How to create a directory using Ansible

Question

How do you create a directory www at /srv on a Debian-based system using an Ansible playbook?

Answer 1

To check if directory exists and then run some task (e.g. create directory) use the following

- name: Check if output directory exists
    stat:
    path: /path/to/output
    register: output_folder

- name: Create output directory if not exists
    file:
    path: /path/to/output
    state: directory
    owner: user
    group: user
    mode: 0775
    when: output_folder.stat.exists == false

Answer 2

You can even extend the file module and even set the owner,group & permission through it. (Ref: Ansible file documentation)

- name: Creates directory
  file:
    path: /src/www
    state: directory
    owner: www-data
    group: www-data
    mode: 0775

Even, you can create the directories recursively:

- name: Creates directory
  file:
    path: /src/www
    state: directory
    owner: www-data
    group: www-data
    mode: 0775
    recurse: yes

This way, it will create both directories, if they didn't exist.

Answer 3

Hello good afternoon team.

I share the following with you.

   - name: Validar Directorio
     stat:
       path: /tmp/Sabana
     register: sabana_directorio
   
   - debug:
       msg: "Existe"
     when: sabana_directorio.stat.isdir == sabana_directorio.stat.isdir

   - name: Crear el directorio si no existe.
     file:
       path: /tmp/Sabana
       state: directory
     when: sabana_directorio.stat.exists == false

With which you can validate if the directory exists before creating it

Answer 4

to create directory

ansible host_name -m file -a "dest=/home/ansible/vndir state=directory"

Answer 5

you can use the "file" module in this case, there are so many arguments that you can pass for a newly created directory like the owner, group, location, mode and so on.....

please refer to this document for the detailed explanation on the file module...

https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/modules/file_module.html#file-module

remember this module is not just for creating the directory !!!

Answer 6

I see lots of Playbooks examples and I would like to mention the Adhoc commands example.

$ansible -i inventory -m file -a "path=/tmp/direcory state=directory ( instead of directory we can mention touch to create files)