Resolving the start Command Error in Ansible for Windows Executable Installations

Learn how to effectively use the `win_shell` module in Ansible to resolve the `start` command error when installing applications on Windows servers without internet access.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/72833067/ asked by the user 'Ashish Kumar' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/9866760/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/72911479/ provided by the user 'Thomas Naskali' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/4074057/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Troubleshooting start Command Error in Ansible for Windows Executable Installations

Ansible is a powerful automation tool widely used for managing configurations and deployments across various environments, including Windows. However, you may encounter issues when executing commands, especially when those commands rely on the Windows command line (cmd). A common problem arises when using the start command while trying to install executable files on remote Windows servers that do not have internet access. In this post, we will explore the error you might face and how to resolve it efficiently.

The Problem: Could not find the file start.exe

When attempting to install a software package like Anaconda on a remote Windows server using Ansible, you might run into an error stating that it "could not find the file start.exe". This can occur when you try to use the conventional start command in the win_command module of Ansible. Below is the kind of command line you may be using in your Ansible playbook:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This results in an error because the command execution context does not interpret the start command as intended in the context of Ansible.

The Solution: Using win_shell Instead of win_command

To resolve this error, the key is to switch from using the win_command module to the win_shell module. The win_shell module provides the necessary flexibility to execute shell commands just as you would in a normal command prompt. Here’s how you can write your Ansible task to successfully execute the installation of Anaconda:

Step-by-Step Implementation

Modify Your Task: Change the Ansible task from win_command to win_shell.

Set the Executable: Specify cmd as the executable in the task, ensuring the commands are executed in the Windows command context.

Here is the revised YAML code for your playbook that installs Anaconda while addressing the start command issue:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Breakdown of the Code

win_shell: This is the module used to run the command in a shell context, making it suitable for commands like start that are shell-specific.

Command syntax: Ensure that your command is properly formatted, similar to how you'd run it directly in the command prompt.

chdir: This argument sets the working directory for the command to ensure that all referenced files (like the executable) are accessible.

executable: cmd: This tells Ansible to execute the command using the command prompt, which enables the appropriate processing of the 'start' command.

Conclusion

By adjusting your Ansible playbook to use the win_shell module instead of win_command, you can effectively use the start command for installing executable files on remote Windows servers. This ensures a smoother and more reliable installation process, especially in environments where internet connectivity is limited or absent.

In summary, when facing similar command execution issues in Ansible, remember to consider the environment and execution context, which can impact the outcome of your automation tasks. Happy automating!

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