question about mode=preserve with file module

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1

Hi everyone,

I’m having some issues using the “mode” parameter on the file module to change ownership of an existing directory without modifying its permissions. For example:

  • name: use preserve mode

file:
path=/tmp/test
owner=www-data
mode=preserve
state=directory
become: true

Based on the documentation, I would assume that this would “preserve” the directory’s existing permissions while changing its owner. Instead, it fails with “mode must be in octal or symbolic form” / “bad symbolic permission for mode: preserve”.

I’ve managed to get the behavior I need by using an empty string for the mode parameter, but I am unsure why “preserve” doesn’t work. Is this a bug in the file module? Am I reading the documentation wrong?

Thanks,
Martey

2

Not sure it makes any difference but can you try to use the colon yaml syntax for the parameters

3

Not sure it makes any difference but can you try to use the colon yaml syntax for the parameters

Using standard YAML syntax instead of key=value displays the same error message.

4

ansible --version?

5

Hi everyone,

I'm having some issues using the "mode" parameter on the file module
<https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/modules/file_module.html#parameter-mode&gt; to change ownership of an existing
directory without modifying its permissions. For example:

- name: use preserve mode
file:
path=/tmp/test
owner=www-data
mode=preserve
state=directory
become: true

Based on the documentation, I would assume that this would "preserve" the directory's existing permissions while
changing its owner. Instead, it fails with "mode must be in octal or symbolic form" / "bad symbolic permission for mode:
preserve".

I've managed to get the behavior I need by using an empty string for the mode parameter, but I am unsure why "preserve"
doesn't work. Is this a bug in the file module? Am I reading the documentation wrong?

Hello Martey,

my reading of the documentation is that "preserve" applies only when you are using the "src" parameter. For example when
you are creating a symlink.

Regards
          Racke

6

have a look at this comment
https://github.com/ansible/ansible/issues/71377#issuecomment-677892112

according to that comment, it is not intended to work with file.

kind regards, markus

7

Martey,

... the "mode" parameter on the file module to change ownership of
an existing directory without modifying its permissions. For
example:

- name: use preserve mode
  file:
    path=/tmp/test
    owner=www-data
    mode=preserve
    state=directory
  become: true

When "state=directory" the parameter mode says "The permissions the
resulting file or directory should have". There is no reason to use
"mode=preserve" if you don't want to change the mode. Simply remove
the line

  - name: use preserve mode
    file:
      path=/tmp/test
      owner=www-data
      state=directory
    become: true