Hello. Thanks all for helping me through this turbulent, but exciting project. I am way over my head. I am an Oracle database admin. Don’t know Ansible at all.
Here is the github repo with the code: https://github.com/symianarmy/oracle_database_refresh_itsm
Everything below is also in the repo’s README, but here it is as well:
To run this from the Ansible CTRL+ node:
[ansible_admin@ctrl ansible]$ ansible-playbook ./playbooks/itsm_oracle_refresh_wrapper.yml
- The “wrapper” playbook creates a refresh task and waits it till it auto-approved by the ServiceNow ITSM.
- The “actual” playbook does the actual refreshes of several lower environment databases from PROD.
- The “finish” playbook closes the refresh task, using the facts from the “wrapper” playbook.
The issue I am facing is this.
The “wrapper” calls the “actual”, doing-the-work playbook by using an include on its last line:
- import_playbook: itsm_oracle_refresh_actual.yml
That works just fine. But then when the “actual” has already done the work and needs to close the auto-created refresh task by calling the last include:
- import_playbook: itsm_oracle_refresh_finish.yml
I get this error:
[ansible_admin@ctrl ansible]$ ansible-playbook ./playbooks/itsm_oracle_refresh_wrapper.yml [WARNING]: Collection servicenow.itsm does not support Ansible version 2.14.17 ERROR! this task 'import_playbook' has extra params, which is only allowed in the following modules: ansible.legacy.meta, ansible.legacy.script, ansible.legacy.shell, raw, win_command, ansible.legacy.import_tasks, win_shell, ansible.legacy.include, ansible.legacy.raw, ansible.legacy.include_vars, ansible.builtin.include, import_role, ansible.builtin.raw, ansible.legacy.set_fact, ansible.windows.win_command, ansible.builtin.script, meta, ansible.builtin.command, add_host, ansible.builtin.include_vars, script, ansible.builtin.import_tasks, set_fact, ansible.legacy.win_shell, ansible.legacy.include_role, ansible.builtin.meta, ansible.legacy.add_host, ansible.builtin.group_by, ansible.builtin.win_shell, ansible.legacy.win_command, group_by, include_vars, include_role, ansible.legacy.include_tasks, ansible.builtin.include_tasks, import_tasks, ansible.builtin.set_fact, ansible.builtin.win_command, include_tasks, ansible.builtin.add_host, include, ansible.builtin.include_role, command, ansible.legacy.import_role, shell, ansible.builtin.import_role, ansible.legacy.command, ansible.windows.win_shell, ansible.legacy.group_by, ansible.builtin.shell
The error appears to be in '/etc/ansible/playbooks/itsm_oracle_refresh_actual.yml': line 79, column 5, but may be elsewhere in the file depending on the exact syntax problem.
The offending line appears to be:
* import_playbook: itsm_oracle_refresh_finish.yml ^ here [ansible_admin@ctrl ansible]$
If I comment out the “finish” playbook’s include from the “actual” playbook, it works fine.
Like so:
# - import_playbook: itsm_oracle_refresh_finish.yml
Also, if I run the last “finish” playbook immediately after the commented out “wrapper” + “actual” playbooks run, the last one also runs just fine. The “finish” playbook. But this is supposed to be ENTIRELY unattended, from opening/approving tasks to doing the work, no manual intervention of any kind. So I need them to work by calling themselves in the right order. "The “wrapper”, the “actual”, then the “finish”.
Two modified (because the intended way doesnt work) example runs below:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This is a run with the last include (“finish”) commented out from the main “wrapper” run. The code uploaded to Github has this include enabled still, uncommented.
