Скачать или смотреть How to Use Optional Variable Override in Ansible Playbooks with AWX

Discover how to effectively manage user credentials in Ansible Playbooks within AWX, avoiding module forking and recursive loop errors.
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Optional Variable Override in Ansible Playbooks with AWX

When working with Ansible and AWX (Ansible Web UI), users often face the challenge of managing third-party modules that don't allow direct manipulation of their parameters. This can complicate tasks, especially when dealing with variables like ansible_user that are critical for successful execution of multiple Ansible modules. In this post, we will tackle the specific scenario where a user wants to utilize an alternate user variable, user_override, without forking the AWX or third-party modules. Let’s dive into the problem and see how we can find a solution.

The Problem

If you're running Ansible tasks through AWX, you may have encountered situations where certain parameters of third-party modules are hard-coded and cannot be modified easily. In this particular case, the challenge lies in overriding the ansible_user variable based on a custom user_override variable. The objective is to achieve this without running into recursive template string errors or modifying existing modules.

What You’ve Tried

Direct Parameter Assignment:
You initially thought about using:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This approach, however, fails since the module does not accept credentials through parameters.

Using vars: in Playbook:
Attempting to set the override variable within the vars: section of your playbook led to a frustrating recursive loop detected in template string error.

If/Else Conditionals and Intermediate Variables:
You also tried employing conditionals and intermediary steps, none of which resolved the issue.

The Solution: Utilize remote_user

Fortunately, there is a straightforward workaround that sidesteps the challenges of variable overriding while still keeping your playbook functional.

How to Do It

Instead of relying solely on ansible_user, you can configure the remote_user variable as AWX populates it, which is likewise utilized by many modules, including networkcli. Here’s how you can apply this solution:

Replace your previous attempts with:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This simple adjustment allows AWX to assign the username effectively while still giving priority to the custom user_override when it’s set.

Benefits of This Approach

No Module Forking Required: You maintain the integrity of the third-party modules without needing to alter their underlying code.

Flexibility: This solution provides the ability to dynamically adjust user credentials based on the presence of the user_override variable.

Simplicity: Rather than engaging in complex templates and conditional logic, utilizing remote_user provides a straightforward answer.

Conclusion

Managing user credentials in Ansible tasks using AWX can initially seem daunting, especially when modules contain hard-coded parameters. However, with the strategic use of the remote_user variable, you can easily introduce overriding functionality for better adaptability while avoiding recursive errors. The goal is to make your Ansible playbooks flexible without compromising stability or requiring unnecessary code modifications. Don’t hesitate to leverage this knowledge in your next automation project to streamline your operations effectively!