# ntp.j2 for different set of hosts **URL:** \ **Category:** Ansible Project\ **Created:** [January 18, 2019, 6:36am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/ntp-j2-for-different-set-of-hosts/29462 "2019-01-18T06:36:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![coach.rhca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@coach.rhca](https://forum.ansible.com/u/coach.rhca)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 6:36am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/ntp-j2-for-different-set-of-hosts/29462/1 "2019-01-18T06:36:41Z")
Hi, I have created a role for the ntp with the ntp.j2 and ntp1.j2 templates in templates diretory . with ntp.j2 consisting of server 2.2.2.1 iburst and with tp. ntp1.j2 consist of server 1.2.1.3 iburst In the task under the - name: template: src: ntp.conf.j2 dest: /etc/ntp.conf notify: restart ntp I want to use the template for different hosts if the hosts are say test1 testops1 db-client1 ans 10 others etc .apply ntp.j2 and if the hosts are dev1 devops1 db-devclien1 app-devclient2 and others … how do we use the when clause to achieve this . this hosts are randomly mentioned in the inventory in different groups. Thank you . ---
**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:** [January 18, 2019, 4:03pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/ntp-j2-for-different-set-of-hosts/29462/2 "2019-01-18T16:03:25Z")
You could add a group and put them like ntp\_grp and ntp1\_grp Then the when will be   when: inventory\_hostname in group['ntp\_grp'] If you don't want to have groups then you need to list every host like so   when: inventory\_hostname in ['test1','testops1','db-client1'] ---
**Author:** ![viper233](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/viper233/32/2060_2.png) [@viper233](https://forum.ansible.com/u/viper233)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 6:02pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/ntp-j2-for-different-set-of-hosts/29462/3 "2019-01-18T18:02:39Z")
Why not have a variable ntp\_template and just set the group\_var for each group to be the template required. Have two template files ntp1.j2 and ntp2.j2. (This a poor naming scheme, you should name it related to the group) [group1] testops1 db-client1 [group2] testops1 other-client testops2 other-client testops3 other-client testops4 other-client [group1:vars] ntp\_template: ntp1.j2 [group2:vars] ntp\_template: ntp2.j2 The play would look like this - name: template: src: “{{ ntp\_template }}” dest: /etc/ntp.conf notify: restart ntp If you just want to change the ip of the server, you can just use a variable in the template server {{ ntp\_server }} iburst I find it better to limit conditionals(when) and better to rely on different groups\_vars or different inventories(/group\_vars). It make it much more readable and enables your code to be more flexible, re-usable. ---
**Author:** ![coach.rhca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@coach.rhca](https://forum.ansible.com/u/coach.rhca)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 6:50am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/ntp-j2-for-different-set-of-hosts/29462/4 "2019-01-21T06:50:30Z")
Thanks Kai and Steve for your different approaches to the issue. So Steve, you have mentioned in the last line _"If you just want to change the ip of the server, you can just use a variable in the template_ _server {{ ntp\_server }} iburst"-- \>_ you mean that to have a single template file and in the group\_vars (say /etc/ansible/group\_vars/group1.yml ) have a variable as ntp\_server : 2.2.2.1 and for (/etc/ansible/group\_vars/group2.yml) have a variable as ntp\_server: 1.2.1.3 . and have a single template file which has the variable as server {{ ntp\_server}} iburst etc and it take it from there… is that what you mean.