[ansible_admin@ctrl ansible]$ ansible-playbook ./playbooks/itsm_oracle_refresh_wrapper.yml [WARNING]: Collection servicenow.itsm does not support Ansible version 2.14.17
PLAY [RFRSH2025Q2 Omni-Client PROD_2_UAT | announce oracle_schema_refresh] ***************************************************************************************************************************************
TASK [Gathering Facts] ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************* ok: [localhost]
TASK [Auto-Create "RFRSH2025Q2 Omni-Client PROD_2_UAT" Task in ServiceNow | prepare oracle_schema_refresh] ******************************************************************************************************* [WARNING]: Encountered unknown value open while mapping field state. [WARNING]: Encountered unknown value 3 while mapping field close_code. [WARNING]: Encountered unknown value while mapping field close_code. changed: [localhost]
TASK [debug] ***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ok: [localhost] => { "msg": "Ansible Starting the Quarterly RFRSH2025Q2 Omni-Client PROD_2_UAT | prepare oracle_schema_refresh" }
TASK [Change ServiceNow Refresh Task State to In-Progress | prepare oracle_schema_refresh] *********************************************************************************************************************** changed: [localhost]
TASK [debug] ***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ok: [localhost] => { "msg": "Ansible Verified & Opened an Oracle RFRSH2025Q2 Omni-Client PROD_2_UAT Task INC0010125 in ServiceNow | execute oracle_schema_refresh" }
TASK [Prepare Oracle Refresh Process | execute oracle_schema_refresh] ******************************************************************************************************************************************** ok: [localhost]
TASK [debug] ***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ok: [localhost] => { "msg": "Ansible Executing RFRSH2025Q2 Omni-Client PROD_2_UAT Task INC0010125" }
TASK [Cache the Refresh Task SYS_ID for All Playbooks to Re-Use | prepare oracle_database_refresh] *************************************************************************************************************** ok: [localhost]
TASK [Write the Refresh Task SYS_ID Variable to the Disk on CTRL+ Node Alone | prepare oracle_database_refresh] ************************************************************************************************** changed: [localhost]
PLAY [db_servers] ************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
TASK [Gathering Facts] ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************* [WARNING]: Platform linux on host 192.168.1.64 is using the discovered Python interpreter at /usr/libexec/platform-python, but future installation of another Python interpreter could change the meaning of that path. See https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-core/2.14/reference_appendices/interpreter_discovery.html for more information. ok: [192.168.1.64] [WARNING]: Platform linux on host 192.168.1.108 is using the discovered Python interpreter at /usr/libexec/platform-python, but future installation of another Python interpreter could change the meaning of that path. See https://docs.ansible.com/ansible-core/2.14/reference_appendices/interpreter_discovery.html for more information. ok: [192.168.1.108]
TASK [debug] ***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ok: [192.168.1.64] => { "ansible_distribution": "OracleLinux" } ok: [192.168.1.108] => { "ansible_distribution": "OracleLinux" }
