Need Syntax to add Ansible meta module to existing Playbook - ansible

Question

I wish to search for a string ("AC245") in all files with extension *.db under /home/examples directory. Below is what i tried.
---
- name: "Find the details here "
hosts: localhost
any_errors_fatal: true
serial: 1
tasks:
- name: Ansible find files multiple patterns examples
find:
paths: /home/examples
patterns: "*.db"
recurse: yes
register: files_matched
- name: Search for String in the matched files
command: grep -i {{ myString }} {{ item.path }}
register: command_result
failed_when: command_result.rc == 0
with_items:
- "{{ files_matched.files }}"
run the above find.yml using this command:
ansible-playbook find.yml -e "myString=AC245"
My requirement is that if the string is found I wish to abort the play immediately using "meta: end_play" marking the playbook as FAILED.
Can you help suggest how can I update my current code to add the end_play feature as soon as the string is found in any *.db file ?

Answer 1

One possible solution is to move the task into a separate tasks file and loop over it. That will allow discrete control over each iteration of the task. For example:
playbook.yml:
---
- name: "Find the details here "
hosts: localhost
any_errors_fatal: true
serial: 1
tasks:
- name: Ansible find files multiple patterns examples
find:
paths: /home/mparkins/bin/playbooks_sandpit/outputs/dir
patterns: "*.db"
recurse: yes
register: files_matched
- name: Search for String in the matched files
include_tasks:
tasks.yml
with_items:
- "{{ files_matched.files }}"
tasks.yml:
- command: grep -i {{ myString }} {{ item.path }}
register: command_result
failed_when: command_result.rc == 0
You can add additional tasks in the tasks file if you wish to fail in a different way, for example using the fail module or meta: end_play

Answer 2

Q: "The requirement is that if the string is found I wish to abort the play immediately using "meta: end_play" marking the playbook as FAILED."
(ansible 2.7.9)
A: It's not possible.
1) It's not possible to execute meta: end_play in a loop on a condition (string is found)
2) It's not possible to execute both meta: end_play and fail/assert in one play
1) It is possible to write a filter_plugin (Python2)
$ cat filter_plugins/file_filters.py
import mmap
def file_list_search(list, string):
for file in list:
if file_search(file, string):
break
return file_search(file, string)
def file_search(file, string):
f = open(file)
s = mmap.mmap(f.fileno(), 0, access=mmap.ACCESS_READ)
if s.find(string) != -1:
return True
else:
return False
class FilterModule(object):
''' Ansible filters for operating on files '''
def filters(self):
return {
'file_search' : file_search,
'file_list_search' : file_list_search
}
and use it in a play. For example
- hosts: localhost
vars:
myString: "test string"
tasks:
- find:
paths: /home/examples
patterns: "*.db"
register: files_matched
- name: End of play when myString found
meta: end_play
when: "files_matched.files|
json_query('[*].path')|
file_list_search(myString)"
- debug:
msg: continue
2) It is possible to set_stats. The play below
- name: End of play when myString found
block:
- set_stats:
data:
FAILED: 1
- meta: end_play
when: "files_matched.files|
json_query('[*].path')|
file_list_search(myString)"
- debug:
msg: continue
- set_stats:
data:
FAILED: 0
gives the output below if the string is found
PLAY RECAP **********************************************************************************
127.0.0.1 : ok=4 changed=0 unreachable=0 failed=0
CUSTOM STATS: *******************************************************************************
RUN: { "FAILED": 1}
Allow show_custom_stats
$ grep stats ansible.cfg
show_custom_stats = True