Rundeck – Methods to Run Ansible from Rundeck

Here’s a complete guide to running Ansible Playbooks using Rundeck, covering all supported methods, including what you’ve done, plus troubleshooting options and best practices.

✅ Goal

Run an Ansible Playbook (web.yaml) on remote hosts from Rundeck.

🧰 Prerequisites

• Ansible installed on Rundeck server (ansible, ansible-playbook)
• Playbook and inventory exist, e.g.:
  • /tmp/ansible/web.yaml
  • /tmp/ansible/inventory
• Hosts reachable via SSH (key-based preferred)
• Rundeck has access to private key

✅ Methods to Run Ansible from Rundeck

✅ Method 1: Ansible Plugin (Node Step or Workflow Step)

Rundeck Plugin: Ansible Plugin for Rundeck

Best for: Structured jobs with SSH auth and node filtering.

Configuration

• Plugin Step Type: Ansible Playbook Workflow Node Step
• Playbook: web.yaml
• Inventory: -i /tmp/ansible/inventory
• Auth: Private key or SSH password
• User: ubuntu
• Extra vars (optional): foo=bar
• Set: Use become: Yes (if needed)

🔍 Troubleshooting

• Set Node Filter to .* (or name: .*) to apply job globally
• Rundeck will pass --limit <node> unless you’re careful
• Inventory must include same hostnames/IPs as Rundeck nodes

Scree -1

#inventory code
more inventory
[web]
65.2.153.2
52.66.236.156
13.232.137.62
13.201.133.240

[db]
3.7.65.62

#web.yaml
---
- name: Update web servers
  hosts: web

  tasks:
  - name: Install Apache in ubuntu
    ansible.builtin.apt:
      name: "git"
      state: latest
  - name: Copy index.html
    ansible.builtin.copy:
      src: index.html
      dest: /tmp/index.html
Code language: PHP (php)

✅ Method 2: Ansible as Command Step (Central Execution)

Run centrally from Rundeck server (not per node). This avoids node filtering issues.

Example

ansible-playbook -i /tmp/ansible/inventory /tmp/ansible/web.yaml -u ubuntu -b --private-key=/tmp/ansible/key.pem
Code language: JavaScript (javascript)

Steps

• Add a Command Step
• Shell command as above
• Optional: Make key available using Secure Option

✅ When to Use

• You don’t need per-node execution
• Want Rundeck to just centrally launch playbooks

✅ Method 3: Script Step with Arguments

Same as Method 2, but using a bash script.

Example

Create script /tmp/run_ansible.sh:

#!/bin/bash
ansible-playbook -i /tmp/ansible/inventory /tmp/ansible/web.yaml -u ubuntu -b --private-key=/tmp/ansible/key.pem
Code language: JavaScript (javascript)

Set Rundeck step type: Script file or inline

✅ Method 4: Ansible Ad-Hoc Step (Ansible Plugin)

You can also use:

• Ansible Ad-Hoc Command Node Step
• For one-liner tasks (e.g., apt update, ping, copy)

Example module: ping, shell, copy

✅ Method 5: Job with Embedded Inventory (YAML)

In Rundeck Project configuration, embed static inventory.

Example:

[web]
192.168.1.10 ansible_user=ubuntu

Then playbook can use hosts: web, and Rundeck calls it with --limit to match that.

✅ Method 6: Dynamic Inventory Integration

Use AWS/GCP inventory plugin or a custom dynamic inventory script.

Steps:

• Create a script like aws_ec2.py or a custom script
• In Ansible arguments: -i /tmp/ansible/my_dynamic_inventory.py
• Make sure script is executable and returns correct JSON

🧪 Bonus: Add a Debug Step Before Playbook

Add a shell step before Ansible call:

ansible -i /tmp/ansible/inventory web --list-hosts
Code language: PHP (php)

This lets you verify what Ansible sees at runtime.

🧾 Sample Rundeck Job YAML (Centrally Executed)

- defaultTab: nodes
  description: Run Ansible playbook centrally
  executionEnabled: true
  id: 1234-ansible-job
  loglevel: INFO
  name: run-ansible-central
  nodeFilterEditable: false
  scheduleEnabled: true
  sequence:
    commands:
    - description: Run Ansible centrally
      exec: ansible-playbook -i /tmp/ansible/inventory /tmp/ansible/web.yaml -u ubuntu -b --private-key=/tmp/ansible/key.pem
  nodefilters:
    dispatch:
      threadcount: 1
      keepgoing: false
    filter: ".*"
Code language: JavaScript (javascript)

✅ Summary Table

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