Can Ansible Run PowerShell Scripts?

Learn how Ansible can run PowerShell scripts on Windows systems, including setup requirements, examples, and best practices.

Ansible is a versatile automation tool capable of managing Windows systems, including the execution of PowerShell scripts. This article explains how Ansible can run PowerShell scripts, its requirements, and best practices for integrating PowerShell into your automation workflows.

Can Ansible Run PowerShell Scripts?

Yes, Ansible can run PowerShell scripts on Windows systems. Using the win_shell and win_command modules, you can execute inline PowerShell commands or external PowerShell script files on target Windows hosts.

Prerequisites for Running PowerShell Scripts with Ansible

1. Enable Windows Remote Management (WinRM)

WinRM allows Ansible to communicate with Windows hosts. To enable it:

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator.

2. Run the following commands:

``powershell


   winrm quickconfig
   winrm set winrm/config/service/auth '@{Basic="true"}'
   winrm set winrm/config/service '@{AllowUnencrypted="true"}'
   Set-Item wsman:\localhost\Client\TrustedHosts -Value "<Ansible_Control_Node_IP>"



2. Install pywinrm
Install the pywinrm Python library on the Ansible control node:

`bash


pip install pywinrm



3. Configure Ansible Inventory
Define your Windows hosts in the inventory file:

`ini


[windows]
windows_host ansible_host=192.168.1.10 ansible_user=Administrator ansible_password=your_password ansible_connection=winrm



Using Ansible to Run PowerShell Scripts

1. Run Inline PowerShell Commands

Use the win_shell module to execute PowerShell commands directly:

`yaml


name: Run an inline PowerShell command
  hosts: windows
  tasks:
    - name: Get Windows services
      win_shell: Get-Service | Select-Object -First 5



2. Execute PowerShell Scripts from a File

To run an external PowerShell script, use the win_shell module:

`yaml


name: Run a PowerShell script
  hosts: windows
  tasks:
    - name: Execute a PowerShell script
      win_shell: |
        powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File C:\Scripts\example.ps1



3. Transfer and Execute PowerShell Scripts

If the script is not present on the Windows host, use the copy module to transfer it first:

`yaml


name: Transfer and run a PowerShell script
  hosts: windows
  tasks:
    - name: Copy the script to the host
      copy:
        src: ./example.ps1
        dest: C:\Temp\example.ps1

    - name: Execute the PowerShell script
      win_shell: |
        powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File C:\Temp\example.ps1



4. Capture Command Output
You can store the output of a PowerShell script execution for further use:

`yaml


name: Capture PowerShell script output
  hosts: windows
  tasks:
    - name: Run a script and save output
      win_shell: |
        powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command "Get-Process"
      register: process_output

    - name: Display output
      debug:
        var: process_output.stdout

Can Ansible Run PowerShell Scripts?