Ansible troubleshooting — Error 205: playbook-extension

How to Solve the Ansible Error 202: playbook-extension

Introduction

Ansible, a popular automation tool, simplifies the management of configurations, deployment of software, and execution of tasks through its YAML-based playbooks. These playbooks, expressed in YAML format, are at the heart of Ansible’s automation capabilities. In this article, we’ll explore Ansible Error 205, “playbook-extension”, which focuses on the importance of using the correct file extension for Ansible playbooks. We’ll discuss why choosing .yml or .yaml extensions is crucial and how it ensures the smooth functioning of your Ansible automation tasks.

The Problem: Incorrect File Extensions

Ansible Error 205, “playbook-extension,” is designed to check if Ansible playbooks have the correct file extension. Playbooks should use either the .yml or .yaml file extension, as these extensions are associated with YAML-formatted files, which is the standard format for Ansible playbooks.

Problematic Code Example:

---
- name: Example playbook without the proper extension
  hosts: localhost
  tasks:
    - name: Ensure some task is completed
      ansible.builtin.debug:
        msg: "This is a…