Comprehensive Automation Operations Tool with Ansible and Docker

1. Introduction

SSM is a lightweight server management platform that integrates Ansible and Docker, featuring graphical interface, modularity, and strong scalability. It allows for a series of tedious operations such as server deployment, container orchestration, resource monitoring, and alert notifications to be completed through a browser—no command line skills required, making it easy for beginners to get started.

2. Features

• Graphical interface operation, zero threshold to get started: Visualizes the operation process of Ansible and Docker, supports drag-and-drop Playbook construction and one-click container management, suitable for DevOps beginners and non-professional users to quickly get started.

• Integrated solution covering the entire operation process: Integrates server management, configuration orchestration, container operation, resource monitoring, and alert functions, allowing for end-to-end automated operations without switching between multiple platforms.

• Modern microservices architecture, easy deployment: Front-end and back-end separation design, one-click deployment based on Docker Compose, supports quick local operation and cloud deployment, with a clear architecture that is easy to maintain and expand.

• Secure and controllable, ensuring data privacy: Supports Ansible Vault encryption, user password salting, and TLS1.3 encrypted communication, with telemetry features that can be turned off by default, fully considering the security needs of small and medium-sized enterprises and individual users.

3. Use Cases

🎯 Home Lab / DevOps Learning Environment

No need to master complex command lines; practice container orchestration and automated configuration using the GUI, making it an ideal choice for operation and maintenance beginners.

🏢 Operations Team of Small and Medium Enterprises

For small companies lacking a DevOps automation toolchain, SSM provides:

• Lightweight deployment (just use Docker Compose)

• Controllable permissions (built-in authentication mechanism)

• Scalability (customizable Playbooks)

No need for paid SaaS to achieve a visual automated operations experience.

🧪 Product Testing / CI Pre-deployment

Used for quickly setting up testing environments before product deployment, in conjunction with CI tools like GitHub Actions, it can serve as a forward base for DevOps processes.

4. Deployment

# Clone the project
git clone https://github.com/SquirrelCorporation/SquirrelServersManager.git
cd SquirrelServersManager

# Modify the images
root@huqi-virtual-machine:/opt/SquirrelServersManager-master# cat docker-compose.yml |grep image
    image: "registry.cn-shanghai.aliyuncs.com/study-03/squirrelserversmanager-proxy:latest"
    image: "registry.cn-shanghai.aliyuncs.com/study-03/squirrelserversmanager-prometheus:latest"
    image: registry.cn-shanghai.aliyuncs.com/study-03/mongo:latest
    image: redis
    image: "registry.cn-shanghai.aliyuncs.com/study-03/squirrelserversmanager-server:latest"
    image: "registry.cn-shanghai.aliyuncs.com/study-03/squirrelserversmanager-client:latest"

# Start the project
docker compose -f compose.yaml up -d

5. Access

Access via browser at <span>http://<your IP>:8000</span> to get started!

Add Host

Execute Playbook

6. Conclusion

Squirrel Servers Manager is an open-source tool with attitude and potential. It provides a friendly interface for non-professional users while retaining a highly controllable underlying entry for technical veterans. As Ansible and Docker become increasingly widely used, it undoubtedly opens a door to “automated operations” for small teams and individual users.

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