How to set existing linux environment variables with ansible?

Question

Ansible v2.4.0.0 on RHEL 6.x

I see How to set linux environment variables with ansible, but it deals with setting a NEW environment variable. The solution does NOT work for me if I try to set my PATH variable. I do...

- name: Add /usr/other/bin to PATH dir to use the git binary there
  environment:
#    PATH: /usr/other/bin:{{ ansible_env.PATH }}
    PATH: /usr/other/bin:{{ lookup('env','PATH') }}

I've tried both ways, shown above, commenting out one vs. the other, and I get syntax errors in both cases. What am I missing?

score 18 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 25 '17 at 16:05

18

This is the correct way to extend PATH variable for a single task:

- name: Execute task with extended PATH
  shell: echo $PATH
  environment:
    PATH: "/usr/other/bin:{{ ansible_env.PATH }}"

environment is not an action by itself, it's a keyword to modify actions' (shell in my example) environment.

answered Oct 25 '17 at 16:05

Konstantin Suvorov

65,183
9
162
193

Thanks, that makes sense now. – Chris F Oct 25 '17 at 17:15
2

Adding this here in case someone runs into the same problem. Make sure `gather_facts: true` for your playbook. If it's set to false, your PATH variable will NOT be set. – Dodgyrabbit Jan 22 '22 at 19:33

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered May 24 '18 at 20:36

0

I don't know why, but Konstantin Suvorov solution doesn't work for me.

After some tests I used following Ansible part in combination with Vagrant (Ubuntu guest).

-name: Creating environment variable via file in /etc/profile.d
 args:
   chdir: /etc/profile.d
 shell: echo "export M2_HOME=/home/vagrant/maven" > env.sh

This works with PATH, too, by adding it into the quotes with ${PATH}.

answered May 24 '18 at 20:36

hesch

134
4

I had the same problem but found the solution - make sure `gather_facts: true`. Konstantin's solution should work. – Dodgyrabbit Jan 22 '22 at 19:32

How to set existing linux environment variables with ansible?

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