# Why playbook take wrong values for group variables? **URL:** \ **Category:** Ansible Project\ **Created:** [April 29, 2018, 8:39am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/why-playbook-take-wrong-values-for-group-variables/27404 "2018-04-29T08:39:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![user30](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ed655f/32.png) [@user30](https://forum.ansible.com/u/user30)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2018, 8:39am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/why-playbook-take-wrong-values-for-group-variables/27404/1 "2018-04-29T08:39:59Z")
Hi, [favorite](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/50084758/why-playbook-take-wrong-values-for-group-variables#) I have a problem with groups variables. Example: I have two inventory groups group\_A and group\_B, and also have the same name files in group\_vars: ```auto inventories/ hosts.inv [group_A] server1 server2 [group_B] server3 server4 group_vars/ group_A - file var_port: 9001 group_B - file var_port: 9002 ``` The problem is when i execute playbook : ```auto ansible-playbook playbooks/playbook.yml -i inventories/hosts.inv -l **group_B** ``` playbook was executed for proper scope of servers (server3, server4) but it takes variables from group variables file group\_A. ```auto expected result: var_port: 9002 in realty : var_port: 9001 ``` ansible 2.4.2.0 I can’t understand what I am doing wrong? BR Oleg ---
**Author:** ![Tchia04](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/fbc32d/32.png) [@Tchia04](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Tchia04)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 8:35pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/why-playbook-take-wrong-values-for-group-variables/27404/2 "2018-05-01T20:35:41Z")
Do you have the following files defined? /group\_vars/group\_A.yml /group\_vars/group\_B.yml /group\_vars/all.yml /inventories/group\_vars/all.yml also, maybe try using "hosts: **group\_B" in** playbooks/playbook.yml instead of "hosts: **all"** ```auto ``` ---
**Author:** ![user30](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ed655f/32.png) [@user30](https://forum.ansible.com/u/user30)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 12:02pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/why-playbook-take-wrong-values-for-group-variables/27404/3 "2018-05-04T12:02:38Z")
hi Tony, i have no files at all: /group\_vars/all.yml /inventories/group\_vars/all.yml and i try to put "hosts: **group\_B",** but it not resole this issue. Playbook apply changes to the servers from right group but, variables it take from neighborhood group\_vars/file. I have included ANSIBLE\_DEBUG , and what i have found: 2018-05-03 15:23:23,663 p=129458 u=user | 129458 1525353803.66336: Loading data from /ansible/inventories/prod/group\_vars/ **group\_B.yml** 2018-05-03 15:23:23,663 p=129458 u=user | 129661 1525353803.66060: in run() - task 00505680-eccc-d94e-2b1b-0000000000f4 2018-05-03 15:23:23,664 p=129458 u=user | 129661 1525353803.66458: calling self.\_execute() 2018-05-03 15:23:23,665 p=129458 u=user | 129458 1525353803.66589: Loading data from /ansible/inventories/prod/group\_vars/ **group\_A.yml** **it is look like on playbook execution ansible scan all files with variables in folder group\_vars which have variable “var\_port”, last will win…** ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/original/1X/1882d9a01da5d8996a862359b0913cc568a39b84.svg) [@system](https://forum.ansible.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 1:43pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/why-playbook-take-wrong-values-for-group-variables/27404/4 "2018-05-04T13:43:13Z")
The `hosts:` keyword is only used to select which hosts get targeted, it has no influence on group membership, any host is ALWAYS a member of ALL the groups as defined in inventory, so the variables for a host always reflect ALL GROUPS. ---
**Author:** ![mhalano](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/mhalano/32/1815_2.png) [@mhalano](https://forum.ansible.com/u/mhalano)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:03pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/why-playbook-take-wrong-values-for-group-variables/27404/5 "2018-05-04T15:03:42Z")
Interesting. Could you show us what yours "hosts:" line on playbook.yml? > The `hosts:` keyword is only used to select which hosts get targeted, > it has no influence on group membership, any host is ALWAYS a member > of ALL the groups as defined in inventory, so the variables for a host > always reflect ALL GROUPS. > -- > ---------- > Brian Coca > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Ansible Project" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ansible-project+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to ansible-project@googlegroups.com. > To view this discussion on the web visit [https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ansible-project/CACVha7d8CM6kwVi0ESJdQMNb%3DgkdzQh0eGSg-FcA5p%3DNPOH3\_A%40mail.gmail.com](https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ansible-project/CACVha7d8CM6kwVi0ESJdQMNb%3DgkdzQh0eGSg-FcA5p%3DNPOH3_A%40mail.gmail.com) . ---
**Author:** ![user30](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ed655f/32.png) [@user30](https://forum.ansible.com/u/user30)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 8:30pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/why-playbook-take-wrong-values-for-group-variables/27404/6 "2018-05-06T20:30:51Z")
Hi Markos, my playbook looks like: ```auto - hosts: group_B roles: - dse_agent_full_install ```