TASK [Confirm Local Facts for Each Oracle Instance being Refreshed | prepare oracle_database_refresh of the "source" schema in the "SRCPROD" Database on "lnx072"] *********************************************** ok: [192.168.1.64] => { "ansible_local": { "export": { "localfacts": { "export_fact_ansible_env_path": "/home/ansible/admin", "export_fact_container_database_type": "legacy", "export_fact_export_flag": "on", "export_fact_oracle_database_environment_purpose": "PROD", "export_fact_oracle_database_environment_readonly": "true", "export_fact_oracle_export_datapump_dir": "DATA_PUMP_DIR", "export_fact_oracle_export_user_name": "source", "export_fact_oracle_export_user_password": , "export_fact_oracle_listener_port_number": "1521", "export_fact_oracle_local_hostname": "lnx072", "export_fact_oracle_rdbms_version": "19.0.0", "export_fact_oracle_sid_name": "SRCPROD", "export_fact_oracle_tns_admin": "/u01/app/oracle/product/19c/dbhome_1/network/admin", "export_fact_rdbms_home": "/u01/app/oracle/product/19c/dbhome_1", "export_fact_schema": "source", "export_fact_shared_scratchpad_s3_bucket": "/mnt/hgfs/Linux_share/scratchpad/", "import_fact_oracle_local_hostname": "", "import_fact_oracle_sid_name": "", "import_fact_schema": "" } } } } ok: [192.168.1.108] => { "ansible_local": { "export": { "localfacts": { "export_fact_ansible_env_path": "/home/ansible_admin", "export_fact_container_database_type": "legacy", "export_fact_export_flag": "on", "export_fact_oracle_database_environment_purpose": "UAT", "export_fact_oracle_database_environment_readonly": "false", "export_fact_oracle_export_datapump_dir": "DATA_PUMP_DIR", "export_fact_oracle_export_user_name": "source", "export_fact_oracle_export_user_password": , "export_fact_oracle_listener_port_number": "1521", "export_fact_oracle_local_hostname": "lnx073", "export_fact_oracle_rdbms_version": "19.0.0", "export_fact_oracle_sid_name": "SRCUAT", "export_fact_oracle_tns_admin": "/u01/app/oracle/product/19c/dbhome_1/network/admin", "export_fact_rdbms_home": "/u01/app/oracle/product/19c/dbhome_1", "export_fact_schema": "source", "export_fact_shared_scratchpad_s3_bucket": "/mnt/hgfs/Linux_share/scratchpad/", "import_fact_oracle_local_hostname": "lnx072", "import_fact_oracle_sid_name": "SRCPROD", "import_fact_schema": "source" } } } }
TASK [Check if Lockfile Exists or an Earlier Refresh Still Running | prepare oracle_database_refresh of the "source" schema in the "SRCPROD" Database on "lnx072"] *********************************************** ok: [192.168.1.108] ok: [192.168.1.64]
TASK [Create Lockfile if Doesnt Exist | prepare oracle_database_refresh of the "source" schema in the "SRCPROD" Database on "lnx072"] **************************************************************************** changed: [192.168.1.64] changed: [192.168.1.108]
TASK [Generate Local SOURCE Db Export ParFile from a Centralized JINJA Refresh Template | prepare oracle_database_refresh of the "source" schema in the "SRCPROD" Database on "lnx072"] ************************** changed: [192.168.1.108] changed: [192.168.1.64]
TASK [Export Source Schema to Scratchpad Usng the Custom Parfile | prepare oracle_database_refresh of the "source" schema in the "SRCPROD" Database on "lnx072"] ************************************************* skipping: [192.168.1.108] changed: [192.168.1.64]
TASK [Generate One or More Target Schema Refresh ParFiles from a Centralized JINJA Refresh Template | prepare oracle_database_refresh of the "source" schema in the "SRCPROD" Database on "lnx072"] ************** skipping: [192.168.1.64] changed: [192.168.1.108]
TASK [Import into the Destination Db Usng the Custom Import ParFile | execute oracle_database_refresh of the "source" schema in the "SRCPROD" Database on "lnx072"] ********************************************** skipping: [192.168.1.64] changed: [192.168.1.108]
PLAY RECAP ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************* 192.168.1.108 : ok=8 changed=4 unreachable=0 failed=0 skipped=1 rescued=0 ignored=0
192.168.1.64 : ok=7 changed=3 unreachable=0 failed=0 skipped=2 rescued=0 ignored=0
localhost : ok=9 changed=3 unreachable=0 failed=0 skipped=0 rescued=0 ignored=0
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This if I run the last “finish” playbook by itself, not by being called from the “actual” playbook. It also runs fine.
