Urlopen error [Errno -2] Name or service not known in Ansible

Learn how to fix the urlopen error [Errno -2] “Name or service not known” in Ansible. Our DevOps Support team is here to help you with your questions and concerns.

Urlopen error [Errno -2] Name or service not known in Ansible

Urlopen error [Errno -2] Name or service not known in Ansible Having trouble with the following error?

urlopen error [Errno -2] Name or service not known

Worry not! According to our Experts, this is a common networking issue in Ansible that occurs when a hostname cannot be resolved or a specified URL is inaccessible.

This error can disrupt automation workflows, increase downtime, and introduce security risks if not properly addressed.

The error typically appears as follows:

fatal: [host]: FAILED! => { "msg": "Request failed: " }

This indicates that Ansible cannot resolve the hostname or reach the specified service.

Impacts of the Error

Prevents Ansible playbooks from executing successfully.
Critical tasks fail, affecting service availability.
Systems may remain partially configured.
Troubleshooting takes significant time and effort.
Failures may cascade to other dependent tasks.
Misconfigurations may expose services to vulnerabilities.
Failed attempts lead to inefficient resource usage.

Causes and Fixes

1. Incorrect URL Spelling

Typographical errors in the URL.

Click here for the Solution.

Double-check the URL for correctness.

Manually test the URL in a browser.
Use online URL validation tools.
Run DNS lookup tools like `nslookup`.

Ansible Playbook Correction Example:

# Before (Incorrect) - hosts: webservers vars: server_url: "https://reqres.it" # Incorrect domain # After (Correct) - hosts: webservers vars: server_url: "https://reqres.in" # Correct domain

2. DNS Resolution Issues

Incorrect or missing DNS configurations.

Click here for the Solution.

Inspect `/etc/resolv.conf` for DNS settings.
Validate DNS entries with:

nslookup example.com dig example.com
Ansible DNS Debugging Task:

- name: Verify DNS Resolution ansible.builtin.command: host example.com register: dns_test failed_when: dns_test.rc != 0

3. Network Connectivity Problems

Blocked firewall rules or network isolation.

Click here for the Solution.

Verify network routes using:

ip route traceroute example.com
Check firewall rules:

sudo iptables -L sudo ufw status
Test connectivity:

ping example.com telnet example.com 80 curl example.com

Ansible Network Validation Task:

- name: Network Connectivity Check ansible.builtin.shell: ping -c 4 example.com register: network_test failed_when: network_test.rc != 0

4. Proxy Configuration Errors

Incorrect proxy settings.

Click here for the Solution.

Validate proxy server credentials.
Test proxy connectivity.
Handle authentication if required.

Configuring Proxy in Ansible:

- name: Configure Proxy for API Call hosts: webservers vars: proxy_server: "http://proxy.company.com:8080" tasks: - name: API Request with Proxy ansible.builtin.uri: url: "https://example.com" proxy_url: "{{ proxy_server }}" validate_certs: no

5. SSL/TLS Certificate Issues

Invalid or self-signed certificates.

Click here for the Solution.

Use `validate_certs: yes` for secure connections.
Provide correct certificate paths.

Secure API Connection in Ansible:

- name: Secure API Connection hosts: webservers tasks: - name: Flexible Certificate Verification ansible.builtin.uri: url: "https://example.com" validate_certs: yes # Recommended client_cert: "/path/to/client.crt" client_key: "/path/to/client.key"

6. Python Environment Problems

Outdated or missing Python libraries.

Click here for the Solution.

Update necessary libraries:

pip install --upgrade urllib3 pip install --upgrade requests
Use virtual environments for version consistency.
Ensure correct Python interpreter is used in Ansible.

7. Ansible Configuration Errors

Misconfigured Ansible settings.

Click here for the Solution.

Check `ansible.cfg` and inventory files.
Run playbooks in verbose mode for debugging:

ansible-playbook -vvv playbook.yml

8. Temporary Service Unavailability

Intermittent service outages.

Click here for the Solution.

Implement retry mechanisms in Ansible:

- name: Retry API Call ansible.builtin.uri: url: "https://example.com" retries: 3 delay: 5 timeout: 30

Prevention Strategies

Always verify URL accuracy before deployment.
Implement thorough network connectivity checks.
Use `ignore_errors` and retry mechanisms.
Enable detailed logging for troubleshooting.
Properly manage SSL certificates.
Keep Python and Ansible libraries updated.

Tips from Our Experts

Use `ansible.builtin.uri` module with proper error handling.
Implement comprehensive error checking.
Use verbose mode for debugging.
Maintain updated network configurations.
Test playbooks in controlled environments before deployment.

[Need assistance with a different issue? Our team is available 24/7.]

Conclusion

With these troubleshooting steps and best practices, we can resolve the `urlopen error [Errno -2] Name or service not known` in Ansible.

In brief, our Support Experts demonstrated how to fix Urlopen error [Errno -2] “Name or service not known” in Ansible.

Urlopen error [Errno -2] Name or service not known in Ansible