# How can i run a block of playbook instructions only if they pass the specified condition? **URL:** \ **Category:** Ansible Project\ **Created:** [February 25, 2019, 12:55pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/how-can-i-run-a-block-of-playbook-instructions-only-if-they-pass-the-specified-condition/29761 "2019-02-25T12:55:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ankit2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ankit2](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Ankit2)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 12:55pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/how-can-i-run-a-block-of-playbook-instructions-only-if-they-pass-the-specified-condition/29761/1 "2019-02-25T12:55:09Z")
I have got a playbook where i need to check if the host fact for reboot is set to true, i need to execute the rest of the instructions for that particular host in the inventory only if the reboot condition is true. Following is the playbook. I would like to avoid executing all the tasks for the host where the condition **ansible\_facts[‘Pending\_Reboot’] == false** or **when: ansible\_facts[‘Pending\_Reboot’] != false.** In such case, the execution should be skipped for that particular host and move to next host in the inventory. ` - hosts: all gather\_facts: false tasks: - name: Check and Reboot Server based on Pending\_Reboot Fact shell: “sleep 5 && reboot” async: 1 poll: 0 when: ansible\_facts[‘Pending\_Reboot’] == true - name: Pause for 10 seconds pause: seconds: 10 - name: Wait for Re-connection wait\_for\_connection: connect\_timeout: 5 sleep: 5 delay: 90 timeout: 600 - name: Run checkLinuxSystemUpdateStatusTask task file to re-validate Reboot Status include: checkLinuxSystemUpdateStatusTask.yml ` What is the best and least time consuming way of doing this? I was checking the documentation for **block** but i am not sure if i can use the conditions for a block. Thanks in Advance. **Regards,** **Ankit** ---
**Author:** ![Kai\_Stian\_Olstad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e19adc/32.png) [@Kai\_Stian\_Olstad](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Kai_Stian_Olstad)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 1:52pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/how-can-i-run-a-block-of-playbook-instructions-only-if-they-pass-the-specified-condition/29761/2 "2019-02-25T13:52:01Z")
Why not just test it? or check the documentation for what block support? [https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/reference\_appendices/playbooks\_keywords.html#block](https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/reference_appendices/playbooks_keywords.html#block) BTW when is the list. ---
**Author:** ![Ankit2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ankit2](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Ankit2)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2019, 7:59am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/how-can-i-run-a-block-of-playbook-instructions-only-if-they-pass-the-specified-condition/29761/3 "2019-03-06T07:59:02Z")
Ok, i tried this but **block** doesn’t accept, **retries.** I have the following playbook currently. Here, until works but i am not able to figure out a way to limit the max number of iterations: > ` > > - hosts: all > > name: runLinuxSystemUpdate > > gather\_facts: false > > tasks: > > - name: Set Facts if not present in Host. > > include: checkLinuxSystemUpdateStatusTask.yml > > when: ansible\_facts[‘Missing\_Hotfix\_Patches’] is not defined or ansible\_facts[‘Missing\_Hotfix\_Patches’] == “” > > - name: Iteration Block > > block: > > - name: Install Patches Block > > block: > > - name: Run InstallLinuxPatchesTask.yml Task File > > include: InstallLinuxPatchesTask.yml > > when: ansible\_facts[‘Missing\_Hotfix\_Patches’] != ‘0’ or ansible\_facts[‘Missing\_Security\_Patches’] != ‘0’ > > - name: Reboot Machines Block > > block: > > - name: Run RebootLinuxMachinesTask.yml Task File > > include: RebootLinuxMachinesTask.yml > > when: ansible\_facts[‘Pending\_Reboot’] == true > > - name: Run checkLinuxSystemUpdateStatusTask task file to re-validate Update and Reboot Status > > include: checkLinuxSystemUpdateStatusTask.yml > > #when: update\_result.stdout.find(“The deployment of patches and packages was successfully”) == -1 > > until: ansible\_facts[‘Missing\_Hotfix\_Patches’] != ‘0’ and ansible\_facts[‘Missing\_Security\_Patches’] != ‘0’ > **retries: 3** > ` **Regards,** **Ankit** ---
**Author:** ![Kai\_Stian\_Olstad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e19adc/32.png) [@Kai\_Stian\_Olstad](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Kai_Stian_Olstad)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2019, 5:17pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/how-can-i-run-a-block-of-playbook-instructions-only-if-they-pass-the-specified-condition/29761/4 "2019-03-07T17:17:14Z")
> Ok, i tried this but \*block\* doesn't accept, \*retries. If you have looked at the documentation I linked to you would see that retries is not allowed for a block, only task. So you need to move your retries to the individual tasks. > \*I have the > following playbook currently. Here, until works but i am not able to figure > out a way to limit the max number of iterations: > > - hosts: all > >    name: runLinuxSystemUpdate > >    gather\_facts: false > >    tasks: > >      - name: Set Facts if not present in Host. > >        include: checkLinuxSystemUpdateStatusTask.yml > >        when: ansible\_facts['Missing\_Hotfix\_Patches'] is not defined or > ansible\_facts['Missing\_Hotfix\_Patches'] == "" > >      - name: Iteration Block > >        block: > >          - name: Install Patches Block > >            block: > >              - name: Run InstallLinuxPatchesTask.yml Task File > >                include: InstallLinuxPatchesTask.yml > >            when: ansible\_facts['Missing\_Hotfix\_Patches'] != '0' or > ansible\_facts['Missing\_Security\_Patches'] != '0' When you not using rescue and/or always in block just having one task in a block has no meaning. >          - name: Reboot Machines Block > >            block: > >              - name: Run RebootLinuxMachinesTask.yml Task File > >                include: RebootLinuxMachinesTask.yml > >            when: ansible\_facts['Pending\_Reboot'] == true Same here, this block has no meaning since it only on one task. >          - name: Run checkLinuxSystemUpdateStatusTask task file to re-validate > Update and Reboot Status > >            include: checkLinuxSystemUpdateStatusTask.yml > >            #when: update\_result.stdout.find("The deployment of patches and > packages was successfully") == -1 > >        until: ansible\_facts['Missing\_Hotfix\_Patches'] != '0' and > ansible\_facts['Missing\_Security\_Patches'] != '0' >        \*retries: 3\* The retries you need to move to each task. ---
**Author:** ![Ankit2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ankit2](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Ankit2)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 4:38pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/how-can-i-run-a-block-of-playbook-instructions-only-if-they-pass-the-specified-condition/29761/5 "2019-03-11T16:38:08Z")
Thanks Kai. I had all the tasks running with own retries but i was hoping to have retries condition for multiple tasks or a bunch of tasks having single condition and retries. It is strange that there is no way to get that done.