[ansible_admin@ctrl ansible]$ ansible-playbook ./playbooks/itsm_oracle_refresh_finish.yml [WARNING]: Collection servicenow.itsm does not support Ansible version 2.14.17
PLAY [RFRSH2025Q2 Omni-Client PROD_2_UAT | announce oracle_schema_refresh] ***************************************************************************************************************************************
TASK [Gathering Facts] ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************* ok: [localhost]
TASK [debug] ***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ok: [localhost] => { "msg": "Version 3.2. Ansible is Closing the RFRSH2025Q2 Omni-Client PROD_2_UAT Task as Successful" }
TASK [Close ServiceNow Refresh Task as Completed | cleanup oracle_schema_refresh] ******************************************************************************************************************************** [WARNING]: Encountered unknown value while mapping field close_code. [WARNING]: Encountered unknown value 2025Q5 Refreshed (Omni-CLient UAT) while mapping field close_code. changed: [localhost]
TASK [debug] ***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ok: [localhost] => { "msg": "Ansible is Entering the Following in the Closing Notes (RFRSH2025Q2 Omni-Client PROD_2_UAT Task)" }
TASK [debug] ***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ok: [localhost] => { "closing_notes_out": { "changed": true, "diff": { "after": { "active": "true", "activity_due": "", "additional_assignee_list": "", "approval": "not requested", "approval_history": "", "assigned_to": "", "assignment_group": "", "attachments": [], "business_duration": "", "business_impact": "", "business_stc": "", "calendar_duration": "", "calendar_stc": "", "caller_id": "6816f79cc0a8016401c5a33be04be441", "category": "inquiry", "cause": "", "caused_by": "", "child_incidents": "0", "close_code": "", "close_notes": "Closed", "closed_at": "", "closed_by": "", "comments": "", "contact_type": "", "contract": "", "correlation_display": "", "correlation_id": "", "delivery_plan": "", "delivery_task": "", "description": "", "due_date": "", "escalation": "0", "expected_start": "", "follow_up": "", "group_list": "", "hold_reason": "", "impact": "low", "incident_state": "1", "knowledge": "false", "location": "", "made_sla": "true", "notify": "1", "number": "INC0010125", "opened_at": "2025-05-07 11:37:15", "opened_by": "775acf7e83812210a6565929feaad3f0", "order": "", "origin_id": "", "origin_table": "", "parent": "", "parent_incident": "", "priority": "5", "problem_id": "9", "reassignment_count": "0", "reopen_count": "0", "reopened_by": "", "reopened_time": "", "resolved_at": "", "resolved_by": "", "rfc": "", "route_reason": "", "severity": "3", "short_description": "Refresh All UAT Databases from PROD", "sla_due": "", "state": "new", "subcategory": "", "sys_class_name": "incident", "sys_created_by": "aes.creator", "sys_created_on": "2025-05-07 11:37:15", "sys_domain": "global", "sys_domain_path": "/", "sys_id": "3b5aab66835d2250a6565929feaad36b", "sys_mod_count": "1", "sys_tags": "", "sys_updated_by": "aes.creator", "sys_updated_on": "2025-05-07 11:44:15", "task_effective_number": "INC0010125", "time_worked": "", "universal_request": "", "upon_approval": "proceed", "upon_reject": "cancel", "urgency": "low", "user_input": "", "watch_list": "", "work_end": "", "work_start": "" }, "before": { "active": "true", "activity_due": "", "additional_assignee_list": "", "approval": "not requested", "approval_history": "", "assigned_to": "", "assignment_group": "", "attachments": [], "business_duration": "", "business_impact": "", "business_stc": "", "calendar_duration": "", "calendar_stc": "", "caller_id": "6816f79cc0a8016401c5a33be04be441", "category": "inquiry", "cause": "", "caused_by": "", "child_incidents": "0", "close_code": "", "close_notes": "", "closed_at": "", "closed_by": "", "comments": "", "contact_type": "", "contract": "", "correlation_display": "", "correlation_id": "", "delivery_plan": "", "delivery_task": "", "description": "", "due_date": "", "escalation": "0", "expected_start": "", "follow_up": "", "group_list": "", "hold_reason": "", "impact": "low", "incident_state": "1", "knowledge": "false", "location": "", "made_sla": "true", "notify": "1", "number": "INC0010125", "opened_at": "2025-05-07 11:37:15", "opened_by": "775acf7e83812210a6565929feaad3f0", "order": "", "origin_id": "", "origin_table": "", "parent": "", "parent_incident": "", "priority": "5", "problem_id": "9", "reassignment_count": "0", "reopen_count": "0", "reopened_by": "", "reopened_time": "", "resolved_at": "", "resolved_by": "", "rfc": "", "route_reason": "", "severity": "3", "short_description": "Refresh