# Extra\_vars and env variables empty **URL:** \ **Category:** Get Help\ **Created:** [March 11, 2024, 9:34am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/extra-vars-and-env-variables-empty/4308 "2024-03-11T09:34:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gothsome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/278dde/32.png) [@gothsome](https://forum.ansible.com/u/gothsome)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2024, 9:34am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/extra-vars-and-env-variables-empty/4308/1 "2024-03-11T09:34:01Z")
Hello! I switched from my test GitHub and created successfully a project, but i couldnt get the right playbook to copy a file from the new GitLab to a local host. Only the auth via username and PAT is aviable. I added the user and PAR as a custom Auth and added the env GITLAB\_USER and GITLAB\_TOKEN. ```auto --- - name: list hosts: all become: true vars: gitlab_user: "{{ lookup('env','GITLAB_USER') }}" gitlab_token: "{{ lookup('env','GITLAB_TOKEN') }}" git_repo: "https://git.gruen.net/awx_gruen/playbooks.git" tasks: - name: clone from repo to tmp ansible.builtin.git: repo: "https://{{ gitlab_user }}:{{ gitlab_token }}@{{ git_repo | regex_replace('https://', '') }}" dest: "/tmp/repo" version: "dev" force: yes accept_hostkey: yes ``` But i always get the error : ```auto remote: HTTP Basic: Access denied. The provided password or token is incorrect or your account has 2FA enabled and you must use a personal access token instead of a password. ``` or: ```auto git@git.gruen.net: Permission denied (publickey,password).\\r\\nfatal: Could not read from remote repository.\\n\\nPlease make sure you have the correct access rights\\nand the repository exists.\\n", ``` 2FA is dsabled for this user and i created a user juist for this use. Thank you again for you really helful input! ---
**Author:** ![gothsome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/278dde/32.png) [@gothsome](https://forum.ansible.com/u/gothsome)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2024, 1:11pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/extra-vars-and-env-variables-empty/4308/2 "2024-03-11T13:11:22Z")
it seems that somehow my env vars are empty: I created a custom credential type: ![grafik](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/original/2X/2/23d9911101778a1e80d5f836dc090175b686eaac.png) ![grafik](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/original/2X/b/b0373755edd8166bc20bf1044302e4aff9c76a5b.png) And used this playbook: ```auto --- - name: Ausgabe von Beispiel-Umgebungsvariablen hosts: localhost tasks: - name: Ausgabe von EXAMPLE_VAR1 ansible.builtin.debug: msg: "Der Wert von EXAMPLE_VAR1 ist: {{ lookup('env', 'EXAMPLE_VAR1') }}" - name: Ausgabe von EXAMPLE_VAR2 ansible.builtin.debug: msg: "Der Wert von EXAMPLE_VAR2 ist: {{ lookup('env', 'EXAMPLE_VAR2') }}" ``` and the ouput seems to be with empty content: ![grafik](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/original/2X/4/4bb19f2a6c3a2accb5d9e5967e5145bc735add7b.png) I have the version 23.9.0 and tried with 23.6.0 ---
**Author:** ![Dustin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/dustin/32/2573_2.png) [@Dustin](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Dustin)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2024, 3:57pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/extra-vars-and-env-variables-empty/4308/3 "2024-03-11T15:57:32Z")
The easiest way to deal with remote repo authentication with GitLab is to use a [Personal Access Token - PAT](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/profile/personal_access_tokens.html). If you really want to force it to work with username and password, update your credential type to sent your variables as `extra_vars` instead of `env`. Then, you can reference those credentials in the playbook as their variable names. ---
**Author:** ![gothsome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/278dde/32.png) [@gothsome](https://forum.ansible.com/u/gothsome)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2024, 7:19am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/extra-vars-and-env-variables-empty/4308/4 "2024-03-12T07:19:23Z")
I aleready tried to use the PAT, but i think my problem is that somehow the variables i need for the authentication are empty somehow: How do i use the extra vars - do i have to set something in the project at the field extra variables? When i change the Variable to: ```auto {{ EXAMPLE_VAR2 }}" ``` it states the variable is not initialized and if i keep the playbook the variables are still empty or rather undefined. ![grafik](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/original/2X/6/66573cb0b7c2a24f8a73c6fd950342c4bcca073f.png) I followed this guide to use the extra\_vars: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTJxByGZXsc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTJxByGZXsc) Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![gothsome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/278dde/32.png) [@gothsome](https://forum.ansible.com/u/gothsome)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2024, 8:57am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/extra-vars-and-env-variables-empty/4308/6 "2024-03-12T08:57:48Z")
I changed the title becaue its more fitting ---
