include_vars look up files in wrong directory if used with local_action

[Paulo Sudério]

I believe it is a bug, but since I am an ansible beginner I would like to check with someone before reporting - either for comfirmation or some indication that I am doing it the wrong way:

I am trying to load some variables from files in a role. The names of files are stored in a variable, in the same role. Thing is, I try to run the include_vars as a local_action.

roles/common/vars/main.yml:

x:
  - aaa
  - bbb

roles/common/tasks/main.yml:

- name: include vars w/ local_action
  local_action: include_vars "{{item}}.yml"
  with_items: "{{x}}"

site.yml:

- name: common stuff
  hosts: all
  gather_facts: no
  roles:
    - common

This should, afaik, load the variables defined in files roles/common/vars/aaa.yml and roles/common/vars/bbb.yml. But when I runansible-playbook site.yml the files are searched in ./ instead of in roles/common/vars:

TASK [common: include vars w/ local_action] *********************

task path: /home/ansible/roles/dsv/tasks/main.yml:12

failed: [my.host -> localhost] => (item=aaa) => {"failed": true, "file": "/home/ansible/aaa.yml", "invocation": {"module_args": {"_raw_params": "\"aaa.yml\""}, "module_name": "include_vars"}, "item": "aaa", "msg": "Source file not found."}

Is this an expected behaviour or a bug, taking into account that when I do the include_vars without the local_action everything works fine?

BTW, the above example is a test case I made to show the problem in a simple way. This error showed up in a real use case a lot more complex. I am using ansible 2.0.0.

Thanks in advance.

Paulo Suderio

[chris meyers]

Paulo,

Does 1.9.4 behave in the same "inconsistent" way?

[Brian Coca]

include vars is ALWAYS a 'local' action, you don't need to add that
nor delegate_to: localhost, it works the same as a include,add_host,
etc, these are all actions done on the ansible master on behalf of the
inventory_hostname, there is not need to 'localize' them.

So this 'might' be a bug, as the local action should be ignored, but
might be changing the 'cwd' of the task and confusing the include
mechanism.

--
Brian Coca

[einarc]

Brian,

I'm having the same problem on Ansible 2.0.2 without local action. I'm running on tower