Ansible Playbook Tags
1. Introduction
Tags in Ansible are used to run specific parts of a playbook, allowing you to control which tasks are executed. This is particularly helpful when you have large playbooks and want to avoid running everything every time.
2. What Are Tags?
Tags are labels that you can assign to tasks, blocks, or plays within your Ansible playbooks. You can use these labels to run only the tasks associated with a specific tag.
3. Usage of Tags
To use tags in your playbook, you simply add the `tags` parameter to your tasks, plays, or blocks. Here's a general structure:
- name: Install Apache
yum:
name: httpd
state: present
tags: install
- name: Start Apache
service:
name: httpd
state: started
tags: start
4. Example
Below is a complete example of an Ansible playbook using tags:
---
- hosts: webservers
tasks:
- name: Install Apache
yum:
name: httpd
state: present
tags: install
- name: Start Apache
service:
name: httpd
state: started
tags: start
- name: Ensure Apache is running
service:
name: httpd
state: started
tags: check
ansible-playbook playbook.yml --tags install
5. Best Practices
- Use descriptive tag names for clarity.
- Group related tasks under the same tag to minimize complexity.
- Document your tags in comments for future reference.
- Test your playbook with tags to ensure functionality before full deployment.
6. FAQ
What will happen if I don’t use tags?
Not using tags means that every task in the playbook will be executed every time, which can lead to longer execution times and unnecessary actions.Can I use multiple tags in a single task?
Yes, you can specify multiple tags for a single task by providing a list:
tags:
- install
- start