Ansible 2.5 Porting Guide — Ansible Documentation

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# Ansible 2.5 Porting Guide

This section discusses the behavioral changes between Ansible 2.4 and Ansible 2.5.

It is intended to assist in updating your playbooks, plugins and other parts of your Ansible infrastructure so they will work with this version of Ansible.

We suggest you read this page along with Ansible Changelog for 2.5 to understand what updates you may need to make.

This document is part of a collection on porting. The complete list of porting guides can be found at porting guides.

Topics

- Ansible 2.5 Porting Guide
  - Playbook
    - Dynamic includes and attribute inheritance
    - Fixed handling of keywords and inline variables
    - Migrating from with_X to loop
    - with_list
    - with_items
    - with_indexed_items
    - with_flattened
    - with_together
    - with_dict
    - with_sequence
    - with_subelements
    - with_nested/with_cartesian
    - with_random_choice
  - Deprecated
    - Jinja tests used as filters
    - Ansible fact namespacing
  - Modules
    - github_release
    - Modules removed
    - Deprecation notices
    - Noteworthy module changes
  - Plugins
    - Inventory
    - Shell
    - Filter
    - Lookup
  - Porting custom scripts
  - Network
    - Expanding documentation
    - Top-level connection arguments will be removed in 2.9
    - Adding persistent connection types `network_cli` and `netconf`
    - Developers: Shared Module Utilities Moved

## Playbook

### Dynamic includes and attribute inheritance

In Ansible version 2.4, the concept of dynamic includes (`include_tasks`) versus static imports (`import_tasks`) was introduced to clearly define the differences in how `include` works between dynamic and static includes.

All attributes applied to a dynamic `include_*` would only apply to the include itself, while attributes applied to a static `import_*` would be inherited by the tasks within.

This separation was only partially implemented in Ansible version 2.4. As of Ansible version 2.5, this work is complete and the separation now behaves as designed; attributes applied to an `include_*` task will not be inherited by the tasks within.

To achieve an outcome similar to how Ansible worked prior to version 2.5, playbooks should use an explicit application of the attribute on the needed tasks, or use blocks to apply the attribute to many tasks. Another option is to use a static `import_*` when possible instead of a dynamic task.

OLD In Ansible 2.4:

    - include_tasks: "{{ ansible_distribution }}.yml"
      tags:
        - distro_include

Included file:

    - block:
        - debug:
            msg: "In included file"

        - apt:
            name: nginx
            state: latest

NEW In Ansible 2.5:

Including task:

    - include_tasks: "{{ ansible_distribution }}.yml"
      tags:
        - distro_include

Included file:

    - block:
        - debug:
            msg: "In included file"

        - apt:
            name: nginx
            state: latest
      tags:
        - distro_include

The relevant change in those examples is, that in Ansible 2.5, the included file defines the tag `distro_include` again. The tag is not inherited automatically.

### Fixed handling of keywords and inline variables

We made several fixes to how we handle keywords and ‘inline variables’, to avoid conflating the two. Unfortunately these changes mean you must specify whether name is a keyword or a variable when calling roles. If you have playbooks that look like this:

    roles:
        - { role: myrole, name: Justin, othervar: othervalue, become: True}

You will run into errors because Ansible reads name in this context as a keyword. Beginning in 2.5, if you want to use a variable name that is also a keyword, you must explicitly declare it as a variable for the role:

    roles:
        - { role: myrole, vars: {name: Justin, othervar: othervalue}, become: True}

For a full list of keywords see ::ref::Playbook Keywords.

### Migrating from with_X to loop

With the release of Ansible 2.5, the recommended way to perform loops is the use the new `loop` keyword instead of `with_X` style loops.

In many cases, `loop` syntax is better expressed using filters instead of more complex use of `query` or `lookup`.

The following examples will show how to convert many common `with_` style loops to `loop` and filters.

### with_list

`with_list` is directly replaced by `loop`.

    - name: with_list
      debug:
        msg: "{{ item }}"
      with_list:
        - one
        - two

    - name: with_list -> loop
      debug:
        msg: "{{ item }}"
      loop:
        - one
        - two

### with_items

`with_items` is replaced by `loop` and the `flatten` filter.

    - name: with_items
      debug:
        msg: "{{ item }}"
      with_items: "{{ items }}"

    - name: with_items -> loop
      debug:
        msg: "{{ item }}"
      loop: "{{ items|flatten(levels=1) }}"

### with_indexed_items

`with_indexed_items` is replaced by `loop`, the `flatten` filter and `loop_control.index_var`.

