Ansible troubleshooting - not a valid attribute for a Play error

How to reproduce, troubleshoot, and fix the “not a valid attribute for a Play” error.

September 20, 2021

Access the Complete Video Course and Learn Quick Ansible by 200+ Practical Lessons

Introduction

In today’s episode of Ansible Pilot, I’m Luca Berton, and we’ll be diving into Ansible troubleshooting, focusing on the infamous “not a valid attribute for a Play” error. This error can be a stumbling block for many, but fear not – I’ll guide you through reproducing, troubleshooting, and fixing this issue.

Unveiling the Error in a Live Demo

The most effective way to explore Ansible troubleshooting is through a live demonstration. Let’s reproduce the “not a valid attribute for a Play” error and walk through the steps to resolve it.

Error Code: `invalid_play_attribute_error.yml`

---
- name: file module demo
  hosts: all
  vars:
    myfile: "~/example.txt"
  task:
    - name: Creating an empty
      ansible.builtin.file:
        path: "{{ myfile }}"
        state: touch

Error Execution

Executing the playbook with the error:

$ ansible-playbook -i demo/inventory troubleshooting/invalid_play_attribute_error.yml
ERROR! 'task' is not a valid attribute for a Play
The error appears to be in 'invalid_play_attribute_error.yml': line 2, column 3, but may
be elsewhere in the file depending on the exact syntax problem.
The offending line appears to be:
 - -
- name: file module demo
 ^ here

Fixing the Code: `invalid_play_attribute_fix.yml`

---
- name: file module demo
  hosts: all
  vars:
    myfile: "~/example.txt"
  tasks:
    - name: Creating an empty
      ansible.builtin.file:
        path: "{{ myfile }}"
        state: touch

The Best Resources For Ansible

Certifications

The Linux Foundation Linux Performance Tuning - Build a broad toolkit to optimize Linux performance from the kernel up

Coursera Pro - Unlimited access to 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs—all included in your subscription

Video Course

Udemy: Learn Ansible Automation in 250+examples & practical lessons: Learn Ansible with some real-life examples of how to use the most common modules and Ansible Playbook

Printed Book

eBooks

Executing the Fixed Code

Executing the fixed playbook:

$ ansible-playbook -i inventory invalid_play_attribute_fix.yml
PLAY [file module demo] *********************************************************************
TASK [Gathering Facts] **********************************************************************
ok: [demo.example.com]
TASK [Creating an empty file] ***************************************************************
changed: [demo.example.com]
PLAY RECAP **********************************************************************************
demo.example.com : ok=2 changed=1 unreachable=0 failed=0 skipped=0 rescued=0 ignored=0

You can find the code on GitHub.

Recap

In summary, you’ve now gained valuable insights into troubleshooting the “not a valid attribute for a Play” error in Ansible. Understanding the error message, reproducing the issue, and implementing the necessary fixes are essential skills for every Ansible practitioner.

If you found this troubleshooting guide helpful, be sure to subscribe for more Ansible insights.

Subscribe to the YouTube channel, Medium, and Website, X (formerly Twitter) to not miss the next episode of the Ansible Pilot.