<p><code>with_fileglog</code> creates a loop with the <a href="https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/plugins/lookup/fileglob.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><code>fileglob</code> lookup</a>. As all other <a href="https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/user_guide/playbooks_lookups.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">lookups</a> it runs on the controller machine, not on the remote server.</p>

<p>Since I guess you don't already have those backup files on the controller in the path you referenced, your loop is empty.</p>

<p>As you have guessed, this approach will not work for your scenario. I suggest you have a look at the <a href="https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/modules/find_module.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><code>find</code> module</a> to create the list of files to fetch from your primary server.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-08T19:02:03.190Z
2019-08-08T19:02:03.190Z
Zeitounator
<p>any <code>with_*</code> is actully a local lookup.</p>

<p>So as Zeitounator mentioned, you're going to need to use something like the <code>find</code> module to fetch the files you want.</p>

<p>so I imagine that something like this would work:</p>

<pre><code>- hosts: primary
  remote_user: root
  tasks:
    - name: gather list of files to fetch
      find:
        paths: "/data1/"
        recurse: no
        patterns: "{{ dbname }}.0.db2inst1.*"
        use_regex: no
      regisrer: db_backup_src
    - name: fetch backups to local disk
       fetch:
         src: "{{ item['path'] }}"
         dest: /data1/backup/
         flat: yes
      loop: "{{ db_backuo_src['files'] }}"

- hosts: standby
  remote_user: root
  tasks:
    - name: copy backup to standby
      copy:
        src: "{{ item }}"
        dest: /data1
        mode: 0755
        owner: db2inst1
      with_fileglob:
        - "/data1/backup/{{dbname}}.0.db2inst1.*"
</code></pre>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-02T20:12:23.063Z
2019-09-02T20:12:23.063Z
hvindin
<p>I need to copy a database backup file from a primary server to a standby server. Since I can't use <code>synchronize</code>, I was following this method:</p>
<ol>
<li>copy a file from primary to the local ansible server,</li>
<li>copy the file from local ansible server to standby.</li>
</ol>
<p>The name of backup files are different on every machine. For example:</p>
<pre><code>TEST1.0.db2inst1.DBPART000.20190729162630.001
TEST3.0.db2inst1.DBPART000.20180729172631.002  
</code></pre>
<p>The playbook I was using looked like this:</p>
<pre><code> - hosts: primary
   remote_user: root
   tasks:
   - name: copy backup to local file
     fetch: src={{item}} dest=/data1/backup 
     with_fileglob: /data1/{{dbname}}.0.db2inst1.*
  tags: transfer

 - hosts: standby
   remote_user: root
   tasks:
   - name: copy backup to standby
     copy: src={{item}} dest=/data1 mode=0755 owner=db2inst1
     with_fileglob: /data1/backup/{{dbname}}.0.db2inst1.*
   tags: transfer  
</code></pre>
<p>(The playbook is run with the command: <code>ansible-playbook -i hostfile transfer.yml --extra-vars &quot;dbname=TEST1&quot;</code>)</p>
<p>However, this doesn't work; I get this output:</p>
<pre><code>primary  : ok=1    changed=0    unreachable=0    failed=0    skipped=1    rescued=0    
standby  : ok=1    changed=0    unreachable=0    failed=0    skipped=1    rescued=0    
</code></pre>
<p>I think the name of files are problem. What should I do?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-30T07:27:43.583Z
The fact that the tasks are skipped means that your loop (ie, with_fileglob) is passing an empty list. Perhaps that hint may help?
Bruce Becker
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-31T12:06:38.707Z
Can you show more of the Ansible output so we can see what the tasks are doing?
Bruce Becker
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-31T14:07:41.600Z
@BruceBecker i will update my question as soon as i get access to my pc. thank you for reply.
BlackCrystal
<ansible><linux><centos>
using copy module with wildcards
BlackCrystal
# using copy module with wildcards

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-07-30)

I need to copy a database backup file from a primary server to a standby server. Since I can't use synchronize, I was following this method:

copy a file from primary to the local ansible server,
copy the file from local ansible server to standby.

The name of backup files are different on every machine. For example:
TEST1.0.db2inst1.DBPART000.20190729162630.001
TEST3.0.db2inst1.DBPART000.20180729172631.002  

The playbook I was using looked like this:
 - hosts: primary
   remote_user: root
   tasks:
   - name: copy backup to local file
     fetch: src={{item}} dest=/data1/backup 
     with_fileglob: /data1/{{dbname}}.0.db2inst1.*
  tags: transfer

 - hosts: standby
   remote_user: root
   tasks:
   - name: copy backup to standby
     copy: src={{item}} dest=/data1 mode=0755 owner=db2inst1
     with_fileglob: /data1/backup/{{dbname}}.0.db2inst1.*
   tags: transfer  

(The playbook is run with the command: ansible-playbook -i hostfile transfer.yml --extra-vars "dbname=TEST1")
However, this doesn't work; I get this output:
primary  : ok=1    changed=0    unreachable=0    failed=0    skipped=1    rescued=0    
standby  : ok=1    changed=0    unreachable=0    failed=0    skipped=1    rescued=0    

I think the name of files are problem. What should I do?

**Tags:** ansible, linux, centos

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The fact that the tasks are skipped means that your loop (ie, with_fileglob) is passing an empty list. Perhaps that hint may help?  
> **username_1**: Can you show more of the Ansible output so we can see what the tasks are doing?  
> **username_0**: @BruceBecker i will update my question as soon as i get access to my pc. thank you for reply.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-08-08. Score: 3

`with_fileglog` creates a loop with the [`fileglob` lookup](https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/plugins/lookup/fileglob.html). As all other [lookups](https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/user_guide/playbooks_lookups.html) it runs on the controller machine, not on the remote server.

Since I guess you don't already have those backup files on the controller in the path you referenced, your loop is empty.

As you have guessed, this approach will not work for your scenario. I suggest you have a look at the [`find` module](https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/modules/find_module.html) to create the list of files to fetch from your primary server.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2019-09-02. Score: 2

any with_* is actully a local lookup.
So as username_2 mentioned, you're going to need to use something like the find module to fetch the files you want.
so I imagine that something like this would work:
- hosts: primary
  remote_user: root
  tasks:
    - name: gather list of files to fetch
      find:
        paths: "/data1/"
        recurse: no
        patterns: "{{ dbname }}.0.db2inst1.*"
        use_regex: no
      regisrer: db_backup_src
    - name: fetch backups to local disk
       fetch:
         src: "{{ item['path'] }}"
         dest: /data1/backup/
         flat: yes
      loop: "{{ db_backuo_src['files'] }}"

- hosts: standby
  remote_user: root
  tasks:
    - name: copy backup to standby
      copy:
        src: "{{ item }}"
        dest: /data1
        mode: 0755
        owner: db2inst1
      with_fileglob:
        - "/data1/backup/{{dbname}}.0.db2inst1.*"


---

