# Executing multiple roles in succession **URL:** \ **Category:** Ansible Project\ **Tags:** windows, vmware\ **Created:** [November 9, 2022, 10:30pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/executing-multiple-roles-in-succession/37327 "2022-11-09T22:30:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chris\_Bachmeyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Chris\_Bachmeyer](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Chris_Bachmeyer)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2022, 10:30pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/executing-multiple-roles-in-succession/37327/1 "2022-11-09T22:30:45Z")
Hey all, I have two roles that are included in my site.yml and the goal is to execute the second role as soon as the first role completes. I have added a task to generate a dynamic inventory in the first role that the second role can use. I have a job Template in Ansible Tower and the first role executes cleanly but job Template completes without the second role executing. What am I missing? - name: VMware-windows create role hosts: localhost gather\_facts: no roles: - vmware-windows vars\_files: - ./roles/vmware-windows/vars/{{ vc\_location }}.yml - ./roles/vmware-windows/vars/{{ network }}.yml - name: Windows-post role hosts: windows gather\_facts: no roles: - windows-post Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Walter\_Rowe](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/walter_rowe/32/4506_2.png) [@Walter\_Rowe](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Walter_Rowe)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2022, 12:22pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/executing-multiple-roles-in-succession/37327/2 "2022-11-10T12:22:43Z")
You need to make sure you use proper indentation. Your roles list needs to be indented two spaces like your vars\_files. Is it possible also that your sourcing of those the vars\_files from within your role is overwriting the value of “windows” such that there is no inventory for the second play? Why do you source those vars files? The vmware-windows role will do that automatically. > - name: VMware-windows create role > hosts: localhost > gather\_facts: no > roles: > - vmware-windows > > ### this vars\_files should not be needed > > vars\_files: > > - ./roles/vmware-windows/vars/{{ vc\_location }}.yml > > - ./roles/vmware-windows/vars/{{ network }}.yml > > - name: Windows-post role > hosts: windows > gather\_facts: no > roles: > > - windows-post I presume that your vmware-windows role in the first play creates the host group called “windows” that you use as the inventory in your second play? Walter ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Bachmeyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Chris\_Bachmeyer](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Chris_Bachmeyer)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2022, 2:54pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/executing-multiple-roles-in-succession/37327/3 "2022-11-10T14:54:17Z")
Hi, Walter, That is correct. I am, the vmware-windows role is the first play and creates the host\_group “windows” to be used as inventory in the second play. Right now, the second role is not indented but let me give that a go this morning. I’m presuming to indent the entire block starting with the hyphen ( - name: … )? Regarding the vars\_files, use import statements in the vars/main.yml of the first role? I have multiple vars files under vars/ that are specific to the vcenters and vlans. Using vars\_files and variables in the Ansible Tower Survey gives the Admins a way to customize the builds to the environment (which works well!). Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Walter\_Rowe](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/walter_rowe/32/4506_2.png) [@Walter\_Rowe](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Walter_Rowe)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2022, 3:26pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/executing-multiple-roles-in-succession/37327/4 "2022-11-10T15:26:26Z")
Does the vmware-windows role need the vars defined from the vars\_files? If so then the role itself should include them inside it’s task file(s). Move the vars\_files inside tasks/main.yml. Anything the role does after that will get the value of those vars definitions. The vmware-windows role will see the values of network and vc\_location that come into the playbook executing the role. I presume they come in as extra\_vars from command line or ansible tower. Walter ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Bachmeyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Chris\_Bachmeyer](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Chris_Bachmeyer)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2022, 5:28pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/executing-multiple-roles-in-succession/37327/5 "2022-11-10T17:28:57Z")
Initially, I set up the Ansible Playbook outside of using a role, a plays/, vars/, group\_vars/, and collections/ directories. Yes, the network and vc\_locations were being passed in as extra\_vars in Anbible Tower via a Survey. As things have grown, I recently converted that work over to an Ansible role. The conversion worked well and things run accordingly through Ansible Tower. The site.yml is what is used including the vars\_files sans the second role. Now I am working on including the second role for post-processing needs of the deployed vms. Yes, the vmware-windows role needs variables defined for the vcenter, vlans, etc. Currently, I have multiple ymls built out holding the vars such as: vlan1.yml, vlan2.yml, etc. vcenter1.yml, vcenter2.yml, etc. Doing it like this, I can have a prompt in the Survey for the Admins to customize the deployment. I think I am following you, I can move those yml files over to tasks/ in the first role. I did indent the second role, having to remove the hyphen from “name.” In doing so, I received two warning: **"[WARNING]: While constructing a mapping from /tmp/bwrap\_ … /project/vmware-windows- role/provision.yml, line 3, column 3, found a duplicate dict key (name). Using last defined value only** # Windows would be the inventory for the second role **[WARNING]: Could not match supplied host pattern, ignoring: windows** Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Walter\_Rowe](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/walter_rowe/32/4506_2.png) [@Walter\_Rowe](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Walter_Rowe)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2022, 5:54pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/executing-multiple-roles-in-succession/37327/6 "2022-11-10T17:54:55Z")
I have perused your reply but can’t dig into it right at the moment. I will get back to it. Hopefully others also will chime in. Walter ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Bachmeyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Chris\_Bachmeyer](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Chris_Bachmeyer)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2022, 3:14am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/executing-multiple-roles-in-succession/37327/7 "2022-11-11T03:14:26Z")
Hi, Walter, I have everything running as it should. It was my mistake. I didn’t intend the full block in the initial email I sent this morning, only the block for the second role. The dynamic inventory is generated in the first role and passed to the second, and the end-to-end deployment of instances on VMware now works smoothly. I haven’t had time to look at restructuring the vars yet but thanks for the input. Really appreciate it! Thanks again!