Use case
Virtual infrastructure management with Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform
Overview
Virtualized environments have been a key operational platform for modern IT. However, many companies are now at a crossroads: should they focus on improving the management of existing VMs? Or instead modernize applications by migrating them to a cloud-native, Kubernetes-based infrastructure. There is another choice. By working with Red Hat’s virtualization solutions, you can operate your VMs until the time is right to modernize.
No matter which strategy you choose, Red Hat® Ansible® Automation Platform can help you manage the full end-to-end lifecycle of VMs—from provisioning, to patching, to enforcing configuration standards—as well as quickly and consistently migrate to Red Hat OpenShift® Virtualization. With this flexible approach, you can automate tasks to improve speed and efficiency of IT operations, while preserving your investment in virtualization technology and the applications that depend on it.
Migrate
Use automation to quickly and reliably migrate virtual machines from legacy solutions to OpenShift Virtualization—and manage VMs and containers on a single hybrid cloud platform.
Automate
Improve consistency in day-to-day management of VMs, wherever they run, across the full operational lifecycle—from provisioning, to updates and customization, to deprovisioning.
Orchestrate
Manage related infrastructure—such as network, cloud services, and security requirements—in a single, comprehensive workflow, with a unified automation platform.
Features and benefits
Move VMs consistently and at scale
Replace manual tasks with fully automated workflows to migrate VMs to OpenShift Virtualization at scale. Create inventory, gather configurations, migrate related VMs in batch, orchestrate infrastructure, then perform Day 2 management tasks—all with the consistency of automation.
Provision accurately across your hybrid cloud
Provision VMs consistently for the cloud or private cloud solution of your choice, and automatically enforce standard configurations and rulesets for deployed machines. This enables you to reduce deployment times dramatically and ensure that VMs are operating as expected.
Automate Day 2 Ops
Automate ongoing management tasks across the entire VM life cycle—such as installing and removing agents, or patching operating systems and applications. Orchestrate tasks across technologies to automatically respond to changing conditions, like scaling up or down to meet demand or renewing certificates.
Orchestrate app and infrastructure deployment
Coordinate and manage tasks across your multi-vendor, multi-domain environment. Orchestrate virtualized infrastructure along with essential IT components, including applications, networks, cloud services, database services, and IT service management (ITSM) tools.
Jumpstart automation with trusted content
Build automation jobs with more than 140 certified and validated content collections—developed and supported by Red Hat and our partners—to more efficiently manage VMs and orchestrate tasks across domains.
Modernize your IT with Red Hat
Unify your IT operations by using Ansible Automation Platform to manage and orchestrate virtualized environments as well as additional use cases across your organization. Operate both cloud-native and virtualized applications and infrastructure with Red Hat OpenShift as your single application platform.
Automate with your partner of choice
Customer success stories
Blue Cross NC created an automated, adaptable IT environment, improving efficiency and reducing costs. In 2 years, they saved 70,000 work hours and more than US$850,000.
After automating more than 90% of their virtual server provisioning processes, Mizuho Securities reduced their average lead time to within 3 days.
IDC MarketScape report: Red Hat a leader in cloud management
Red Hat was named a leader in IDC’s 2024 assessment of vendors for multicloud and hybrid cloud management with automation. According to IDC, enterprises can confidently choose Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform, thanks to its “comprehensive capabilities and broad support in accelerating automation maturity.”
Keep learning
Brief
Automate the migration and operation of VMs with Red Hat
Learn how you can use Ansible Automation Platform and OpenShift Virtualization together to modernize applications and infrastructure.
Blog post
What you need to know about VMware Automation with Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform
Read a quick breakdown of how to automate your VMware infrastructure and orchestrate the entire VM lifecycle.
Video
What is Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization?
Watch this short introduction to OpenShift Virtualization to learn how it can simplify management and improve time to production.
How do you develop a culture of automation?
To accelerate your IT operations, we recommend adopting an automation-first mindset—and gradually building a comprehensive automation strategy. Once you see the benefits of automating VM migration and management, try a new use case. With Ansible Automation Platform, you can automate infrastructure, Cloud Ops, network and edge operations, and much more—all from a single platform. As you work to replace high-volume, manual tasks with more efficient automated workflows, Red Hat Services can help you find practical ways to expand your strategy and maximize your investment in automation.
