What is the name of the machine on which Ansible is installed?

The machine on which Ansible is installed is referred to as the control node. This terminology is essential because the control node is responsible for running the Ansible commands, managing the configurations, and orchestrating the automation tasks across the managed nodes in the environment. It acts as the central point of control for all automation and orchestration tasks that Ansible performs.

In practice, an administrator or developer typically accesses the control node to execute playbooks or command-line instructions that will then be applied to the target machines, referred to as managed nodes. This setup allows for a clear distinction between the control node, where tasks are initiated, and the managed nodes, which are the targets of those tasks.

Understanding this distinction is beneficial for anyone working with automation tools, as it helps clarify how enterprise automation frameworks like Ansible operate and interact with different devices in a network.