Simplify Ansible Output with the community.general.dense Callback Plugin — Video Tutorial

Introduction Ansible, an open-source automation tool, simplifies complex IT tasks by orchestrating configuration management, application deployment, and task automation. One of the essential features of Ansible is its ability to provide feedback on the tasks it performs through output messages. In certain scenarios, especially when dealing with large-scale automation or integrating Ansible with other tools, reducing the verbosity of the output becomes crucial. This is where Ansible callback plugins come into play. Understanding Ansible Inventory and Playbooks Before diving into callback plugins, let's quickly revisit the basic components of an Ansible setup: the inventory file and playbooks. Inventory The inventory file defines the hosts on which Ansible will perform tasks. In the example, we see a simple inventory file with the localhost defined as the target host. ```yaml inventory localhost ansible_connection=local ``` Playbook (ping.yml) A playbook is a YAML file that outlines a set of tasks to be executed on specified hosts. In this example, we have a playbook named `ping.yml` that tests the connection to the hosts using the Ansible ping module. ```yaml ping.yml --- - name: Ping module Playbook hosts: all tasks: - name: Test connection ansible.builtin.ping: ``` Ansible Configuration (ansible.cfg) The Ansible configuration file (`ansible.cfg`) allows users to customize various settings. In this case, the configuration includes a callback plugin configuration to control the output verbosity. ```ini ansible.cfg [defaults] callbacks_enabled = community.general.dense stdout_callback = community.general.dense ``` Introducing community.general.dense Callback Plugin The `community.general.dense` callback plugin is designed to minimize the standard output (stdout) of Ansible, providing a cleaner and more concise representation of task execution. Let's explore how to leverage this plugin to streamline Ansible output. Using community.general.dense Callback Plugin To enable the `community.general.dense` callback plugin, include the following configuration in your `ansible.cfg` file: ```ini [defaults] callbacks_enabled = community.general.dense stdout_callback = community.general.dense ``` This ensures that the `dense` callback plugin is set as the standard output callback. Ansible Execution Without community.general.dense When running an Ansible playbook without the `community.general.dense` callback plugin, the output can be verbose, displaying detailed information about each task. ```bash ansible-playbook -i inventory ping.yml ``` The output includes information about the host, gathered facts, and the result of each task, making it suitable for debugging and detailed analysis. Ansible Execution With community.general.dense By utilizing the `community.general.dense` callback plugin, the output becomes more concise, especially useful in scenarios where a brief summary is preferred. ```bash ansible-playbook -i inve