Create a hard link in Linux - Ansible module file
How to create a "hard link" that references the "example.txt" text file in the Linux filesystem with Ansible. Simple Ansible code and verification included.
December 14, 2021
How to create a hard link in Linux 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 creates a hard link
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 a symlink (or softlink) use see the following parameters of Ansible file module.
For Windows targets, use the ansible.windows.win_file module instead.
Parameters
- src string - symlink path
- dest string - destination file path
- state string - file/absent/directory/link/hard/touch
- mode/owner/group - permission
- setype/seuser/selevel - SELinux
This module has some parameters to perform any tasks. The two required fields are “src” and “dest” which specify the filesystem paths of the har link and the target file. The state defines the type of object we are modifying, the default is “file” but for our use case, we need the “link” option. Let me highlight also the permission and SELinux parameters.
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demo
Let’s jump into a real-life playbook on how to create a symbolic link with Ansible.
code
- create_hardlink.yml
---
- name: file module demo
hosts: all
vars:
mylink: "~/link"
myfile: "~/example.txt"
tasks:
- name: Creating hardlink
ansible.builtin.file:
src: "{{ myfile }}"
dest: "{{ mylink }}"
state: hard
execution
$ ansible-playbook -i virtualmachines/demo/inventory create\ link/hardlink.yml
PLAY [file module demo] ***************************************************************************
TASK [Gathering Facts] ****************************************************************************
ok: [demo.example.com]
TASK [Creating hardlink] **************************************************************************
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 Dec 1 15:07 .
drwxr-xr-x. 4 root root 35 Nov 28 16:46 ..
drwx------. 3 devops wheel 17 Nov 28 16:46 .ansible
-rw-------. 1 devops wheel 224 Dec 1 15:07 .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 29 Nov 28 16:46 .ssh
[devops@demo ~]$ echo test > example.txt
[devops@demo ~]$ cat example.txt
test
[devops@demo ~]$
after execution
$ ssh [email protected]
[devops@demo ~]$ ls -al
total 24
drwx------. 4 devops wheel 142 Dec 1 15:09 .
drwxr-xr-x. 4 root root 35 Nov 28 16:46 ..
drwx------. 3 devops wheel 17 Nov 28 16:46 .ansible
-rw-------. 1 devops wheel 276 Dec 1 15:08 .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 29 Nov 28 16:46 .ssh
-rw-r--r--. 2 devops wheel 5 Dec 1 15:08 example.txt
-rw-r--r--. 2 devops wheel 5 Dec 1 15:08 link
[devops@demo ~]$ cat link
test
[devops@demo ~]$ cat example.txt
test
[devops@demo ~]$ ls -al
total 24
drwx------. 4 devops wheel 142 Dec 1 15:09 .
drwxr-xr-x. 4 root root 35 Nov 28 16:46 ..
drwx------. 3 devops wheel 17 Nov 28 16:46 .ansible
-rw-------. 1 devops wheel 276 Dec 1 15:08 .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 29 Nov 28 16:46 .ssh
-rw-r--r--. 2 devops wheel 5 Dec 1 15:08 example.txt
-rw-r--r--. 2 devops wheel 5 Dec 1 15:08 link
[devops@demo ~]$ chmod 777 link
[devops@demo ~]$ ls -al
total 24
drwx------. 4 devops wheel 142 Dec 1 15:09 .
drwxr-xr-x. 4 root root 35 Nov 28 16:46 ..
drwx------. 3 devops wheel 17 Nov 28 16:46 .ansible
-rw-------. 1 devops wheel 276 Dec 1 15:08 .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 29 Nov 28 16:46 .ssh
-rwxrwxrwx. 2 devops wheel 5 Dec 1 15:08 example.txt
-rwxrwxrwx. 2 devops wheel 5 Dec 1 15:08 link
[devops@demo ~]$ touch link
[devops@demo ~]$ ls -al
total 24
drwx------. 4 devops wheel 142 Dec 1 15:09 .
drwxr-xr-x. 4 root root 35 Nov 28 16:46 ..
drwx------. 3 devops wheel 17 Nov 28 16:46 .ansible
-rw-------. 1 devops wheel 276 Dec 1 15:08 .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 29 Nov 28 16:46 .ssh
-rwxrwxrwx. 2 devops wheel 5 Dec 1 15:10 example.txt
-rwxrwxrwx. 2 devops wheel 5 Dec 1 15:10 link
[devops@demo ~]$ touch link
[devops@demo ~]$ ls -al
total 24
drwx------. 4 devops wheel 142 Dec 1 15:09 .
drwxr-xr-x. 4 root root 35 Nov 28 16:46 ..
drwx------. 3 devops wheel 17 Nov 28 16:46 .ansible
-rw-------. 1 devops wheel 359 Dec 1 15:11 .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 29 Nov 28 16:46 .ssh
-rwxrwxrwx. 2 devops wheel 5 Dec 1 15:19 example.txt
-rwxrwxrwx. 2 devops wheel 5 Dec 1 15:19 link
[devops@demo ~]$ ls -li *
134907033 -rwxrwxrwx. 2 devops wheel 5 Dec 1 15:19 example.txt
134907033 -rwxrwxrwx. 2 devops wheel 5 Dec 1 15:19 link
[devops@demo ~]$
Recap
Now you know how to create a hard link in the Linux filesystem with Ansible. Subscribe to the YouTube channel, Medium, Website, Twitter, and Substack to not miss the next episode of the Ansible Pilot.
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