Check Registry .NET Framework version on Windows-like systems - Ansible module win_reg_stat

How to automate the check of the .NET Framework version installed in the Windows-like machine using the Windows Registry with Ansible Playbook.

March 15, 2022

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#ansible #registry #module #dotnet #windows #net #windows-server

How to Check the .NET Framework version on Windows-like systems with Ansible?

The principle is to read the right Windows Registry key, store in a variable, and display it on the screen. I’m going to show you a live demo and some simple Ansible code. I’m Luca Berton and welcome to today’s episode of Ansible Pilot

Ansible read Windows Registry

ansible.windows.win_reg_stat
Get information about Windows registry keys

Today we’re talking about the Ansible module win_reg_stat. The full name is ansible.windows.win_reg_stat, which means that is part of the collection of modules specialized to interact with Windows target host. It’s a module pretty stable and out for years. It works in Windows and Windows Server operating systems. It gets information about Windows registry keys.

Parameters & Return Values

Parameters

path string - The full registry key path including the hive to search for
name string - key path including the hive to search for

Main Return Values

exists, value, raw_value, type, sub_keys

The only mandatory parameter is “path” which is the full registry key path including the hive to search for. You probably would like to specify also the “name” of the key path including the hive to search for. The module returns multiple properties. The most useful are “exists” if the key/property exist in the registry, The value of the key is accessible via the “value” and “raw_value” attributes. Other useful attributes are “type” for the property type and “sub_key” for a list of all the subkeys of the key specified.

demo

How to check the .NET Framework version on Windows-like systems accessing the Windows Registry with Ansible Playbook. Specifically, the Windows Registry key is “Version” located in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v4\Full.

code

---
- name: win_reg_stat module demo
  hosts: all
  tasks:
    - name: check .NET version
      ansible.windows.win_reg_stat:
        path: 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v4\Full'
        name: "Version"
      register: reg_val
    - name: print .NET version
      ansible.builtin.debug:
        msg: "{{ reg_val }}"

execution

ansible-pilot $ ansible-playbook -i virtualmachines/win/inventory windows/printdotnet.yml
PLAY [win_reg_stat module demo] *************************************************************
TASK [Gathering Facts] **********************************************************************
ok: [WindowsServer]
TASK [check .NET version] *******************************************************************
ok: [WindowsServer]
TASK [print .NET version] *******************************************************************
ok: [WindowsServer] => {
    "msg": {
        "changed": false,
        "exists": true,
        "failed": false,
        "raw_value": "4.7.03190",
        "type": "REG_SZ",
        "value": "4.7.03190"
    }
}
PLAY RECAP **********************************************************************************
WindowsServer              : ok=3    changed=0    unreachable=0    failed=0    skipped=0    rescued=0    ignored=0
ansible-pilot $

idempotency

ansible-pilot $ ansible-playbook -i virtualmachines/win/inventory windows/printdotnet.yml
PLAY [win_reg_stat module demo] *************************************************************
TASK [Gathering Facts] **********************************************************************
ok: [WindowsServer]
TASK [check .NET version] *******************************************************************
ok: [WindowsServer]
TASK [print .NET version] *******************************************************************
ok: [WindowsServer] => {
    "msg": {
        "changed": false,
        "exists": true,
        "failed": false,
        "raw_value": "4.7.03190",
        "type": "REG_SZ",
        "value": "4.7.03190"
    }
}
PLAY RECAP **********************************************************************************
WindowsServer              : ok=3    changed=0    unreachable=0    failed=0    skipped=0    rescued=0    ignored=0
ansible-pilot $