How to call roles & specify tags for those roles

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1

Trying to run an example from the ansible docs, and it seems to always run both the tagged portions of the playbook…

Am I missing how calling a role with tags is supposed to be used?

Ansible docs -

http://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/playbooks_tags.html

roles:
  - { role: webserver, port: 5000, tags: [ 'web', 'foo' ] }

My playbook and role call below ->



Role call



---
- hosts: 10.10.0.5
  become: yes
  roles:
    - {role: apache, tags: [ 'config_apache']}

tasks/main.yml

- name: Install apache
yum:
name: httpd
state: latest
tags: apache_install

- name: Config apache
lineinfile:
path: /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf
line: penguin
tags: config_apache
2

If you are adding a tag to a role, there is no need to use the same tag on any of the tasks within the role.

So running your playbook with -t config_apache will include both tasks. Running it with -t apache_install will only run the Install apache task.

http://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/playbooks_tags.html#tag-inheritance

3

Ok…Not sure I follow. So what would be the point then in calling a role with tags at all, if you cannot define which tag to use?

4

I use tags at the role level when I have a play that contains multiple roles. If all you’re wanting to do is run the config apache task, remove the config_apache tag from the role and leave it on the task. Hopefully I’m understanding your question correctly.

---
- hosts: 10.10.0.5
  become: yes
  roles:
    - {role: test1, tags: [ 'test1']}
5

If I remove the tag from the role and leave it on the task, then it will run both tasks? Both tasks are tagged

6

What is your desired result from using the tags?

7

I guess you did not read that link carefully enough :slight_smile:

From the link:
"You can ONLY filter tasks based on tags from the command line with –tags or –skip-tags."

8

Good question Mike, no requirement, just learning this incase it comes up in the cert. exam. Based on that link from the docs I still dont know why you would call a role with tags