ansible Playbook execution failed with error: "The task includes an option with an undefined variable. The error was: 'dict object' has no attribute 'package'

[Mitesh Bhandari]

Hello, 

I am new learner, trying to get hands on inclusions, where I am using include_vars & include, however playbook execution is falling with  an undefined variable error.

[user@node0101 veriable_include]$ ansible-playbook -i inventory myplaybook.yml

PLAY [Install Some Package] ********************************************************************************************************************************************

TASK [Gathering Facts] *************************************************************************************************************************************************
ok: [node0102]

TASK [include variables from varPackage.yml] ***************************************************************************************************************************
ok: [node0102]

TASK [Install {{ vars.package }} package] ******************************************************************************************************************************
fatal: [node0102]: FAILED! => {"msg": "The task includes an option with an undefined variable. The error was: 'dict object' has no attribute 'package'\n\nThe error appears to be in '/home/user/veriable_include/tasks.yml': line 2, column 3, but may\nbe elsewhere in the file depending on the exact syntax problem.\n\nThe offending line appears to be:\n\n---\n- name: Install {{ vars.package }} package\n  ^ here\nWe could be wrong, but this one looks like it might be an issue with\nmissing quotes. Always quote template expression brackets when they\nstart a value. For instance:\n\n    with_items:\n      - {{ foo }}\n\nShould be written as:\n\n    with_items:\n      - \"{{ foo }}\"\n"}

PLAY RECAP *************************************************************************************************************************************************************
node0102                   : ok=2    changed=0    unreachable=0    failed=1    skipped=0    rescued=0    ignored=0

[user@node0101 veriable_include]$

[user@node0101 veriable_include]$ pwd
/home/user/veriable_include

[user@node0101 veriable_include]$ ls -l
total 20
-rw-rw-r--. 1 user user  93 Apr 25 17:57 ansible.cfg
-rw-rw-r--. 1 user user  24 Apr 25 16:31 inventory
-rw-rw-r--. 1 user user 208 Apr 26 02:51 myplaybook.yml
-rw-rw-r--. 1 user user 247 Apr 26 02:51 tasks.yml
-rw-rw-r--. 1 user user  71 Apr 26 02:52 varPackage.yml

Following are the yml files & playbooks content:

[user@node0101 veriable_include]$ cat varPackage.yml
---
vars:
 package: samba
 service: smb
 state: started
 enabled: true

[user@node0101 veriable_include]$ cat tasks.yml
---
- name: Install {{ vars.package }} package
  yum:
   name: "{{ vars.package }}"
   state: latest

- name: Start {{ vars.service }} service
  service:
   name: "{{ vars.service }}"
   state: "{{ vars.state }}"
   enabled: "{{ vars.enabled }}"

[user@node0101 veriable_include]$ cat myplaybook.yml
---
- name: Install Some Package
  hosts: node0102
  tasks:
  - name: include variables from varPackage.yml
    include_vars: varPackage.yml

  - name: include tasks from tasks.yml
    include: tasks.yml
...
[user@node0101 veriable_include]$

Please advice ...

---

Kind Regards

~Mitesh

[Dick Visser]

You don't need to mention 'vars', just the variable itself, i.e. "{{ package }}".

[user@node0101 veriable_include]$ cat myplaybook.yml
---
- name: Install Some Package
  hosts: node0102
  tasks:
  - name: include variables from varPackage.yml
    include_vars: varPackage.yml

  - name: include tasks from tasks.yml
    include: tasks.yml
...
[user@node0101 veriable_include]$

Please advice ...

---

Kind Regards

~Mitesh

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[Mitesh Bhandari]

Hello Visser, 

Thank you very much looking in to, I have already tried by referencing variable {{ package }} but same error.

[user@node0101 veriable_include]$ ansible-playbook -i inventory myplaybook.yml

PLAY [Install Some Package] ********************************************************************************************************************************************

TASK [Gathering Facts] *************************************************************************************************************************************************
ok: [node0102]

TASK [include veriables from varPackages.yml] **************************************************************************************************************************
ok: [node0102]

TASK [Install {{ package }} package] ***********************************************************************************************************************************
fatal: [node0102]: FAILED! => {"msg": "The task includes an option with an undefined variable. The error was: 'package' is undefined\n\nThe error appears to be in '/home/user/veriable_include/tasks.yml': line 4, column 3, but may\nbe elsewhere in the file depending on the exact syntax problem.\n\nThe offending line appears to be:\n\n  include_vars: varPackage.yml\n- name: Install {{ package }} package\n  ^ here\nWe could be wrong, but this one looks like it might be an issue with\nmissing quotes. Always quote template expression brackets when they\nstart a value. For instance:\n\n    with_items:\n      - {{ foo }}\n\nShould be written as:\n\n    with_items:\n      - \"{{ foo }}\"\n"}

PLAY RECAP *************************************************************************************************************************************************************
node0102                   : ok=2    changed=0    unreachable=0    failed=1    skipped=0    rescued=0    ignored=0

[user@node0101 _include]$

[user@node0101 veriable_include]$ cat tasks.yml
---

- name: include veriables from varPackages.yml
  include_vars: varPackage.yml
- name: Install {{ package }} package
  yum:
   name: "{{ package }}"
   state: latest

- name: Start {{ service }} service
  service:
   name: "{{ service }}"
   state: "{{ state }}"
   enabled: "{{ enabled }}"

[user@node0101 veriable_include]$ cat myplaybook.yml
---
- name: Install Some Package
  hosts: node0102
  tasks:

  - name: include tasks from tasks.yml
    include: tasks.yml
...
[user@node0101 veriable_include]$

---

Kind Regards,

~Mitesh

[Kai Stian Olstad]

On Sat, Apr 25, 2020 at 02:32:01PM -0700, Mitesh Bhandari wrote:
> *Following are the yml files & playbooks content:*
>
> [user@node0101 veriable_include]$ *cat varPackage.yml*

> ---
> vars:
> package: samba
> service: smb
> state: started
> enabled: true
>

> [user@node0101 veriable_include]$ *cat tasks.yml*

> ---
> - name: Install {{ vars.package }} package
> yum:
> name: "{{ vars.package }}"
> state: latest
> - name: Start {{ vars.service }} service
> service:
> name: "{{ vars.service }}"
> state: "{{ vars.state }}"
> enabled: "{{ vars.enabled }}"

vars is a reserved word in Ansible so you need to choose another name for your variable.


--
Kai Stian Olstad

[Mitesh Bhandari]

Hello Kai, 

Thanks for help, I changed variable name other than vars and issue resolved.

[user@node0101 veriable_include]$ cat varPackage.yml
---

myvars:

 package: samba
 service: smb
 state: started
 enabled: true

Regards,

~ Mitesh 

On Sunday, April 26, 2020 at 3:02:01 AM UTC+5:30, Mitesh Bhandari wrote: