The check_memory variable in the playbook serves as a conditional flag to control whether the first task that checks the system's memory should execute. Here's how it works:
-
Definition: It is defined at the playbook level with
check_memory: true. -
Usage: In the first task, it is used in conjunction with other conditions:
when: - ansible_os_family == "Debian" - ansible_memtotal_mb > 1024 - check_memory | boolThis means that the task will only run if:
- The OS family is Debian.
- The total memory is greater than 1024 MB (1 GB).
- The
check_memoryvariable is true.
Purpose
The purpose of check_memory is to provide flexibility. You can easily change its value to false (e.g., by passing it as an extra variable) to skip the memory check without modifying the playbook's logic. This allows for dynamic control over task execution based on user-defined conditions.
