Generate a CSV Report from Multiple Facts in Ansible

Discover how to create a `CSV` report in `Ansible` using Jinja2 templates to consolidate various facts into a readable format.
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Generating a CSV Report from Multiple Facts in Ansible

In the realm of automation and IT management, having clear and concise reports is essential. One common requirement is to generate a CSV report that summarizes various facts about hosts in a network. Ansible, a popular automation tool, provides the ability to automate this consolidation using Jinja2 templating. In this guide, we will explore how to generate a CSV file from multiple facts—specifically ntp_status and ping_status related to various hosts.

Understanding the Problem

Imagine you have gathered various important facts about your network hosts, such as their NTP synchronization status and their ping response. Here’s how this data looks in a structured format:

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The goal is to transform this data into a well-structured CSV file that looks like this:

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Creating the CSV Report

Solution Overview

The generation of the CSV report can be accomplished using a couple of methods. Here, we will delve into two approaches using Ansible’s debug module and a Jinja2 template.

Method 1: Using the Debug Module with Jinja2

This approach directly utilizes the debug module to format the output into CSV using Jinja2 loops.

Setting Up Variables:
You need to create keys and values collections for the hosts, NTP statuses, and ping statuses.

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Output Confirmation:
This will generate output as shown below:

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Method 2: Using a Jinja2 Template File

For more complex reports or repeat usage, defining the CSV structure in a template file is advantageous.

Create a Jinja2 Template: Save the below content in a file named report.csv.j2.

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Generate the Report: Use the template module in your Ansible playbook to generate the CSV file from the template.

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Result Verification: When implemented, the report.csv file will contain:

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Conclusion

Creating a CSV report from multiple facts in Ansible is a straightforward task that can significantly improve how we present and analyze data from our network hosts. Whether you choose to use Ad-hoc Ansible commands or structured templates of Jinja2, you can efficiently generate clean and readable CSV files that summarize your important data.

By adopting these methods, you can enhance your automation scripts and ensure that crucial information is easily accessible and understandable. Happy automating!

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