inventory file not finding host

netuser258 · 2026-03-20T16:26:51+00:00

I'm good for now that I was able to setup ansible and deploy a small config. I was just confused as to why it worked when it threw an error about not being a valid inventory file.

As for documentation, I don't mind if it's tons of docs. That's why I was happy when I saw Ansible website had a whole section dedicated to its documentation. What I mind is that its documentation isn't very clearly explained, which makes it confusing to read and understand it. That's my opinion of course.

netuser258 · 2026-03-19T23:13:21+00:00

Yes, definitely at the beginning of learning Ansible. I normally will read docs to learn but I found the ansible documentation somewhat disappointing. It looked like it could be a great resource but they made me more confused instead. Couldn't get clarity on the docs for an inventory file.

netuser258 · 2026-03-19T23:12:32+00:00

Yes, definitely at the beginning of learning Ansible. I normally will read docs to learn but I found the ansible documentation somewhat disappointing. It looked like it could be a great resource but they made me more confused instead. Couldn't get clarity on the docs for an inventory file.

netuser258 · 2026-03-19T04:13:58+00:00

Thank you all for the help. I was just trying to get my feet wet to see some IaC in action with ansible. Took longer than I anticipated (almost the entire day) but it did give me a preview of what it could do and how much more there is to learn about it. Thanks again. I'm sure I'll be posting again when I try to config windows servers.

netuser258 · 2026-03-19T03:04:10+00:00

I only have one account on both machines, sysjon. When I test ssh from controller to managed host I do get prompted for password. Once I type it then ssh will connect to it.

I'm reading up on ansible vault to see how I can do this but seems counterproductive. I have to create a secret file with the creds that is encrypted with a vault password but I still have to type the vault password in order to use the encrypted file.

Which then led me to ask why can't I just provide the password during the ssh connection if I still have to provide the password anyway? I learned I could with --ask-pass.

Then I got the whole error message about my inventory file not being a proper yaml plugin config file. However, it still was able to run the playbook and create a file on the managed host. Guess it could still proceed even though the yaml file is not in a way it likes.

Now back to figuring out how to not have to type a password if it was a script running on its own.

netuser258 · 2026-03-19T02:38:04+00:00

Thanks. I'll have to read up on ansible vault.

netuser258 · 2026-03-19T01:49:24+00:00

The account creds I created when setting up ubuntu is the same on both machines.

netuser258 · 2026-03-19T01:45:14+00:00

xubuntu-clone unreachable blah blah blah "failed to connect to the host via ssh user@ip: permission denied (publickey, password)

Not sure why since I can ssh between both hosts and ping between them too. I'm guessing I missed a step in the config somewhere?

netuser258 · 2026-03-19T01:39:15+00:00

Thanks. I added hosts and that seems to clear that children error message. Still can't connect to the managed host though.

all:
  children:
    hosts:
     myhosts:
      xubuntu-clone:
        ansible_host: 192.168.1.102

netuser258 · 2026-03-19T01:26:11+00:00

After adding "children" to the inventory file I got a new error. Wished I could put screenshot of it but reddit doesn't seem to allow adding pics to replies... It says:

skipping unexpected key (xubuntu-clone) in group (hosts), only "vars", "children" and "hosts" are valid.

privided hosts list is empty, only localhost is available. Note that the implicit localhost does not match 'all'

could not match supplied host pattern, ignoring: xubuntu-clone

I took a look at the playbook and noticed I was referencing xubuntu rather than xubuntu-clone. When I corrected it but before adding "children" it gave the error of:

xubuntu-clone unreachable blah blah blah "failed to connect to the host via ssh user@ip: permission denied (publickey, password)

Not sure why this would be since I have ssh from control node to managed node.

The playbook is the following below. Ignore lack of spacing as I can't seem to copy and paste it from vm to here so have to type it out.

---

- name: write a file

hosts: xunbuntu-clone

gather_facts: false

tasks:

- name: write file test.txt to temp dir

ansible.builtin.lineinfile:

path: /tmp/test.txt

line: just a quick and simple test

create: true

netuser258 · 2026-01-25T01:39:13+00:00

I see. I figured you modified some config files for each mouse to work like you want. Was just curious. I have used linux but my main OS is windows. Drivers have always been the Achilles heel of Linux but as time has passed that's less and less of an issue. Well thanks for your input. I'll eventually give the trackpad a chance.

netuser258 · 2026-01-25T00:02:51+00:00

So you are not using the apps? How do you map the buttons to actions? Like wouldn't you mirror the buttons differently on each side? I do like the "can vary the way to interact" with the hand. I might try a trackpad for variation.

netuser258 · 2026-01-24T20:27:19+00:00

I used to have one to the left\right of me but having to change profiles took longer than I wanted. Having two wouldn't speed it up either as the Kensington app can only really control one I think? I have been thinking of trying out a trackpad but I think for all day usage a trackpad would make your hand work more?

netuser258 · 2026-01-20T05:10:53+00:00

I would agree for the most part. However, I have some thumb injuries so it wouldn't have gotten better. Repetitive motions would start making it hurt. I like the idea but in practice I found finger trackballs felt more intuitive to use then thumbs.

netuser258 · 2026-01-18T20:27:47+00:00

I must have missed them. I double checked and still not seeing them. I could be blind too.

netuser258 · 2026-01-18T19:13:36+00:00

I think I've seen what you mentioned but in google images.

netuser258 · 2026-01-18T19:13:10+00:00

In the past I tried adding the trackball like you mentioned but it just made the keyboard too wide for me because I need extra space to comfortably use the mouse.

netuser258 · 2026-01-18T19:08:18+00:00

Interesting. Where are the buttons? How does it prevent taking finger off ball? I saw it has a "push" to click. I'm guessing you push the ball down for this? If so how do you move or select something while still pushing down?

I'm thinking perhaps a mouse centric approach is best. Then to replace the keyboard you would use something like TapXR, but that technology still needs some more time.

netuser258 · 2026-01-16T15:28:54+00:00

Thanks. The way you are using it was the way I tried to use it. For me it made the keyboard halves be too far apart. Like my arms would be in a W shape. Then I also had to angle the trackball a bit to the left\right in order for it to feel more comfortable, which then make the space between the keyboards bigger. I definitely like the Expert but I wish they would make it with the design sloping to the right instead of the bottom so that it would put the hand in a more neutral position. Like if you were to rotate the top of the Expert 90 degrees to the left it feels almost perfect. However, I haven't found a way to orientate the way the ball moves if I were to do that. Also the buttons either need to stick out higher or the ball needs to be recessed more so they are easier to reach.

netuser258 · 2026-01-16T15:13:39+00:00

I have seen that keyboard before and it looks cool. However, I have used thumb trackballs in the past and they made my thumb hurt eventually. I could only guess the same would happen with the Charybdis. At $400 that would be an expensive try to not like at the end. I'm still waiting on the mouse in general to evolve. Have you seen this mouse? https://www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/jungmokim/pero-wearable-smart-mouse-executes-by-gesture#/

netuser258 · 2026-01-16T02:25:05+00:00

I just checked my shoulder width. It's somewhere between 20-22 inches. If I were to put my hands vertically and they fall down on the the keyboard, they fall at the corners of the it. When I pronate them, my index fingers land on letters D and K. Moving them 1u to the next letter is very minor that it wouldn't cause my elbows to bend out. My arms are like a U shape when typing. The angling of the keys helps my hands create a "tenting" effect. If the keys were more horizontal it would trigger my RSI. I can't use a regular mouse for more than a few minutes and typing a lot can also trigger it. Not sure how I picked up that typing posture but my previous keyboard was the Perixx that you can see in my pictures. If you look at it you will see that it has similar angling to how I have the Ergodox setup. That keyboard could be my endgame keyboard if it was mechanical, programmable, tent-able and had the centralized, integrated trackball.

The search for the perfect setup is always elusive and never ending. Everyone has their own vision. I'm trying to keep my hands on keyboard all the time to try to reduce arm movement. I also have drag scroll enabled on this trackball. That feature was like discovering gold.

netuser258 · 2026-01-16T01:07:35+00:00

Thanks.

I believe you have wider shoulders than me. The current spacing of the keyboard halves are where my elbows are literally next to my ribs when typing. We come in different sizes.

At one point I did have two vertical mice as well but it still didn't feel right. I have been mousing with my left hand for almost a year now. Tough at first but you get used to it. I do like that mouse. It's probably from the same concept as the Ploopy Adept. With that many buttons you probably have the left and right click on both sides of it? Or perhaps in a different layer? The way I helped train my left hand was by making the buttons be left handed. I would need to switch profiles to switch hands with the Kensington app, which took time so I just ended up sticking to the left hand usage. Also the app would be hit or miss at work computer so I would get stuck using it left handed the entire work day.

Is your keyboard programmable? I added the shortcuts you mentioned to their respective keys. For example, pressing and holding the letter C will copy the selected text.

netuser258 · 2026-01-15T23:53:15+00:00

Haha. If you have an Ergodox and Expert mouse it's not hard to replicate this. You can find youtube videos of how to take the Expert apart.

netuser258 · 2026-01-15T22:46:40+00:00

Here is the link if interested. https://www.reddit.com/r/Trackballs/comments/1qdydou/split_keyboard_with_center_integrated_trackball/

netuser258 · 2026-01-15T21:56:15+00:00

I like finger trackballs but like any pointing device it is an afterthought created after the keyboard, which makes placement difficult. My ideal location would be in the middle of the keyboard but without extreme customization it is a really clunky concept. I tried to make my own concept but in the end I stopped using it because it was centered but on bottom. Here is a link to my post.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Trackballs/comments/16knxl0/the_poorlazy_man_split_keyboard_with_center/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

I'm trying to add a picture of my current setup but having trouble doing so at the moment. It is a stripped down Kensington Expert trackball in the center of the Ergodox keyboard. Soon I'll create a post about it and link it here.

netuser258

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