# Version Comparison doesn't work in my AWX EE 

**URL:** <https://forum.ansible.com/t/version-comparison-doesnt-work-in-my-awx-ee/44902>\
**Category:** Get Help\
**Tags:** version, awx, ansible-core, ee\
**Created:** [November 26, 2025, 4:57pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/version-comparison-doesnt-work-in-my-awx-ee/44902 "2025-11-26T16:57:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MaKaNu](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/makanu/32/9872_2.png) [@MaKaNu](https://forum.ansible.com/u/MaKaNu)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2025, 4:57pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/version-comparison-doesnt-work-in-my-awx-ee/44902/1 "2025-11-26T16:57:38Z")

</div>

I have implemented a mechanism, which helps us to check version on our gitlab system before running any upgrade.

Which worked fine as long I was running from a local Ansible Controller.  
At the moment I migrate to AWX including a version upgrade on our ansible setup.

local old version: ansible [core 2.18.6]  
new version on AWX EE: ansible [core 2.20.0]

Since it will be hard to provide a real MWE I try to show the code and the output I got on AWX and the expected on local controller.

The Playbook:

```yaml
- name: Prerun CHECKS
  hosts: gitlab
  tags: CHECKS
  gather_facts: false
  
  vars:
    gitlab_product: ee
    gitlab_expected_current_version: 18.5.1
    gitlab_target_version: 18.5.1
    gitlab_expected_current_version_full: "{{ gitlab_expected_current_version }}-{{ gitlab_product }}.0"
    gitlab_target_version_full: "{{ gitlab_target_version }}-{{ gitlab_product }}.0"

  tasks:
    - name: Get current and latest gitlab version
      ansible.builtin.command: apt-cache policy gitlab-{{ gitlab_product }}
      register: package_info
      changed_when: false

    - name: Set current version installed var
      ansible.builtin.set_fact:
        gitlab_current_version_full: "{{ package_info.stdout |
                                          regex_search('Installed:\\s(\\S+)') |
                                          regex_replace('Installed:\\s', '') |
                                          string }}"

    - name: Debug types of versions
      ansible.builtin.debug:
        msg: |
          "gitlab_current_version_full: {{ gitlab_current_version_full | type_debug }}"
          "gitlab_expected_current_version_full: {{ gitlab_expected_current_version_full | type_debug }}"

    - name: Compare current vs expected version
      ansible.builtin.assert:
        that:
          - "gitlab_current_version_full is version(gitlab_expected_current_version_full, '==')"
        fail_msg:
          - "{{ gitlab_current_version_full }} and {{ gitlab_expected_current_version_full }}"
          - "should be equal!"
        success_msg: "Expected Version is equal to installed version."

```

Since Our gitlab version is already on 18.6.0 I expect `Compare current vs expected version` to fail what it does on the local controller:

```bash
PLAY [Prerun CHECKS] **************************************************************************************************

TASK [Get current and latest gitlab version] **************************************************************************
ok: [gitlab.fb10.fh-dortmund.de]

TASK [Set current version installed var] ******************************************************************************
ok: [gitlab.fb10.fh-dortmund.de]

TASK [Set the latest available version var] ***************************************************************************
ok: [gitlab.fb10.fh-dortmund.de]

TASK [Debug types of versions] ****************************************************************************************
ok: [gitlab.fb10.fh-dortmund.de] => {
    "msg": "\"gitlab_current_version_full: NativeJinjaUnsafeText\"\n\"gitlab_expected_current_version_full: str\"\n\"gitlab_latest_version_full: NativeJinjaUnsafeText\"\n\"gitlab_target_version_full: str\" \n"
}

TASK [Compare current vs expected version] ****************************************************************************
fatal: [gitlab.fb10.fh-dortmund.de]: FAILED! => {
    "assertion": "gitlab_current_version_full is version(gitlab_expected_current_version_full, '==')",
    "changed": false,
    "evaluated_to": false,
    "msg": [
        "18.6.0-ee.0 and 18.5.1-ee.0",
        "should be equal!"
    ]
}

PLAY RECAP ************************************************************************************************************
gitlab.fb10.fh-dortmund.de : ok=7 changed=0 unreachable=0 failed=1 skipped=1 rescued=0 ignored=0   

```

There are a few more outputs in the debug since I checked a few more values.

On AWX I get in check mode following result for the comparison:

```bash
PLAY [Prerun CHECKS] ***********************************************************
TASK [Get current and latest gitlab version] ***********************************
skipping: [gitlab.fb10.fh-dortmund.de]
TASK [Set current version installed var] ***************************************
ok: [gitlab.fb10.fh-dortmund.de]
TASK [Set the latest available version var] ************************************
ok: [gitlab.fb10.fh-dortmund.de]
TASK [Debug types of versions] *************************************************
ok: [gitlab.fb10.fh-dortmund.de] => {
    "msg": "\"gitlab_current_version_full: str\"\n\"gitlab_expected_current_version_full: str\"\n\"gitlab_latest_version_full: str\"\n\"gitlab_target_version_full: str\"\n\"DIRECT: UndefinedMarker\" \n"
}
TASK [Compare current vs expected version] *************************************
[ERROR]: Task failed: The test plugin 'ansible.builtin.version' failed: Version comparison failed: '<' not supported between instances of 'str' and 'int'
Task failed.
Origin: /runner/project/pb_gitlab_upgrade.yml:64:7
62 "DIRECT: {{ version(gitlab_expected_current_version_full, '==') | type_debug }}"       
63
64 - name: Compare current vs expected version
         ^ column 7
<<< caused by >>>
The test plugin 'ansible.builtin.version' failed.
Origin: /runner/project/pb_gitlab_upgrade.yml:67:13
65 ansible.builtin.assert:
66 that:
67 - "gitlab_current_version_full is version(gitlab_expected_current_version_full, '==')"
               ^ column 13
<<< caused by >>>
Version comparison failed: '<' not su…
PLAY RECAP ********************************************************************* gitlab.fb10.fh-dortmund.de : ok=6 changed=0 unreachable=0 failed=1 skipped=2 rescued=0 ignored=0  

```

I don’t understand why it fails here with the type mismatch. The Debug shows on AWX that both variables are of type `str`. I don’t see any reference for `int` in this case. Further the type on the local controller is `NativeJinjaUnsafeText` which I first expected to create the mismatch situation.

Am I doing something wrong or is this a Bug?