How to check if a directory/folder exists on Windows-like systems with Ansible?
I’m going to show you a live Playbook and some simple Ansible code. I’m Luca Berton and welcome to today’s episode of Ansible Pilot
Ansible check directory exists on Windows-like systems
ansible.windows.win_stat- Get information about Windows files
Let’s talk about the Ansible module win_stat.
The full name is ansible.windows.win_stat, which means that is part of the collection of modules specialized to interact with Windows target host.
It’s a module pretty stable and out for years.
It works in Windows and Windows Server operating systems.
It gets information about Windows files.
For Linux target use the ansible.builtin.stat module instead.
Parameters & Return Values
Mandatory Parameters
- path string
Main Return Values
- stat complex - isdir
The only mandatory parameter is “path” which is the filesystem full path of the object to check. The module returns a complex object, the property that is interesting for us is “isdir”. This attribute is “true” if the object is a directory
Links
Playbook
How to check if the “example” directory/folder exists on the Desktop of the user on Windows-like systems with Ansible Playbook.
code
---
- name: check if is a directory
hosts: all
vars:
directory: 'C:\Users\vagrant\Desktop\example'
tasks:
- name: Check the directory
ansible.windows.win_stat:
path: "{{ directory }}"
register: dir_data
- name: Directory found
ansible.builtin.debug:
msg: "Directory {{ directory }} present"
when: dir_data.stat.isdir is defined and dir_data.stat.isdir
directory doesn’t exist execution
ansible-pilot $ ansible-playbook -i virtualmachines/win/inventory check\ directory\ exists/directory_exists_windows.yml
PLAY [check if is a directory] ********************************************************************
TASK [Gathering Facts] ****************************************************************************
ok: [WindowsServer]
TASK [Check the directory] ************************************************************************
ok: [WindowsServer]
TASK [Directory found] ****************************************************************************
skipping: [WindowsServer]
PLAY RECAP ****************************************************************************************
WindowsServer : ok=2 changed=0 unreachable=0 failed=0 skipped=1 rescued=0 ignored=0
ansible-pilot $
directory exist execution
ansible-pilot $ ansible-playbook -i virtualmachines/win/inventory check\ directory\ exists/directory_exists_windows.yml
PLAY [check if is a directory] ********************************************************************
TASK [Gathering Facts] ****************************************************************************
ok: [WindowsServer]
TASK [Check the directory] ************************************************************************
ok: [WindowsServer]
TASK [Directory found] ****************************************************************************
ok: [WindowsServer] => {
"msg": "Directory C:\\Users\\vagrant\\Desktop\\example present"
}
PLAY RECAP ****************************************************************************************
WindowsServer : ok=3 changed=0 unreachable=0 failed=0 skipped=0 rescued=0 ignored=0
ansible-pilot $
Conclusion
Now you know how to check if a directory exists on Windows-like systems with Ansible. Subscribe to the YouTube channel, Medium, and Website, X (formerly Twitter) to not miss the next episode of the Ansible Pilot.
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