**Author:** ![gothsome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/278dde/32.png) [@gothsome](https://forum.ansible.com/u/gothsome)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2024, 9:32am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/extra-vars-and-env-variables-empty/4308/7 "2024-03-12T09:32:25Z")
First to make clear that i am right how to use the env variables: You make a custom credential and assign the fields to the required env variables in the input field. then add a new credential with the new created credential type. and lastly i can use these in my playbooks to get the variable contents: ```auto {{ lookup('ansible.builtin.env', 'HOME') }} ``` Can i use multiple credentials for one custom credential type and how could i choose the right one? ---
**Author:** ![Dustin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/dustin/32/2573_2.png) [@Dustin](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Dustin)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2024, 2:21pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/extra-vars-and-env-variables-empty/4308/8 "2024-03-12T14:21:42Z")
If you really want or need to use environment variables for your playbooks, ansible has a way to se the environment variables for each task. [Ansible Environment Variables](https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/playbook_guide/playbooks_environment.html) Update your credentials to set extra\_vars then set your environment variables using your credential variables. Credential Type Input Configuration: ```yaml fields: - id: example_var1 type: string label: Example Variable 1 - id: example_var1 type: string label: Example Variable 2 secret: true required: - EXAMPLE_VAR1 - EXAMPLE_VAR2 ``` Credential Type Injector Configuration: ```yaml extra_vars: example_var1: '{{ example_var1}}' example_var1: '{{ example_var1}}' ``` Task: ```yaml - name: Show Off Them Env Vars debug: msg: "{{ item }} :: {{ lookup('ansible.builtin.env', (item | upper ) ) }}" with_items: - example_var1 - example_var2 environment: EXAMPLE_VAR1: "{{ example_var1 }}" EXAMPLE_VAR2: "{{ example_var2 }}" ``` ---
**Author:** ![gothsome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/278dde/32.png) [@gothsome](https://forum.ansible.com/u/gothsome)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2024, 3:10pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/extra-vars-and-env-variables-empty/4308/9 "2024-03-12T15:10:44Z")
okay in the video it seems i only needed to place the ```auto {{ example_var1 }} ``` just like any other variable where i nedd ith in the playbook- ill try it tomorrow. and how do i use the env? then it doesnt seem to just could not use : `{{ lookup('ansible.builtin.env', 'HOME') }}` but it seemed like this in the official guide. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![gothsome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/278dde/32.png) [@gothsome](https://forum.ansible.com/u/gothsome)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2024, 7:58am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/extra-vars-and-env-variables-empty/4308/10 "2024-03-13T07:58:07Z")
I have editet your playbook to my testvariables i creatzed to test the outpu of the credential type with extra\_vars type: ```auto --- - name: Show Off Them Env Vars hosts: all debug: msg: "{{ item }} :: {{ lookup('ansible.builtin.env', (item | upper ) ) }}" with_items: - example_var3 environment: EXAMPLE_VAR3: "{{ test_var_3 }}" ``` but it fails: ![grafik](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/original/2X/6/6df5a8b2410db0f312ed173e7eaa5d43e6c2b6db.png) The user and Credential type: ![grafik](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/original/2X/c/c123ede578a1dcd1b564779a1ffa2e120de4c188.png) ---
**Author:** ![gothsome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/278dde/32.png) [@gothsome](https://forum.ansible.com/u/gothsome)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2024, 8:45am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/extra-vars-and-env-variables-empty/4308/11 "2024-03-13T08:45:05Z")
I now have the solution: I thought i just need to add the credential for the custom credential and its like a global strorage, but i have to add the new credentials to the templates and now i can output he content of them. ---
**Author:** ![ptn](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/ptn/32/481_2.png) [@ptn](https://forum.ansible.com/u/ptn)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 6:44am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/extra-vars-and-env-variables-empty/4308/12 "2024-03-14T06:44:58Z")
Hi, This is a formatting error; your play lacks the `tasks` key. Add it, then indent your debug task under this section. ---
**Author:** ![gothsome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/278dde/32.png) [@gothsome](https://forum.ansible.com/u/gothsome)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2024, 8:44am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/extra-vars-and-env-variables-empty/4308/13 "2024-03-14T08:44:38Z")
Thank you! my functional test playbook at the end was this: ```auto --- - name: testvaroutput hosts: all tasks: - name: testvaroutput ansible.builtin.debug: msg: "value: {{ test_var_3 }}" - name: testvaroutput ansible.builtin.debug: msg: "value: {{ GITLAB_PUBKEY }}" - name: testvaroutput ansible.builtin.debug: msg: "value: {{ GITLAB_USER }}" - name: testvaroutput ansible.builtin.debug: msg: "value: {{ lookup('ansible.builtin.env', 'EXAMPLE_VAR1') }}" ``` ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/original/1X/1882d9a01da5d8996a862359b0913cc568a39b84.svg) [@system](https://forum.ansible.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2024, 8:45am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/extra-vars-and-env-variables-empty/4308/14 "2024-04-13T08:45:39Z")
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