include_role question regarding variables

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1

Hello Everyone,

i have a role “x” that uses two default vars:
(roles/x/defaults/main.yml)
server1var: server1
server2var: server2

based on these vars, tasks are executed on server1 or server2

now I have a playbook that executes some tasks and then includes role “x”:

tasks:

  • name: fetch file from remote server
    fetch:
    src: …
    dest: …

  • name: copy file to remote server
    copy:
    src: …
    dest: …

  • include_role:
    name: x

In this playbook the two vars from /roles/x/defaults/main.yml are also present with different values.
vars:
server1var: server3
server2var: server4

Is it possible that the tasks executed by “include_role” take the vars from the current playbook?

All tasks that gets executed by the include_role should be executed with the vars
server1var: server3
server2var: server4

instead of the default vars:

server1var: server1
server2var: server2

Can anyone tell me how i can do that?
is it just like this maybe?

  • include_role:
    name: x

vars:

server1var: server3
server2var: server4

What is the best way to this?

Thank you for your time and help in advance.

2

... role "x" that uses two default vars:
(roles/x/defaults/main.yml)
server1var: server1
server2var: server2

... playbook ...
vars:
   server1var: server3
   server2var: server4
tasks:
    - include_role:
        name: x
Is it possible that the tasks executed by "include_role" take the vars from
the current playbook?

Yes. It's possible. For example

cat roles/role_x/defaults/main.yml

server1var: server1
server2var: server2

cat roles/role_x/tasks/main.yml

- debug:
    var: server1var

cat playbook.yml

- hosts: localhost
  tasks:
    - include_role:
        name: role_x
    - include_role:
        name: role_x
      vars:
        server1var: server3

ansible-playbook playbook.yml

TASK [include_role : role_x] ****

TASK [role_x : debug] ****
ok: [localhost] => { "server1var": "server1" }

TASK [include_role : role_x] ****

TASK [role_x : debug] ****
ok: [localhost] => { "server1var": "server3" }

Can anyone tell me how i can do that?
is it just like this maybe?

    - include_role:
        name: x
      vars:
        server1var: server3
        server2var: server4

Yes. This is the best way. FWIW, there are issues. See:
Modified "vars:" not visible inside include_role. #69799
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/69799

3

Thank you very much for the help.

I have found out that the problem is caused by a random generator. Its not the include_role task itself (thats why I opened the question in first place)

I have two lists and building a new list excluding the items from list1 (which is something like “server1”, “server2”…)

vars:

list1:

  • “{{file_content.server1var}}”

  • “{{file_content.server2var}}”
    list2:

  • server1

  • server2

  • server3

  • server4

  • server5

  • server6
    tasks:

  • name: generate newlist based on difference between list1 and list2
    set_fact:
    newlist: “{{ list2 | difference(list1) }}”

  • name: set fact random2
    set_fact:
    randomserver: “{{ newlist | random }}”

##This for example shows me server2 when i run the play one time###

  • name: show randomnode
    debug:
    msg: “{{randomnode}}”
    …
    ##Now im using that randomnode variable for the include_role##

  • include_role:
    name: x

vars:

server1var: server3
server2var: “{{randomserver}}”

This is the task in role “x”:

  • name: ping the servers
    ping:
    when: inventory_hostname == server1var or inventory_hostname == server2var

###Now im expecting that “server2var” will be “server2”, but its kinda random what happens there###
###For example: sometimes its get executed on 4 servers, 3 servers, 2 servers, 1 server. The only Server that is consistent is server1var (whhich is “server1”)###

Maybe you have an idea what might cause that problem?

I saw in your github examples, that you already used random filter.

4

Well I actually found the problem.
I had to set run_once:yes in the following part:

  • name: set fact random2
    set_fact:
    randomserver: “{{ newlist | random}}”
    run_once: yes

Now I get the correct Servers

Anyway, Thank you for your help Mr. Botka.