Ansible - Check if string exists in file

Question

I\'m very new to Ansible

Is it possible to check if a string exists in a file using Ansible.

I want to check is a user has access to a server. this can be

Answer 1

I am using the following approach, using only a grep -q and a registered variable.

Upside is that it's simple, downside is that you have a FAILED line in your output. YMMV.

- name: Check whether foobar is defined in /bar/baz
  command:
    cmd: 'grep -q foobar /bar/baz'
  register: foobar_in_barbaz
  changed_when: false
  ignore_errors: true


- when: not foobar_in_barbaz.failed
  name: Do something when foobar is in /bar/baz
    ....


- when: foobar_in_barbaz.failed
  pause:
    seconds: 1
    content: |
      You do not seem to have a foobar line in /bar/baz
      If you add it, then magic stuff will happen!