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Lab: File and Folder Manipulations

Overview

In this lab, you will learn how to create, copy, and delete files and folders on your hosts using the file module in Ansible.

Duration

Estimated Time: 30 minutes

Step 1: Understanding the file Module

The file module in Ansible is used to manipulate files and folders on your hosts. This module requires several arguments:

  • src: The source path of your file/folder on the ansible machine (C&C).
  • dest: The destination path where the file/folder will be placed on your hosts.
  • owner: The owner user on the hosts (optional).
  • group: The owner group on the hosts (optional).
  • state: Specifies whether to remove or create a folder/file on the hosts.
  • mode: Sets permissions on your files (optional).

The default command template is:

ansible <Pattern> -m file -a "src=<FULL-PATH> dest=<Host-FULL-PATH> state=<absent|directory|file>"

Step 2: Copying a File

  1. Create a file on the ansible machine:

    cd ~
touch hello.txt
nano hello.txt

    Write Hello World in hello.txt and save the file.

  2. Copy the file to the webserver group:

    ansible webservers -m copy -a "src=~/hello.txt dest=~"

    Check the output for a CHANGED status, indicating that something on your hosts has changed.

  3. Log in to each host and verify that the file is there.

Step 3: Deleting a File

To delete a file on your hosts, use the following command:

ansible webservers -m file -a "dest=~/hello.txt state=absent"

After running this command, log in to each host and verify that the file is deleted.

Step 4: Creating a Directory

  1. Create a directory and a file within it on the ansible machine:

    cd ~
mkdir test
cd test
touch hello.txt
nano hello.txt

    Write Hello File in the file, save, and exit.

  2. Create the directory on the hosts:

    ansible webservers -m file -a "dest=~/test state=directory"

  3. Copy the file to the directory on the hosts:

    ansible webservers -m copy -a "src=~/test/ dest=~/test"

    Log in to each host to verify the presence of the folder and file.

Step 5: Deleting a Directory

Delete a specific directory from all hosts in the webserver group:

ansible webservers -m file -a "dest=~/test state=absent"

Step 6: Practice

Practice your skills by:

  1. Creating a directory ~/<Your-Name>/<Your-Family>.
  2. Creating two txt files inside the directory with your email and name.
  3. Using Ansible to push these files to your hosts.

Conclusion

Well done! You've successfully learned how to manage files and directories on your hosts using Ansible. 👏