How to replace a template file in an Ansible role

ansibleansible-galaxyansible-playbook

Some Ansible roles, such as https://github.com/bertvv/ansible-role-hosts, use template files that may be a near miss for the needs of this project. When the role author has not provided a variable substitution for the name of the template, is there still a way to replace the template file? Obviously, I could fork the role and use my own fork, but I'm hoping there's a better answer, such as "just drop your replacement template file in the templates directory of your role that depends on Bert's role."

Best Answer

Playbook pathing has some "do what I mean" magic for relative paths. rolename/templates is searched first in dependency order, then {{playbook_dir}}/templates

You cannot change this without altering the role somehow, one of:

altering the src file name
adding a dependency on your role that provides a different template of the same name
editing their template

I like changing the file name the best. Send them a change that make the source template name into a variable in role defaults.

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You can use a shell command with a base64 variable to do that.

- vars:
  - myvar: "<my_base64_var>"
- name: Create binary file
  shell: "echo '{{myvar}}' | base64 -d > /var/tmp/binary.dat"

Eric

How to print the current hostname of a host in ansible

You have to use the template-module for this.

Here's an example task:

- name: Create motd
  template:
    src: "motd.j2"
    dest: "/etc/motd"

The file motd.j2 (placed in the templates-subdirectory of your role) could then look like this:

Welcome to host {{ansible_hostname}}!

{{ansible_hostname}} will then be replaced with the hostname.

Be sure to "gather facts" in your role, or else the variable will be empty.

Best Answer

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