How to use Variables in Ansible - Simple example

Simple example to demonstrate variables in Ansible example.

This playbook is going to install HTTPD and Firewalld package.

There are two plays - first one will run on client node (node11) and the second one will run on master node (controller)

# Copy from here:

---

# First play

- name: Install apache and start the service

  hosts: node11  ## hosts is the MUST to include key word in playbook to define target servers. It can be single server or group from Ansible inventory. 

  vars: ## vars is the key word to define vaiables in playbook

    web_package: httpd

    firewall_package: firewalld

    web_service: httpd

    firewall_service: firewalld

    firewall_port: http

    webpage: "This is test page created by Ansible playbook"

  tasks: ## tasks is the MUST to include key word in playbook to list down tasks.

  - name: Install web server package

    yum:

      name: "{{ web_package }}"

      state: latest

  - name: Install firewall package

    yum:

      name: "{{ firewall_package }}"

      state: latest

  - name: Start web service

    service:

      name: "{{ web_service }}"

      state: started

      enabled: yes

  - name: Start "{{ firewall_service }}" service

    service:

      name: "{{ firewall_service }}"

      state: started

      enabled: yes

  - name: Allow web service in fiewall

    firewalld:

      service: "{{ firewall_port }}"

      permanent: true

      state: enabled

      immediate: yes

  - name: Create test web page

    copy:

     content: "{{ webpage }}"

     dest: /var/www/html/index.html

# Second play

- name: Verify that web page is accessible from outside

  hosts: controller

  tasks:

  - name: Try to access the test web page

    uri:

      url: http://node11.example.com

      status_code: 200

...