Ansible modules — win_command vs win_shell

How to automate the execution of PowerShell or cmd.exe code on windows target hosts using Ansible Playbook with win_command and win_shell modules.

What is the difference between win_command vs win_shell Ansible modules?

These two Ansible modules are confused one for another but they’re fundamentally different.

Both modules allow you to execute win_command on a target host but in a slightly different way.

I’m Luca Berton and welcome to today’s episode of Ansible Pilot.

win_command vs win_shell

win_command

• Executes a command on a remote Windows node
• it bypasses the Windows shell
• always set changed to True

win_shell

• Execute shell commands on Windows target hosts
• redirections and win_shell’s inbuilt functionality
• always set changed to True