---
layout: docs
page_title: Common Ansible Options - Provisioning
description: This page details the common options to the Vagrant Ansible provisioners.
---

# Shared Ansible Options

The following options are available to both Vagrant Ansible provisioners:

- [`ansible`](/docs/provisioning/ansible)
- [`ansible_local`](/docs/provisioning/ansible_local)

These options get passed to the `ansible-playbook` command that ships with Ansible, either via command line arguments or environment variables, depending on Ansible own capabilities.

Some of these options are for advanced usage only and should not be used unless you understand their purpose.

- `become` (boolean) - Perform all the Ansible playbook tasks [as another user](http://docs.ansible.com/ansible/become.html), different from the user used to log into the guest system.

  The default value is `false`.

- `become_user` (string) - Set the default username to be used by the Ansible `become` [privilege escalation](http://docs.ansible.com/ansible/become.html) mechanism.

  By default this option is not set, and the Ansible default value (`root`) will be used.

- `compatibility_mode` (string) - Set the **minimal** version of Ansible to be supported. Vagrant will only use parameters that are compatible with the given version.

  Possible values:

  - `"auto"` _(Vagrant will automatically select the optimal compatibility mode by checking the Ansible version currently available)_
  - `"1.8"` _(Ansible versions prior to 1.8 should mostly work well, but some options might not be supported)_
  - `"2.0"` _(The generated Ansible inventory will be incompatible with Ansible 1.x)_

  By default this option is set to `"auto"`. If Vagrant is not able to detect any supported Ansible version, it will fall back on the compatibility mode `"1.8"` with a warning.

  Vagrant will error if the specified compatibility mode is incompatible with the current Ansible version.

  ~> **Attention:** Vagrant doesn't perform any validation between the `compatibility_mode` value and the value of the [`version`](#version) option.

  -> **Compatibility Note:** This option was introduced in Vagrant 2.0. The behavior of previous Vagrant versions can be simulated by setting the `compatibility_mode` to `"1.8"`.

- `config_file` (string) - The path to an [Ansible Configuration file](https://docs.ansible.com/intro_configuration.html).

  By default, this option is not set, and Ansible will [search for a possible configuration file in some default locations](/docs/provisioning/ansible_intro#the-ansible-configuration-file).

- `extra_vars` (string or hash) - Pass additional variables (with highest priority) to the playbook.

  This parameter can be a path to a JSON or YAML file, or a hash.

  Example:

  ```ruby
  ansible.extra_vars = {
    ntp_server: "pool.ntp.org",
    nginx: {
      port: 8008,
      workers: 4
    }
  }
  ```

  These variables take the highest precedence over any other variables.

- `galaxy_command` (template string) - The command pattern used to install Galaxy roles when `galaxy_role_file` is set.

  The following (optional) placeholders can be used in this command pattern:

  - `%{role_file}` is replaced by the absolute path to the `galaxy_role_file` option
  - `%{roles_path}` is
    - replaced by the absolute path to the `galaxy_roles_path` option when such option is defined, or
    - replaced by the absolute path to a `roles` subdirectory sitting in the `playbook` parent directory.

  By default, this option is set to

  `ansible-galaxy install --role-file=%{role_file} --roles-path=%{roles_path} --force`

- `galaxy_role_file` (string) - The path to the Ansible Galaxy role file.

  By default, this option is set to `nil` and Galaxy support is then disabled.

  Note: if an absolute path is given, the `ansible_local` provisioner will assume that it corresponds to the exact location on the guest system.

  ```ruby
  ansible.galaxy_role_file = "requirements.yml"
  ```

- `galaxy_roles_path` (string) - The path to the directory where Ansible Galaxy roles must be installed

  By default, this option is set to `nil`, which means that the Galaxy roles will be installed in a `roles` subdirectory located in the parent directory of the `playbook` file.

- `groups` (hash) - Set of inventory groups to be included in the [auto-generated inventory file](/docs/provisioning/ansible_intro).

  Example:

  ```ruby
  ansible.groups = {
    "web" => ["vm1", "vm2"],
    "db"  => ["vm3"]
  }
  ```

  Example with [group variables](https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/intro_inventory.html#group-variables):

  ```ruby
  ansible.groups = {
    "atlanta" => ["host1", "host2"],
    "atlanta:vars" => {"ntp_server" => "ntp.atlanta.example.com",
                       "proxy" => "proxy.atlanta.example.com"}
  }
  ```

  Notes:

  - Alphanumeric patterns are not supported (e.g. `db-[a:f]`, `vm[01:10]`).
  - This option has no effect when the `inventory_path` option is defined.

