Specifying WIndows systems in a mixed host environment

[Hunter Tom]

Hello All:

Please help!

Problem -

I have a hosts file separated out with different branches of an organization as such:

[branch01]

server01

server02

server03

[branch02]

server04

server05

....etc

The problem is that if server01 and server05 are windows, how do I specify to use WinRM?

I've tried the following:

• Using 'register:' in https://www.reddit.com/r/ansible/comments/67q35z/is_it_possible_for_an_ansible_playbook_to/ [did not work]
  
• Setting [branch:vars] to winrm (and tried to use gather_facts to specify linux instead) [did not work] 
• Gather_facts: True. Then using when: ansible_os_family == windows. [fails because it uses ports 22 rather than 5986

Is there a way to dynamically switch from SSH to WINRM based on the way I have my hosts set up?

[Jordan Borean]

Easiest way is to create a Windows group, define the connection plugin in that group, and finally add your Windows hosts as children of that group;

[windows:children]
server01
server03
branch02
....

[windows:vars]
ansible_connection=winrm

You can add some more values to configure WinRM if you wish but by default you at least need to tell Ansible to use the winrm connection plugin.

[Hunter Tom]

Okay, thanks. I was trying to ensure against putting the host name twice to ensure against confusion. I guess I will separate the branches futher by [branch01_linux] and [branch01_windows]...ect. Thanks for the clarification. I just wish I could use logic ('if unable to connect ssh then try winrm') against my hosts