables: Host IP address
Save the inventory to continue.
Create Credentials in Ansible Tower
Credentials allow Tower to authenticate against managed hosts securely. They also prevent direct exposure of passwords and keys.
Steps to Create Credentials
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Click Credentials from the navigation bar
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Click Add
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Choose the credential type and enter authentication details
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Save the credential
This approach improves security, especially in Infrastructure and Security-focused automation.
Set Up a Project in Ansible Tower
A project is a logical grouping of Ansible playbooks. Projects can pull playbooks from Git or local directories.
Create a Local Project Directory
On the Tower server, run:
Sample Playbook (WAR Deployment)
After creating the project, trigger an SCM sync manually so Tower can detect the playbook.
Create a Job Template in Ansible Tower
A job template links a project, inventory, credentials, and playbook.
Steps to Create a Job Template
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Click Templates
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Click Add and select Job Template
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Choose the project, inventory, and credentials
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Save the template
Once saved, click Launch to run the automation.
Tower displays real-time output using its Live Event feature, which helps with troubleshooting and audits.
Why Use ZippyOPS with Ansible Tower?
Ansible Tower delivers powerful automation. However, designing scalable pipelines requires experience across DevOps, DataOps, Cloud, and Security.
ZippyOPS helps organizations maximize Ansible Tower value by offering:
- Consulting and architecture design
- Implementation and migration services
- Managed services for Automated Ops, AIOps, and MLOps
- Continuous optimization for Infrastructure and Microservices
Explore tools and accelerators here:
https://zippyops.com/products/
Learn visually through real-world demos on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@zippyops8329
Conclusion
Ansible Tower Installation on CentOS 7 using AWX provides a structured and secure way to manage automation. It improves visibility, access control, and execution consistency. Therefore, it becomes a strong foundation for modern DevOps practices.
When combined with expert guidance, automation scales faster and safer. For professional support across Ansible Tower, Cloud, and Security automation, reach out to [email protected].
