What is the proper way to check multiple conditions before running a task?

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1

I have this task:

  • name: ensure nfs mountpoints exist
    file: path={{ item[1].path }} state=directory group={{ item[1].group }} owner={{ item[1].owner }} mode={{ item[1].mode }}
    when: nfs_automount_use AND item[1].path != 0
    with_items: nfs_automount.mountpoints|dictsort
    notify: restart nfs_automount
    tags: nfs_automount

In my group_vars file, nfs_automount_use is set to true.

In my host_vars/hostname file, nfs_automount_use is set to false.

When I run the task, I get:

TASK: [ensure nfs mountpoints exist] ******************************************
fatal: [hostname] => error while evaluating conditional: {% if nfs_automount_use AND item[1].path != 0 %} True {% else %} False {% endif %}
FATAL: all hosts have already failed – aborting

If I run the task with:

when: item[1].path != 0

It iterates through the nfs_automount.mountpoints as expected.

when: nfs_automount_use

It skips the task like I want.

So, what am I doing wrong? Or is this a bug?

2

Found a way around the issue. When you are including a task file, you can add the when condition. Like:

  • include: nfs_automount.yml
    when: nfs_automount_use

If I set the var to false, it skips all the tasks in the yml file. :slight_smile:

Though, there still should be a way I can use normal boolean logic in the when conditional… At least I think.

At least I have a decent, in some ways, actually better method to do what I was trying to do.

3

Yep!

Also you can do when conditions as lists, which is how this works internally.

If the first is False, it will not evaluate the rest either.

4

Additionally

when: nfs_automount_use AND item[1].path != 0

when: nfs_automount is defined and item is defined and …

Technically also should work and short-circuit.