Create a directory in Linux - Ansible module file
How to set up the "~/example" directory, set the user and group ownership, and UNIX mode 0644 in Linux with Ansible.
How to create a directory with Ansible?
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 create a directory
- ansible.builtin.file
- Manage files and file properties
Today we’re talking about the Ansible module file.
The full name is ansible.builtin.file, which means that is part of the collection of modules “builtin” with ansible and shipped with it.
It’s a module pretty stable and out for years.
It works in a different variety of operating systems.
It manages files and file properties.
For Windows targets, use the ansible.windows.win_file module instead.
Parameters
- path string (dest, name) - file path
- state string - file/absent/directory/hard/link/touch
- mode/owner/group - permission
- setype/seuser/selevel - SELinux
This module has some parameters to perform any tasks. The only required is “path”, where you specify the filesystem path of the file you’re going to edit. The state defines the type of object we are modifying, the default is “file” but for our use case, we need the “directory” option.
Demo
Let’s jump into a real-life playbook on how to create a directory with Ansible.
code
- create_directory.yml
---
- name: file module demo
hosts: all
vars:
mydir: "~/example"
tasks:
- name: Creating a directory
ansible.builtin.file:
path: "{{ mydir }}"
state: directory
owner: devops
group: users
mode: '0644'
execution
$ ansible-playbook -i demo/inventory create\ directory/file.yml
PLAY [file module demo] *********************************************************************
TASK [Gathering Facts] **********************************************************************
ok: [demo.example.com]
TASK [Creating a directory] *****************************************************************
changed: [demo.example.com]
PLAY RECAP **********************************************************************************
demo.example.com : ok=2 changed=1 unreachable=0 failed=0 skipped=0 rescued=0 ignored=0
before execution
$ ssh [email protected]
[devops@demo ~]$ ls -al
total 16
drwx------. 4 devops wheel 111 Nov 14 13:43 .
drwxr-xr-x. 5 root root 50 Nov 8 17:07 ..
drwx------. 3 devops wheel 17 Sep 6 05:53 .ansible
-rw-------. 1 devops wheel 2849 Nov 14 13:43 .bash_history
-rw-r--r--. 1 devops wheel 18 Dec 4 2020 .bash_logout
-rw-r--r--. 1 devops wheel 141 Dec 4 2020 .bash_profile
-rw-r--r--. 1 devops wheel 376 Dec 4 2020 .bashrc
drwx------. 2 devops wheel 94 Sep 16 10:09 .ssh
[devops@demo ~]$
after execution
$ ssh [email protected]
[devops@demo ~]$ ls -al
total 16
drwx------. 5 devops wheel 126 Nov 14 13:45 .
drwxr-xr-x. 5 root root 50 Nov 8 17:07 ..
drwx------. 3 devops wheel 17 Sep 6 05:53 .ansible
-rw-------. 1 devops wheel 2861 Nov 14 13:44 .bash_history
-rw-r--r--. 1 devops wheel 18 Dec 4 2020 .bash_logout
-rw-r--r--. 1 devops wheel 141 Dec 4 2020 .bash_profile
-rw-r--r--. 1 devops wheel 376 Dec 4 2020 .bashrc
drwx------. 2 devops wheel 94 Sep 16 10:09 .ssh
drw-r--r--. 2 devops users 6 Nov 14 13:45 example
Recap
Now you know how to create a directory in Linux with Ansible. Subscribe to the YouTube channel, Medium, and Website, X (formerly Twitter) to not miss the next episode of the Ansible Pilot.
Academy
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