Ansible Utils Commands

NB: As an example, the machines are defined in file inventory.yaml with the following content:

# VMs
all:
  hosts:
    vm01:
    vm02:
    vm03:
    vm04:
    vm05:
    vm06:

# Groups
dev:
  hosts:
    vm01:
    vm02:

test:
  hosts:
    vm03:
    vm04:

prod:
  hosts:
    vm05:
    vm06:

# Parent Groups
lan:
  children:
    dev:
    test:
wan:
  children:
    prod:

⚠ If you did not name your inventory file inventory.yaml at root folder, you’ll need to add the argument -i <inventory_filename> to all the commands in the following post.

List hosts from inventory

ansible --list-hosts <groups>

e.g.

# list all hosts
$ ansible --list-hosts all
  hosts (6):
    vm01
    vm02
    vm03
    vm04
    vm05
    vm06

# list a group
$ ansible --list-hosts wan
  hosts (2):
    vm05
    vm06


# list a top group
$ ansible --list-hosts lan
  hosts (4):
    vm01
    vm02
    vm03
    vm04

Run module on specific host or group

e.g.

# ping all hosts of group 'wan'
$ ansible -m ping wan
vm05 | SUCCESS => {
    "changed": false,
    "ping": "pong"
}
vm06 | SUCCESS => {
    "changed": false,
    "ping": "pong"
}

# execute 'echo world' on host vm01
$ ansible -m shell -a "echo 'hello world'" vm01
vm01 | CHANGED | rc=0 >>
hello world

# print an encrypted variable
$ ansible -m debug -a var=encrypted_var_name localhost --vault-password-file vault_pass.txt
localhost | SUCCESS => {
    "encrypted_var_name": "verystrongpassword"
}