    - name: with_indexed_items
      debug:
        msg: "{{ item.0 }} - {{ item.1 }}"
      with_indexed_items: "{{ items }}"

    - name: with_indexed_items -> loop
      debug:
        msg: "{{ index }} - {{ item }}"
      loop: "{{ items|flatten(levels=1) }}"
      loop_control:
        index_var: index

### with_flattened

`with_flattened` is replaced by `loop` and the `flatten` filter.

    - name: with_flattened
      debug:
        msg: "{{ item }}"
      with_flattened: "{{ items }}"

    - name: with_flattened -> loop
      debug:
        msg: "{{ item }}"
      loop: "{{ items|flatten }}"

### with_together

`with_together` is replaced by `loop` and the `zip` filter.

    - name: with_together
      debug:
        msg: "{{ item.0 }} - {{ item.1 }}"
      with_together:
        - "{{ list_one }}"
        - "{{ list_two }}"

    - name: with_together -> loop
      debug:
        msg: "{{ item.0 }} - {{ item.1 }}"
      loop: "{{ list_one|zip(list_two)|list }}"

### with_dict

`with_dict` can be substituted by `loop` and either the `dictsort` or `dict2items` filters.

    - name: with_dict
      debug:
        msg: "{{ item.key }} - {{ item.value }}"
      with_dict: "{{ dictionary }}"

    - name: with_dict -> loop (option 1)
      debug:
        msg: "{{ item.key }} - {{ item.value }}"
      loop: "{{ dictionary|dict2items }}"

    - name: with_dict -> loop (option 2)
      debug:
        msg: "{{ item.0 }} - {{ item.1 }}"
      loop: "{{ dictionary|dictsort }}"

### with_sequence

`with_sequence` is replaced by `loop` and the `range` function, and potentially the `format` filter.

    - name: with_sequence
      debug:
        msg: "{{ item }}"
      with_sequence: start=0 end=4 stride=2 format=testuser%02x

    - name: with_sequence -> loop
      debug:
        msg: "{{ 'testuser%02x' | format(item) }}"
      # range is exclusive of the end point
      loop: "{{ range(0, 4 + 1, 2)|list }}"

### with_subelements

`with_subelements` is replaced by `loop` and the `subelements` filter.

    - name: with_subelements
      debug:
        msg: "{{ item.0.name }} - {{ item.1 }}"
      with_subelements:
        - "{{ users }}"
        - mysql.hosts

    - name: with_subelements -> loop
      debug:
        msg: "{{ item.0.name }} - {{ item.1 }}"
      loop: "{{ users|subelements('mysql.hosts') }}"

### with_nested/with_cartesian

`with_nested` and `with_cartesian` are replaced by loop and the `product` filter.

    - name: with_nested
      debug:
        msg: "{{ item.0 }} - {{ item.1 }}"
      with_nested:
        - "{{ list_one }}"
        - "{{ list_two }}"

    - name: with_nested -> loop
      debug:
        msg: "{{ item.0 }} - {{ item.1 }}"
      loop: "{{ list_one|product(list_two)|list }}"

### with_random_choice

`with_random_choice` is replaced by just use of the `random` filter, without need of `loop`.

    - name: with_random_choice
      debug:
        msg: "{{ item }}"
      with_random_choice: "{{ my_list }}"

    - name: with_random_choice -> loop (No loop is needed here)
      debug:
        msg: "{{ my_list|random }}"
      tags: random

## Deprecated

### Jinja tests used as filters

Using Ansible-provided jinja tests as filters will be removed in Ansible 2.9.

Prior to Ansible 2.5, jinja tests included within Ansible were most often used as filters. The large difference in use is that filters are referenced as `variable | filter_name` while jinja tests are referenced as `variable is test_name`.

Jinja tests are used for comparisons, while filters are used for data manipulation and have different applications in jinja. This change is to help differentiate the concepts for a better understanding of jinja, and where each can be appropriately used.

As of Ansible 2.5, using an Ansible provided jinja test with filter syntax, will display a deprecation error.

OLD In Ansible 2.4 (and earlier) the use of an Ansible included jinja test would likely look like this:

    when:
        - result | failed
        - not result | success

NEW In Ansible 2.5 it should be changed to look like this:

    when:
        - result is failed
        - results is not successful

In addition to the deprecation warnings, many new tests have been introduced that are aliases of the old tests. These new tests make more sense grammatically with the jinja test syntax, such as the new `successful` test which aliases `success`.

    when: result is successful

See Tests for more information.

Additionally, a script was created to assist in the conversion for tests using filter syntax to proper jinja test syntax. This script has been used to convert all of the Ansible integration tests to the correct format. There are a few limitations documented, and all changes made by this script should be evaluated for correctness before executing the modified playbooks. The script can be found at https://github.com/ansible/ansible/blob/devel/hacking/fix_test_syntax.py.

