Ansible Archive Module: A Comprehensive Guide

In the world of automation, Ansible stands out as a powerful tool for managing configurations, deployments, and orchestration across a variety of systems. One of the key modules in Ansible is the archive module, which provides a convenient way to package and compress files and directories. In this article, we will explore the archive module in detail, including its usage, options, and code examples.

What is the Ansible Archive Module?

The archive module in Ansible allows users to create compressed archive files (tar, gzip, zip, etc.) from local files or directories, as well as extract archive files on remote servers. This module simplifies the process of packaging and unpacking files, making it easier to manage and transfer data across systems.

Usage of the Archive Module

The archive module in Ansible has the following syntax:

ansible.builtin.archive:
  src: /path/to/source
  dest: /path/to/destination
  format: <tar, gztar, zip, etc.>
  • src: The source file or directory to be archived.
  • dest: The destination path where the archive file will be saved.
  • format: The format of the archive file (tar, gztar, zip, etc.).

Options of the Archive Module

The archive module also supports additional options for customizing the archive process:

  • remote_src: If set to yes, the source file or directory will be read from the remote system.
  • extra_opts: Additional options to pass to the archive command (e.g., compression level).
  • remove: If set to yes, the source file or directory will be removed after archiving.
  • creates: A filename that, when it already exists, indicates that the archive creation should not proceed.

Code Examples

Archiving Files

To archive a file on a remote server, you can use the following Ansible task:

- name: Archive a file
  ansible.builtin.archive:
    src: /path/to/file.txt
    dest: /path/to/archive.tar.gz
    format: gztar

Archiving Directories

To archive a directory and remove it after archiving, you can use the following Ansible task:

- name: Archive a directory
  ansible.builtin.archive:
    src: /path/to/directory
    dest: /path/to/archive.zip
    format: zip
    remove: yes

Extracting Archives

To extract an archive file on a remote server, you can use the following Ansible task:

- name: Extract an archive
  ansible.builtin.archive:
    src: /path/to/archive.tar.gz
    dest: /path/to/extracted
    format: gztar
    remote_src: yes

Class Diagram

classDiagram
    class Ansible {
        + string src
        + string dest
        + string format
        + bool remote_src
        + string extra_opts
        + bool remove
        + string creates
        + void archive()
    }

Conclusion

The archive module in Ansible is a valuable tool for creating and extracting archive files with ease. By using this module, users can streamline the process of packaging and transferring files and directories across systems. With its flexibility and customization options, the archive module is a must-have for any Ansible automation workflow.