# ansible -  sub groups in ansible hosts file or conceptual equivalent

**URL:** <https://forum.ansible.com/t/ansible-sub-groups-in-ansible-hosts-file-or-conceptual-equivalent/19158>\
**Category:** Ansible Project\
**Created:** [September 1, 2015, 5:43pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/ansible-sub-groups-in-ansible-hosts-file-or-conceptual-equivalent/19158 "2015-09-01T17:43:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Cevyn\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e480ec/32.png) [@Cevyn\_E](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Cevyn_E)\
**Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 5:43pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/ansible-sub-groups-in-ansible-hosts-file-or-conceptual-equivalent/19158/1 "2015-09-01T17:43:50Z")

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Searched a fair amount but seem to not quite pull it together.  
I want to have something like this in my ansible hosts file

[biggroup]  
subgroup1

subgroup2

[subgroup1]  
1.1.1.1

[subgroup2]  
2.2.2.2

I want be able to see that I’m pulling the right groups without just just putting IP addresses under [biggroup] and losing track of which host they are.  
Also I use the subgroups and think it easier to manage individuals host under them.

I’m sure there is a very simple cool way to conceptually do this I’m just missing it in the doc!

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**Author:** ![Serge\_van\_Ginderacht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@Serge\_van\_Ginderacht](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Serge_van_Ginderacht)\
**Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 7:10pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/ansible-sub-groups-in-ansible-hosts-file-or-conceptual-equivalent/19158/2 "2015-09-01T19:10:14Z")

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You can define children groups like this:  
​

[biggroup