### Ansible fact namespacing

Ansible facts, which have historically been written to names like `ansible_*` in the main facts namespace, have been placed in their own new namespace, `ansible_facts.*` For example, the fact `ansible_distribution` is now best queried through the variable structure `ansible_facts.distribution`.

A new configuration variable, `inject_facts_as_vars`, has been added to ansible.cfg. Its default setting, ‘True’, keeps the 2.4 behavior of facts variables being set in the old `ansible_*` locations (while also writing them to the new namespace). This variable is expected to be set to ‘False’ in a future release. When `inject_facts_as_vars` is set to False, you must refer to ansible_facts through the new `ansible_facts.*` namespace.

## Modules

Major changes in popular modules are detailed here.

### github_release

In Ansible versions 2.4 and older, after creating a GitHub release using the `create_release` state, the `github_release` module reported state as `skipped`. In Ansible version 2.5 and later, after creating a GitHub release using the `create_release` state, the `github_release` module now reports state as `changed`.

### Modules removed

The following modules no longer exist:

- nxos_mtu use nxos_system‘s `system_mtu` option or nxos_interface instead
- cl_interface_policy use nclu instead
- cl_bridge use nclu instead
- cl_img_install use nclu instead
- cl_ports use nclu instead
- cl_license use nclu instead
- cl_interface use nclu instead
- cl_bond use nclu instead
- ec2_vpc use ec2_vpc_net along with supporting modules ec2_vpc_igw, ec2_vpc_route_table, ec2_vpc_subnet, ec2_vpc_dhcp_option, ec2_vpc_nat_gateway, ec2_vpc_nacl instead.
- ec2_ami_search use ec2_ami_facts instead
- docker use docker_container and docker_image instead

Note

These modules may no longer have documentation in the current release. Please see the Ansible 2.4 module documentation if you need to know how they worked for porting your playbooks.

### Deprecation notices

The following modules will be removed in Ansible 2.9. Please update your playbooks accordingly.

- Apstra’s `aos_*` modules are deprecated as they do not work with AOS 2.1 or higher. See new modules at https://github.com/apstra.
- nxos_ip_interface use nxos_l3_interface instead.
- nxos_portchannel use nxos_linkagg instead.
- nxos_switchport use nxos_l2_interface instead.
- panos_security_policy use panos_security_rule instead.
- panos_nat_policy use panos_nat_rule instead.
- vsphere_guest use vmware_guest instead.

### Noteworthy module changes

- The stat and win_stat modules have changed the default of the option `get_md5` from `true` to `false`.

This option will be removed starting with Ansible version 2.9. The options `get_checksum: True` and `checksum_algorithm: md5` can still be used if an MD5 checksum is desired.

- `osx_say` module was renamed into say.
- Several modules which could deal with symlinks had the default value of their `follow` option changed as part of a feature to standardize the behavior of follow:
  - The file module changed from `follow=False` to `follow=True` because its purpose is to modify the attributes of a file and most systems do not allow attributes to be applied to symlinks, only to real files.
  - The replace module had its `follow` parameter removed because it inherently modifies the content of an existing file so it makes no sense to operate on the link itself.
  - The blockinfile module had its `follow` parameter removed because it inherently modifies the content of an existing file so it makes no sense to operate on the link itself.
  - In Ansible-2.5.3, the template module became more strict about its `src` file being proper utf-8. Previously, non-utf8 contents in a template module src file would result in a mangled output file (the non-utf8 characters would be replaced with a unicode replacement character). Now, on Python2, the module will error out with the message, “Template source files must be utf-8 encoded”. On Python3, the module will first attempt to pass the non-utf8 characters through verbatim and fail if that does not succeed.

## Plugins

As a developer, you can now use ‘doc fragments’ for common configuration options on plugin types that support the new plugin configuration system.

### Inventory

Inventory plugins have been fine tuned, and we have started to add some common features:

- The ability to use a cache plugin to avoid costly API/DB queries is disabled by default. If using inventory scripts, some may already support a cache, but it is outside of Ansible’s knowledge and control. Moving to the internal cache will allow you to use Ansible’s existing cache refresh/invalidation mechanisms.
- A new ‘auto’ plugin, enabled by default, that can automatically detect the correct plugin to use IF that plugin is using our ‘common YAML configuration format’. The previous host_list, script, yaml and ini plugins still work as they did, the auto plugin is now the last one we attempt to use. If you had customized the enabled plugins you should revise the setting to include the new auto plugin.

### Shell

Shell plugins have been migrated to the new plugin configuration framework. It is now possible to customize more settings, and settings which were previously ‘global’ can now also be overriden using host specific variables.

For example, `system_temps` is a new setting that allows you to control what Ansible will consider a ‘system temporary dir’. This is used when escalating privileges for a non-administrative user. Previously this was hardcoded to ‘/tmp’, which some systems cannot use for privilege escalation. This setting now defaults to `[ '/var/tmp', '/tmp']`.

