# Problem with Ansible user and home directory on remote computers, pm2 process manager **URL:** \ **Category:** Ansible Project\ **Created:** [December 1, 2020, 9:54am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/problem-with-ansible-user-and-home-directory-on-remote-computers-pm2-process-manager/34262 "2020-12-01T09:54:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![magnifito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/848f3c/32.png) [@magnifito](https://forum.ansible.com/u/magnifito)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2020, 9:54am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/problem-with-ansible-user-and-home-directory-on-remote-computers-pm2-process-manager/34262/1 "2020-12-01T09:54:29Z")
Hello, I am an Ansible beginner. I am trying to start Python script in pm2 process manager on my computers. I think I have narrowed the problem to Ansible not knowing proper home directory. Become, become\_user, changing environment path in config or playbook does not solve the problem. whoami returns my remote user, with become it returns root, while “echo $HOME” gives me /home/my\_pc\_user instead /home/remote\_user **Here is my playbook:** ---
**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:** [December 1, 2020, 10:21am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/problem-with-ansible-user-and-home-directory-on-remote-computers-pm2-process-manager/34262/2 "2020-12-01T10:21:38Z")
> Hello, > I am an Ansible beginner. I am trying to start Python script in pm2 process manager on my computers. > I think I have narrowed the problem to Ansible not knowing proper home directory. > Become, become\_user, changing environment path in config or playbook does not solve the problem. > > whoami returns my remote user, with become it returns root, while "echo $HOME" gives me /home/my\_pc\_user instead > /home/remote\_user 1. Lookups always take place on the Ansible controller 2. Use command module instead of shell unless you have a very good reason to not use command 3. FileNotFoundError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'iwconfig': 'iwconfig'    iwconfig is in /usr/sbin, so that is probably missing in the $PATH Ansible uses (different from a regular ssh shell) Regards          Racke ---
**Author:** ![magnifito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/848f3c/32.png) [@magnifito](https://forum.ansible.com/u/magnifito)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 11:55am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/problem-with-ansible-user-and-home-directory-on-remote-computers-pm2-process-manager/34262/3 "2020-12-02T11:55:18Z")
Hello, Thank your for your reply. I have looked at my problem again and found out I was using **"** instead **’** while having a command with variable. Now the problem is clear. data@pc:~/tester$ ansible tv -a ‘echo $HOME’ 10.10.20.254 | CHANGED | rc=0 \>\> /home/tester data@pc:~/tester$ ansible tv -a ‘echo $PATH’ 10.10.20.254 | CHANGED | rc=0 \>\> /usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/games Ad 1.&3. The path to home was correct all the time, but my command while searching for solution was not. iwconfig is located inside /sbin/ which is not in known paths. How I can permanently add a path to /sbin/ or other directories unavailable to Ansible? Ad 2. I was using a “command” at the beginning but switched to a “shell” thinking it was a part of my problem. Best regards, Greg ---
**Author:** ![racke](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/racke/32/4767_2.png) [@racke](https://forum.ansible.com/u/racke)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 12:04pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/problem-with-ansible-user-and-home-directory-on-remote-computers-pm2-process-manager/34262/4 "2020-12-02T12:04:17Z")
> Hello, > Thank your for your reply. > I have looked at my problem again and found out I was using \*"\* instead \*'\* while having a command with variable. Now > the problem is clear. > > data@pc:~/tester$ ansible tv -a 'echo $HOME' > 10.10.20.254 | CHANGED | rc=0 \>\> > /home/tester > data@pc:~/tester$ ansible tv -a 'echo $PATH' > 10.10.20.254 | CHANGED | rc=0 \>\> > /usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/games > > Ad 1.&3. The path to home was correct all the time, but my command while searching for solution was not. iwconfig is > located inside /sbin/ which is not in known paths. > How I can permanently add a path to /sbin/ or other directories unavailable to Ansible? > > Ad 2. I was using a "command" at the beginning but switched to a "shell" thinking it was a part of my problem. You can set the PATH variable for the whole playbook or just for one task with:     environment:        PATH: /usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/games:/sbin Or alternatively add a symlink to iwconfig in /usr/bin or another directory in $PATH. Regards          Racke