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What is Async in Ansible

Async in Ansible

Async in Ansible refers to the ability to execute tasks asynchronously, which means that tasks can run in the background while other tasks continue to run in the foreground. This allows for more efficient use of resources and can greatly improve the speed of playbooks.

To use async in Ansible, you need to use the “async” keyword followed by the number of seconds to wait for the task to complete. For example, to execute a task asynchronously with a wait time of 10 seconds, you would use the following syntax:

- name: Run task asynchronously
  command: some_command
  async: 10
  poll: 0

The “poll” keyword is used to specify how often to check the status of the async task. A value of 0 means to check only once, while a value of -1 means to never check the status. If you want to wait for the task to complete before continuing with the playbook, you can use the “wait_for” module to wait for the task to complete.

Async can be useful in situations where you need to run long-running tasks, such as backups or software installations, without holding up the rest of the playbook. It can also be useful for running tasks in parallel, which can greatly improve the speed of the playbook.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is async in Ansible?

A: Async in Ansible allows you to execute tasks asynchronously, which means that tasks can run in the background while other tasks continue to run in the foreground.

Q: Why would I want to use async in Ansible?

A: Async can be useful in situations where you need to run long-running tasks, such as backups or software installations, without holding up the rest of the playbook. It can also be useful for running tasks in parallel, which can greatly improve the speed of the playbook.

Q: How do I use async in Ansible?

A: To use async in Ansible, you need to use the “async” keyword followed by the number of seconds to wait for the task to complete. You can also use the “poll” keyword to specify how often to check the status of the async task.

Q: Can I wait for an async task to complete before continuing with the playbook?

A: Yes, you can use the “wait_for” module to wait for the task to complete before continuing with the playbook.

Q: What happens if an async task fails?

A: If an async task fails, you can use the “ignore_errors” keyword to ignore the failure and continue with the playbook, or you can use the “failed_when” keyword to specify when a task should be considered failed.

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