Does the managed device need to run any specific software to be used with Ansible?

Ansible is designed as an agentless automation tool, which means it does not require any special software or agents to be installed on the managed devices. Instead, Ansible connects to the devices over standard protocols such as SSH for Linux and UNIX-like systems, or WinRM for Windows systems. This design simplifies the deployment and management of automation because it eliminates the need to install and maintain additional software on each managed device.

By being agentless, Ansible significantly reduces the overhead associated with configuration management tasks. It allows users to orchestrate tasks on multiple machines without worrying about managing agents or getting them configured on each device. The simplicity and lightweight nature of Ansible's architecture are key advantages that make it particularly appealing for system administrators and DevOps teams looking for scalable and efficient automation solutions.