This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Vishnu
When working with Ansible, it’s crucial to understand how configuration settings are applied and in what order. Ansible allows multiple ways to configure its behavior, and these settings follow a specific priority order. This ensures flexibility while also allowing users to override defaults as needed.
Configuration Sources and Their Priority Order
Ansible configurations can be defined in various locations. The following list shows the priority order from lowest to highest, meaning settings at a higher level override those at a lower level:
Default Settings (Lowest Priority)
- Ansible has built-in defaults that apply if no other configuration is specified.
- These are hardcoded within Ansible and serve as fallback values.
System-Wide Configuration (/etc/ansible/ansible.cfg)
- This configuration file is used for system-wide Ansible settings.
- Any user on the system running Ansible will inherit these settings unless overridden.
User-Specific Configuration (~/.ansible.cfg)
- This file allows a user to define their own Ansible settings.
- It overrides the system-wide configuration but can still be overridden by more specific settings.
Project-Specific Configuration (ansible.cfg in the Current Directory)
- If an ansible.cfg file exists in the working directory where the Ansible command is executed, it takes precedence over both system-wide and user-specific configurations.
- This is useful for project-specific configurations where different settings may be required.
Environment Variables
- Ansible allows configuration via environment variables, such as ANSIBLE_CONFIG.
- If set, these variables override any file-based configurations.
Command-Line Options (Highest Priority)
- The highest priority is given to command-line options specified when running Ansible.
- For example, using ansible-playbook -i custom_inventory site.yml overrides inventory settings from configuration files.
Best Practices:
Use project-specific ansible.cfg to maintain consistency within a project.
Avoid modifying system-wide configuration unless necessary.
Use environment variables for temporary changes without modifying configuration files.
Always check the effective configuration using:
ansible-config dump --only-changed
Conclusion
Understanding Ansible’s configuration priority ensures that you apply settings in the most effective way. By following this hierarchy, you can control and override configurations efficiently, improving your automation workflows.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Vishnu