---
title: Ansible
metaTitle: Ansible Logs Integration Guide
description: Forward Ansible execution logs to OpenObserve using Fluent Bit for real-time search and observability.
---

# Integration with Ansible

This guide walks you through forwarding **Ansible logs** from an Ubuntu machine to OpenObserve using Fluent Bit. 

## Overview

Ansible doesn’t send logs to external systems by default. This integration configures a local playbook to write logs to a file, and uses Fluent Bit to tail that file and send logs to OpenObserve over HTTP.

## Steps to Integrate

:::accordion[Prerequisites]

- Ubuntu machine (local, virtual machine, or cloud VM)
- User with `sudo` privileges
- Basic familiarity with Ansible and Fluent Bit
- OpenObserve account ([Cloud](https://cloud.openobserve.ai/web/) or [Self-Hosted](../../getting-started.md#self-hosted-installation))
- Ansible Installed
:::

:::accordion[Step 1: Configure Ansible log File]

1. **Configure log output path in `ansible.cfg`**:
```ini
[defaults]
log_path = /tmp/ansible_log_demo.txt
```
:::

:::accordion[Step 2: Create a Local Ansible Task (Optional)]

1. **Create a sample playbook**:
```bash
vi local_task.yml
```
2. Add the following contents:
```yaml
---
- name: Ansible Local Task Demo
  hosts: localhost
  connection: local
  tasks:
    - name: Create a sample file
      ansible.builtin.file:
        path: /tmp/ansible_log_demo.txt
        state: touch

    - name: Write a message to the sample file
      ansible.builtin.copy:
        content: "This is a demo log entry from Ansible."
        dest: /tmp/ansible_log_demo.txt
```

3. **Run the playbook**:
```bash
ansible-playbook local_task.yml
```

After running, check `/tmp/ansible_log_demo.txt` to confirm logs are generated.
:::

:::accordion[Step 3: Install Fluent Bit on Ubuntu]

1. **Install Fluent Bit using the official script**:
```bash
curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/fluent/fluent-bit/master/install.sh | sh
```
> For manual install or using package managers, refer to [Fluent Bit Docs](https://docs.fluentbit.io/manual/installation/getting-started-with-fluent-bit)

2. **Verify installation**:
```bash
fluent-bit --version
```
:::

:::accordion[Step 4: Configure Fluent Bit for Ansible Logs]

1. **Edit Fluent Bit config file**:
```bash
sudo vi /etc/fluent-bit/fluent-bit.conf
```

2. **Add the following configuration**:
```ini
[SERVICE]
    Flush         5
    Daemon        Off
    Log_Level     info

[INPUT]
    Name          tail
    Path          /tmp/ansible_log_demo.txt
    Tag           ansible.demo
    Refresh_Interval 5

[OUTPUT]
    Name http
    Match *
    URI /api/<O2_ORG_NAME>/<O2_STREAM_NAME>/_json
    Host <O2_HOST>
    Port 443
    tls On
    Format json
    Json_date_key    _timestamp
    Json_date_format iso8601
    HTTP_User <O2_USER>
    HTTP_Passwd <O2_PASSWORD>
    compress gzip
```

> Note
    - Replace `<O2_ORG_NAME>`, `<O2_STREAM_NAME>`, `<O2_HOST>`, `<O2_USER>`, and `<O2_PASSWORD>` with your OpenObserve values.
    - Example URI: `/api/default/ansible/_json` for the `default` org and `ansible` stream.
:::

:::accordion[Step 5: Start Fluent Bit]

1. **Start the Fluent Bit service**:
```bash
sudo systemctl start fluent-bit
sudo systemctl enable fluent-bit
```
2. **Check service status**:
```bash
sudo systemctl status fluent-bit
```
> Ensure there are no startup errors. Logs will now be tailed and sent to OpenObserve.
:::

:::accordion[Step 6: Verify Logs in OpenObserve]

1. In your Openobserve instance, Go to **Logs** → select your log stream → Set time range → Click **Run Query**

    ![Verify Ansible Logs in OpenObserve](https://openobserve.ai/assets%2Fansible_logs_o2_2fa50f03c6.gif)
:::
## Troubleshooting

:::accordion[No logs in OpenObserve?]

- Ensure Fluent Bit is running: `sudo systemctl status fluent-bit`
- Double-check the HTTP config and authentication
- Use Fluent Bit in debug mode:  
```bash
sudo fluent-bit -c /etc/fluent-bit/fluent-bit.conf -vv
```
:::

:::accordion[Ansible log file not updating?]

- Confirm `log_path` is correctly set in `ansible.cfg`
- Use verbose flags (`-v`, `-vv`, `-vvv`) to produce more logs
- Confirm Ansible has permission to write to `/tmp`
:::

:::accordion[Fluent Bit not picking up logs?]

- Make sure the path `/tmp/ansible_log_demo.txt` exists
- Tail the file manually to confirm updates:
```bash
tail -f /tmp/ansible_log_demo.txt
```

- Adjust `Refresh_Interval` or restart Fluent Bit if needed
:::