# PAMD module and YAML syntax error **URL:** \ **Category:** Ansible Project\ **Created:** [January 18, 2018, 10:36am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/pamd-module-and-yaml-syntax-error/26510 "2018-01-18T10:36:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Vincent\_Andrews](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/13edae/32.png) [@Vincent\_Andrews](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Vincent_Andrews)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2018, 10:36am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/pamd-module-and-yaml-syntax-error/26510/1 "2018-01-18T10:36:10Z")
Hello, I have created a playbook based on the PAMD module, but it keeps on failing the YAML syntax stage and I am out of ideas. Please help. Vince. Head of the file is: ---
**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, 2018, 11:35am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/pamd-module-and-yaml-syntax-error/26510/2 "2018-01-18T11:35:05Z")
Your are missing 2 spaces in front of the second name. ---
**Author:** ![Vincent\_Andrews](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/13edae/32.png) [@Vincent\_Andrews](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Vincent_Andrews)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2018, 12:00pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/pamd-module-and-yaml-syntax-error/26510/3 "2018-01-18T12:00:51Z")
Thanks for your help Kai, the error has move on! Do you think its down to spacing? # ansible-playbook --syntax-check pamd.yml **ERROR! ‘pamd’ is not a valid attribute for a Play** The error appears to have been in ‘/etc/ansible/playbooks/pamd.yml’: line 6, column 3, but may be elsewhere in the file depending on the exact syntax problem. The offending line appears to be: - name: Insert new rule for pam\_tally2.so ^ here # head -20 pamd.yml ---
**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, 2018, 12:12pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/pamd-module-and-yaml-syntax-error/26510/4 "2018-01-18T12:12:23Z")
> Thanks for your help Kai, the error has move on! Do you think its down to > spacing? Sorry I didn't bay attention to the whole file. But yes, you are missing 2 spaces in front of all the task. And you need to remove the dash in front of tasks. > # ansible-playbook --syntax-check pamd.yml > \*ERROR! 'pamd' is not a valid attribute for a Play\* > > The error appears to have been in '/etc/ansible/playbooks/pamd.yml': line > 6, column 3, but may > be elsewhere in the file depending on the exact syntax problem. > > The offending line appears to be: > > - name: Insert new rule for pam\_tally2.so >   ^ here > > # head -20 pamd.yml > --- > > - hosts: all > - tasks: > > - name: Insert new rule for pam\_tally2.so >   pamd: >     name: system-auth >     type: auth >     control: required >     module\_path: pam\_env.so >     new\_type: auth >     new\_control: required >     module\_arguments: ‘deny=3 unlock\_time=180’ >     new\_module\_path: pam\_tally2.so >     state: before > > - name: Insert new rule for pam\_cracklib.so >   pamd: >     name: system-auth - hosts: all    tasks:    - name: Insert new rule for pam\_tally2.so      pamd:        name: system-auth        type: auth        control: required        module\_path: pam\_env.so        new\_type: auth        new\_control: required        module\_arguments: ‘deny=3 unlock\_time=180’        new\_module\_path: pam\_tally2.so        state: before    - name: Insert new rule for pam\_cracklib.so      pamd:        name: system-auth ---
**Author:** ![Vincent\_Andrews](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/13edae/32.png) [@Vincent\_Andrews](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Vincent_Andrews)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2018, 2:07pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/pamd-module-and-yaml-syntax-error/26510/5 "2018-01-18T14:07:56Z")
It’s all in the indent! Thanks Kai.