How to delete local directory with ansible

Question

I have to make delete some directory and create them on local before copy to the remote. Is there anyway to delete and create locally?

Currently I'm using 'command'

command: rm -r directory

But warning shows as

Consider using file module with state=absent rather than running rm

Is there any options we can use for local folder changes?

score 17 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 23 '17 at 20:09

17

You can use diffrent delegation methods or use the local_action:

- local_action: file path=directory state=absent

answered Feb 23 '17 at 20:09

flxPeters

1,476
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score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 23 '17 at 20:09

2

If you're running this in a playbook, you can use a section of the playbook that uses a local connection to make changes on the command machine, then copies files to the remote:

---
- hosts: 127.0.0.1
  connection: local
  tasks:
    - name: Delete local directory
      file: path=/directory state=absent

- hosts: myhosts
  tasks:
      copy: src=/directory dest=/foo/directory

answered Feb 23 '17 at 20:09

Scott Rankin

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Do I need to make a new local connection just for changing the local file? – Neil Feb 23 '17 at 22:02
That's how ansible knows to run it locally vs on the remote machines. You can also use local_action as mentioned below. The local connection is good if you have a bunch of things to do locally. – Scott Rankin Feb 23 '17 at 22:04

score 1 · Answer 3 · edited Jul 21 '21 at 05:53

1

Update:
Current Ansible (2.10) does not like - local_action: , instead use delegate_to:

- name: Remove directory 'dir1'
  file: 
    path: "path/to/dir1" 
    state: absent
  delegate_to: localhost

edited Jul 21 '21 at 05:53

Yunnosch

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answered Jul 09 '21 at 14:50

Aven_Zerrock

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2

How to delete local directory with ansible

3 Answers3