ansible-collection-infrastructure/roles/system_setup

System Setup Role

Performs initial system configuration including user creation, SSH hardening, and package installation.

Features

• Creates admin user with SSH key authentication
• Hardens SSH configuration
• Installs essential packages
• Optional passwordless sudo
• Optional SSH host key regeneration
• System package updates (via system_maintenance role)

Variables

Variable	Default	Description
username	admin	Username for the admin account
user_password	required	Password for the admin user
shell	/bin/bash	Default shell for the user
passwordless_sudo	true	Allow sudo without password
ssh_pubkey_file	required	Path to SSH public key file
regenerate_ssh_host_keys	false	Generate new SSH host keys
extra_packages	[sudo, vim]	Additional packages to install

Required Variables

You must provide these variables when using this role:

user_password: "your_secure_password"
ssh_pubkey_file: "/path/to/your/public/key.pub"

Usage

Basic Setup

- name: Initial system setup
  include_role:
    name: system_setup
  vars:
    user_password: "{{ admin_password }}"
    ssh_pubkey_file: "~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub"

Custom Configuration

- name: System setup with custom user
  include_role:
    name: system_setup
  vars:
    username: myuser
    user_password: "{{ vault_myuser_password }}"
    shell: /bin/zsh
    ssh_pubkey_file: "keys/mykey.pub"
    passwordless_sudo: false
    regenerate_ssh_host_keys: true
    extra_packages:
      - sudo
      - vim
      - htop
      - git

What It Does

1. System Updates - Calls system_maintenance role for package updates
2. Package Installation - Installs packages from extra_packages list
3. User Creation - Creates user with password and sudo access
4. SSH Key Setup - Configures authorized keys for the user
5. SSH Hardening - Applies secure SSH configuration
6. Host Keys - Optionally regenerates SSH host keys

Requirements

• Root privileges
• SSH public key file accessible to Ansible
• system_maintenance role (dependency)

Security Notes

• SSH configuration is hardened by default
• Password authentication can be disabled via SSH config
• User is added to sudo group
• SSH host key regeneration removes old keys completely