- `host_vars` (hash) - Set of inventory host variables to be included in the [auto-generated inventory file](https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/intro_inventory.html#host-variables).

  Example:

  ```ruby
  ansible.host_vars = {
    "host1" => {"http_port" => 80,
                "maxRequestsPerChild" => 808,
                "comments" => "text with spaces"},
    "host2" => {"http_port" => 303,
                "maxRequestsPerChild" => 909}
  }
  ```

  Note: This option has no effect when the `inventory_path` option is defined.

- `inventory_path` (string) - The path to an Ansible inventory resource (e.g. a [static inventory file](https://docs.ansible.com/intro_inventory.html), a [dynamic inventory script](https://docs.ansible.com/intro_dynamic_inventory.html) or even [multiple inventories stored in the same directory](https://docs.ansible.com/intro_dynamic_inventory.html#using-multiple-inventory-sources)).

  By default, this option is disabled and Vagrant generates an inventory based on the `Vagrantfile` information.

- `limit` (string or array of strings) - Set of machines or groups from the inventory file to further control which hosts [are affected](https://docs.ansible.com/glossary.html#limit-groups).

  The default value is set to the machine name (taken from `Vagrantfile`) to ensure that `vagrant provision` command only affect the expected machine.

  Setting `limit = "all"` can be used to make Ansible connect to all machines from the inventory file.

- `playbook_command` (string) - The command used to run playbooks.

  The default value is `ansible-playbook`

- `raw_arguments` (array of strings) - a list of additional `ansible-playbook` arguments.

  It is an _unsafe wildcard_ that can be used to apply Ansible options that are not (yet) supported by this Vagrant provisioner. As of Vagrant 1.7, `raw_arguments` has the highest priority and its values can potentially override or break other Vagrant settings.

  Examples:

  - `['--check', '-M', '/my/modules']`
  - `["--connection=paramiko", "--forks=10"]`

    ~> **Attention:** The `ansible` provisioner does not support whitespace characters in `raw_arguments`
    elements. Therefore **don't write** something like `["-c paramiko"]`, which
    will result with an invalid `" paramiko"` parameter value.

- `skip_tags` (string or array of strings) - Only plays, roles and tasks that [_do not match_ these values will be executed](https://docs.ansible.com/playbooks_tags.html).

- `start_at_task` (string) - The task name where the [playbook execution will start](https://docs.ansible.com/playbooks_startnstep.html#start-at-task).

- `sudo` (boolean) - Backwards compatible alias for the [`become`](#become) option.

  ~> **Deprecation:**
  The `sudo` option is deprecated and will be removed in a future release. Please use the [**`become`**](#become) option instead.

* `sudo_user` (string) - Backwards compatible alias for the [`become_user`](#become_user) option.

  ~> **Deprecation:**
  The `sudo_user` option is deprecated and will be removed in a future release. Please use the [**`become_user`**](#become_user) option instead.

- `tags` (string or array of strings) - Only plays, roles and tasks [tagged with these values will be executed](https://docs.ansible.com/playbooks_tags.html) .

- `vault_password_file` (string) - The path of a file containing the password used by [Ansible Vault](https://docs.ansible.com/playbooks_vault.html#vault).

- `verbose` (boolean or string) - Set Ansible's verbosity to obtain detailed logging

  Default value is `false` (minimal verbosity).

  Examples: `true` (equivalent to `v`), `-vvv` (equivalent to `vvv`), `vvvv`.

  Note that when the `verbose` option is enabled, the `ansible-playbook` command used by Vagrant will be displayed.

- `version` (string) - The expected Ansible version.

  This option is disabled by default.

  When an Ansible version is defined (e.g. `"2.1.6.0"`), the Ansible provisioner will be executed only if Ansible is installed at the requested version.

  When this option is set to `"latest"`, no version check is applied.

  -> **Tip:** With the `ansible_local` provisioner, it is currently possible to use this option
  to specify which version of Ansible must be automatically installed, but **only** in combination with the [**`install_mode`**](/docs/provisioning/ansible_local#install_mode) set to **`:pip`**.