All UAT Databases from PROD", "sla_due": "", "state": "new", "subcategory": "", "sys_class_name": "incident", "sys_created_by": "aes.creator", "sys_created_on": "2025-05-07 11:37:15", "sys_domain": "global", "sys_domain_path": "/", "sys_id": "3b5aab66835d2250a6565929feaad36b", "sys_mod_count": "0", "sys_tags": "", "sys_updated_by": "aes.creator", "sys_updated_on": "2025-05-07 11:37:15", "task_effective_number": "INC0010125", "time_worked": "", "universal_request": "", "upon_approval": "proceed", "upon_reject": "cancel", "urgency": "low", "user_input": "", "watch_list": "", "work_end": "", "work_start": "" } }, "failed": false, "record": { "active": "true", "activity_due": "", "additional_assignee_list": "", "approval": "not requested", "approval_history": "", "assigned_to": "", "assignment_group": "", "attachments": [], "business_duration": "", "business_impact": "", "business_stc": "", "calendar_duration": "", "calendar_stc": "", "caller_id": "6816f79cc0a8016401c5a33be04be441", "category": "inquiry", "cause": "", "caused_by": "", "child_incidents": "0", "close_code": "", "close_notes": "Closed", "closed_at": "", "closed_by": "", "comments": "", "contact_type": "", "contract": "", "correlation_display": "", "correlation_id": "", "delivery_plan": "", "delivery_task": "", "description": "", "due_date": "", "escalation": "0", "expected_start": "", "follow_up": "", "group_list": "", "hold_reason": "", "impact": "low", "incident_state": "1", "knowledge": "false", "location": "", "made_sla": "true", "notify": "1", "number": "INC0010125", "opened_at": "2025-05-07 11:37:15", "opened_by": "775acf7e83812210a6565929feaad3f0", "order": "", "origin_id": "", "origin_table": "", "parent": "", "parent_incident": "", "priority": "5", "problem_id": "9", "reassignment_count": "0", "reopen_count": "0", "reopened_by": "", "reopened_time": "", "resolved_at": "", "resolved_by": "", "rfc": "", "route_reason": "", "severity": "3", "short_description": "Refresh All UAT Databases from PROD", "sla_due": "", "state": "new", "subcategory": "", "sys_class_name": "incident", "sys_created_by": "aes.creator", "sys_created_on": "2025-05-07 11:37:15", "sys_domain": "global", "sys_domain_path": "/", "sys_id": "3b5aab66835d2250a6565929feaad36b", "sys_mod_count": "1", "sys_tags": "", "sys_updated_by": "aes.creator", "sys_updated_on": "2025-05-07 11:44:15", "task_effective_number": "INC0010125", "time_worked": "", "universal_request": "", "upon_approval": "proceed", "upon_reject": "cancel", "urgency": "low", "user_input": "", "watch_list": "", "work_end": "", "work_start": "" }, "warnings": [ "Encountered unknown value while mapping field close_code.", "Encountered unknown value while mapping field close_code.", "Encountered unknown value 2025Q5 Refreshed (Omni-CLient UAT) while mapping field close_code.", "Encountered unknown value while mapping field close_code." ] } }
TASK [Cleanup the Temp Refresh Files | cleanup oracle_schema_refresh] ******************************************************************************************************************************************** changed: [localhost]
TASK [debug] ***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ok: [localhost] => { "msg": "Refresh Task SYS_ID Purged from Schedule and Ansible CTRL+ Disk" }
TASK [debug] ***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ok: [localhost] => { "msg": "Ansible Has Now Closed the RFRSH2025Q2 Omni-Client PROD_2_UAT Task as Successful. Thank You and Have a Nice Day." }
PLAY RECAP ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************* localhost : ok=8 changed=2 unreachable=0 failed=0 skipped=0 rescued=0 ignored=0
[ansible_admin@ctrl ansible]$
But this is supposed to be ENTIRELY unattended, from opening/approving tasks to doing the work, no manual intervention of any kind. So I need them to work by calling themselves in the right order. "The “wrapper”, the “actual”, then the “finish”. So far I can only run them like this:
- Launch “wrapper” manually, which calls the “actual” with the “finish” playbook include commented out.
- Then launch “finish” to close the ticket.
But I only want the item 1. launched manually, which should do all. Please help.
Please dont worry about the “exposed” IPs and passwords. None of this persists longer than 10 minutes, never outside the VM local network, this is just a POC.
Thanks for your help.
Symian.