# how to run an if/else test in a task **URL:** \ **Category:** Ansible Project\ **Created:** [May 19, 2020, 2:23pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/how-to-run-an-if-else-test-in-a-task/32973 "2020-05-19T14:23:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hieronymus](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/hieronymus/32/1624_2.png) [@hieronymus](https://forum.ansible.com/u/hieronymus)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 2:23pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/how-to-run-an-if-else-test-in-a-task/32973/1 "2020-05-19T14:23:27Z")
Hi Teams, I’m looking for to do a test before to execute a task. I need to checkup if my computer has already joined the domain before to join it. otherwise, the adcli will failed. When computer isn’t in domain, the klist will return a “not found” message and at this time the “join active directory” must be running… Something goes wrong because this task will not be runned. Here’re the portion of task: ` […] - name: checking if domain already joined shell: /bin/bash -c “/usr/bin/klist -k|grep -i {{ ansible\_hostname }}” register: ad\_join\_status ignore\_errors: true - name: join active directory shell: /bin/bash -c “/usr/sbin/realm join --one-time-password={{ ad\_server\_onetime }} {{ ad\_server\_domain }}” register: ad\_active args: executable: /usr/bin/bash when: ad\_join\_status == “not found” […] ` Do you have any Idea? Is my test ok or should be another one? Thanks and best regards, J. ---
**Author:** ![IaV1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@IaV1](https://forum.ansible.com/u/IaV1)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 4:54pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/how-to-run-an-if-else-test-in-a-task/32973/2 "2020-05-19T16:54:01Z")
In the when clause use something like ad\_join\_status.stdout\_lines[0] to check what it needs to be add - debug var: ad\_join\_status and see what is there ---
**Author:** ![racke](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/racke/32/4767_2.png) [@racke](https://forum.ansible.com/u/racke)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 4:56pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/how-to-run-an-if-else-test-in-a-task/32973/3 "2020-05-19T16:56:14Z")
> Hi Teams, > > I'm looking for to do a test before to execute a task. I need to checkup if my computer has already joined the domain > before to join it. otherwise, the adcli will failed. > When computer isn't in domain, the klist will return a "not found" message and at this time the "join active directory" > must be running... > Something goes wrong because this task will not be runned. > Here're the portion of task: > > \> > [...] > -name:checking ifdomain already joined > shell:/bin/bash -c "/usr/bin/klist -k|grep -i {{ ansible\_hostname }}" > register:ad\_join\_status > ignore\_errors:true > > -name:join active directory > shell:/bin/bash -c "/usr/sbin/realm join --one-time-password={{ ad\_server\_onetime }} {{ ad\_server\_domain }}" > register:ad\_active > args: > executable:/usr/bin/bash > when:ad\_join\_status =="not found" > [...] > \> Hello Jerome, Ansible is not a glorified tool for running shell scripts on the target :-/ At any rate, ad\_join\_status is not a string. Checkout ad\_join\_status.stdout (string) or ad\_join\_status.stdout\_lines (list). Regards         Racke ---
**Author:** ![hieronymus](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/hieronymus/32/1624_2.png) [@hieronymus](https://forum.ansible.com/u/hieronymus)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2020, 10:23am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/how-to-run-an-if-else-test-in-a-task/32973/4 "2020-05-20T10:23:14Z")
Thanks for your reply and tips. So, has requested I’ve checked out the stdout message: I’ve received only message when the domain already joined, like: `ok: [localhost] => { "ad_join_status.stdout_lines": [" 3 server_name@domain", " 3 server_name@domain", " 3 server_name@domain", " 3 host/server_name@domain", " 3 host/server_name@domain", [...]` Otherwise, the klist cannot start because it doesn’t found the file : /etc/krb5.keytab : ` # /usr/bin/klist -k|grep -i server\_name klist: Key table file ‘/etc/krb5.keytab’ not found while starting keytab ` And in this case nothing appears in stdout: ` ok: [localhost] =\> ad\_join\_status.stdout: ‘’ ` That’s means, I should use an another test for checking domain joining… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![racke](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/racke/32/4767_2.png) [@racke](https://forum.ansible.com/u/racke)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2020, 10:38am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/how-to-run-an-if-else-test-in-a-task/32973/5 "2020-05-20T10:38:34Z")
> Thanks for your reply and tips. > So, has requested I've checked out the stdout message: > > I've received only message when the domain already joined, like: > > \> > ok:[localhost]=\>{ > "ad\_join\_status.stdout\_lines":[ > " 3 server\_name@domain", > " 3 server\_name@domain", > " 3 server\_name@domain", > " 3 host/server\_name@domain", > " 3 host/server\_name@domain", > [...] > \> > > Otherwise, the klist cannot start because it doesn't found the file : /etc/krb5.keytab : > \> > # /usr/bin/klist -k|grep -i server\_name > klist:Keytable file '/etc/krb5.keytab'notfound whilestarting keytab > \> > > And in this case nothing appears in stdout: > \> > ok:[localhost]=\> > > ``` > ad\_join\_status\.stdout:'' > > ``` > > \> > > That's means, I should use an another test for checking domain joining... ☹ Right, so far this isn't really Ansible related. Determine a command which reliably tells you whether the domain is already joined \*before\* you are trying to automate it. Regards           Racke