Another new setting is `admin_users` which allows you to specify a list of users to be considered ‘administrators’. Previously this was hardcoded to `root`. It now it defaults to `[root, toor, admin]`. This information is used when choosing between your `remote_temp` and `system_temps` directory.

For a full list, check the shell plugin you are using, the default shell plugin is `sh`.

Those that had to work around the global configuration limitations can now migrate to a per host/group settings, but also note that the new defaults might conflict with existing usage if the assumptions don’t correlate to your environment.

### Filter

The lookup plugin API now throws an error if a non-iterable value is returned from a plugin. Previously, numbers or other non-iterable types returned by a plugin were accepted without error or warning. This change was made because plugins should always return a list. Please note that plugins that return strings and other non-list iterable values will not throw an error, but may cause unpredictable behavior. If you have a custom lookup plugin that does not return a list, you should modify it to wrap the return values in a list.

### Lookup

A new option was added to lookup plugins globally named `error` which allows you to control how errors produced by the lookup are handled, before this option they were always fatal. Valid values for this option are `warn`, `ignore` and `strict`. See the lookup page for more details.

## Porting custom scripts

No notable changes.

## Network

### Expanding documentation

We’re expanding the network documentation. There’s new content and a new Ansible Network landing page. We will continue to build the network-related documentation moving forward.

### Top-level connection arguments will be removed in 2.9

Top-level connection arguments like `username`, `host`, and `password` are deprecated and will be removed in version 2.9.

OLD In Ansible < 2.4

    - name: example of using top-level options for connection properties
      ios_command:
        commands: show version
        host: "{{ inventory_hostname }}"
        username: cisco
        password: cisco
        authorize: yes
        auth_pass: cisco

The deprecation warnings reflect this schedule. The task above, run in Ansible 2.5, will result in:

    [DEPRECATION WARNING]: Param 'username' is deprecated. See the module docs for more information. This feature will be removed in version
    2.9. Deprecation warnings can be disabled by setting deprecation_warnings=False in ansible.cfg.
    [DEPRECATION WARNING]: Param 'password' is deprecated. See the module docs for more information. This feature will be removed in version
    2.9. Deprecation warnings can be disabled by setting deprecation_warnings=False in ansible.cfg.
    [DEPRECATION WARNING]: Param 'host' is deprecated. See the module docs for more information. This feature will be removed in version 2.9.
    Deprecation warnings can be disabled by setting deprecation_warnings=False in ansible.cfg.

We recommend using the new connection types `network_cli` and `netconf` (see below), using standard Ansible connection properties, and setting those properties in inventory by group. As you update your playbooks and inventory files, you can easily make the change to `become` for privilege escalation (on platforms that support it). For more information, see the using become with network modules guide and the platform documentation.

### Adding persistent connection types `network_cli` and `netconf`

Ansible 2.5 introduces two top-level persistent connection types, `network_cli` and `netconf`. With `connection: local`, each task passed the connection parameters, which had to be stored in your playbooks. With `network_cli` and `netconf` the playbook passes the connection parameters once, so you can pass them at the command line if you prefer. We recommend you use `network_cli` and `netconf` whenever possible. Note that eAPI and NX-API still require `local` connections with `provider` dictionaries. See the platform documentation for more information. Unless you need a `local` connection, update your playbooks to use `network_cli` or `netconf` and to specify your connection variables with standard Ansible connection variables:

OLD In Ansible 2.4

    ---
    vars:
        cli:
           host: "{{ inventory_hostname }}"
           username: operator
           password: secret
           transport: cli

    tasks:
    - nxos_config:
        src: config.j2
        provider: "{{ cli }}"
        username: admin
        password: admin

NEW In Ansible 2.5

    [nxos:vars]
    ansible_connection=network_cli
    ansible_network_os=nxos
    ansible_user=operator
    ansible_password=secret

    tasks:
    - nxos_config:
        src: config.j2

Using a provider dictionary with either `network_cli` or `netconf` will result in a warning.

### Developers: Shared Module Utilities Moved

Beginning with Ansible 2.5, shared module utilities for network modules moved to `ansible.module_utils.network`.

- Platform-independent utilities are found in `ansible.module_utils.network.common`
- Platform-specific utilities are found in `ansible.module_utils.network.{{ platform }}`

If your module uses shared module utilities, you must update all references. For example, change:

OLD In Ansible 2.4

    from ansible.module_utils.vyos import get_config, load_config

NEW In Ansible 2.5

    from ansible.module_utils.network.vyos.vyos import get_config, load_config

See the module utilities developer guide see Appendix: Module Utilities for more information.