Increase the number of connection attempts when using ansible utility.
How it works
By default, only one connection attempt is made.
$ ansible-playbook -i hosts playbook.yml -vv
ansible-playbook 2.9.6
config file = /home/milosz/Projekty/ansible/ansible.cfg
configured module search path = ['/home/milosz/Projekty/ansible/library']
ansible python module location = /usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/ansible
executable location = /usr/bin/ansible-playbook
python version = 3.8.2 (default, Apr 27 2020, 15:53:34) [GCC 9.3.0]
Using /home/milosz/Projekty/ansible/ansible.cfg as config file
PLAYBOOK: playbook.yml ******************************************************************************************************************
1 plays in playbook.yml
PLAY [all] ******************************************************************************************************************************
TASK [Gathering Facts] ******************************************************************************************************************
task path: /home/milosz/Projekty/ansible/playbook.yml:2
remaining tries: 1
attempt: 1
cmd: [b'ssh', b'-o', b'ControlMaster=auto', b'-o', b'ControlPersist=30m', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ConnectionAttempts=10', b'-o', b'UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null', b'-o', b'StrictHostKeyChecking=no', b'-o', b'KbdInteractiveAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'PreferredAuthentications=gssapi-with-mic,gssapi-keyex,hostbased,publickey', b'-o', b'PasswordAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'User="ansible"', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ControlPath=/home/milosz/.ansible/cp/58926ec2f8', b'127.0.0.1', b'/bin/sh -c \'echo PLATFORM; uname; echo FOUND; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/bin/python\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.7\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.6\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.5\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python2.7\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python2.6\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/libexec/platform-python\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/bin/python3\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python\'"\'"\'; echo ENDFOUND && sleep 0\'']
[WARNING]: Unhandled error in Python interpreter discovery for host 127.0.0.1: Failed to connect to the host via ssh: ssh: connect to host 127.0.0.1 port 22: Connection refused
remaining tries: 1
attempt: 1
cmd: [b'ssh', b'-o', b'ControlMaster=auto', b'-o', b'ControlPersist=30m', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ConnectionAttempts=10', b'-o', b'UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null', b'-o', b'StrictHostKeyChecking=no', b'-o', b'KbdInteractiveAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'PreferredAuthentications=gssapi-with-mic,gssapi-keyex,hostbased,publickey', b'-o', b'PasswordAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'User="ansible"', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ControlPath=/home/milosz/.ansible/cp/58926ec2f8', b'127.0.0.1', b"/bin/sh -c '/usr/bin/python && sleep 0'"]
fatal: [127.0.0.1]: UNREACHABLE! => {"changed": false, "msg": "Data could not be sent to remote host \"127.0.0.1\". Make sure this host can be reached over ssh: ssh: connect to host 127.0.0.1 port 22: Connection refused\r\n", "unreachable": true}
PLAY RECAP ******************************************************************************************************************************
127.0.0.1 : ok=0 changed=0 unreachable=1 failed=0 skipped=0 rescued=0 ignored=0
Use ANSIBLE_SSH_RETRIES environment variable to perform an additional connection attempt.
$ ANSIBLE_SSH_RETRIES=1 ansible-playbook -i hosts playbook.yml -vv
ansible-playbook 2.9.6
config file = /home/milosz/Projekty/ansible/ansible.cfg
configured module search path = ['/home/milosz/Projekty/ansible/library']
ansible python module location = /usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/ansible
executable location = /usr/bin/ansible-playbook
python version = 3.8.2 (default, Apr 27 2020, 15:53:34) [GCC 9.3.0]
Using /home/milosz/Projekty/ansible/ansible.cfg as config file
PLAYBOOK: playbook.yml ******************************************************************************************************************
1 plays in playbook.yml
PLAY [all] ******************************************************************************************************************************
TASK [Gathering Facts] ******************************************************************************************************************
task path: /home/milosz/Projekty/ansible/playbook.yml:2
remaining tries: 2
attempt: 1, pause: 0
<127.0.0.1> ssh_retry: attempt: 1, ssh return code is 255. cmd ([b'ssh', b'-o', b'ControlMaster=auto', b'-o', b'ControlPersist=30m', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ConnectionAttempts=10', b'-o', b'UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null', b'-o', b'StrictHostKeyChecking=no', b'-o', b'KbdInteractiveAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'PreferredAuthentications=gssapi-with-mic,gssapi-keyex,hostbased,publickey', b'-o', b'PasswordAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'User="ansible"', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ControlPath=/home/milosz/.ansible/cp/58926ec2f8', b'127.0.0.1', b'/bin/sh -c \'echo PLATFORM; uname; echo FOUND; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/bin/python\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.7\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.6\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.5\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python2.7\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python2.6\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/libexec/platform-python\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/bin/python3\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python\'"\'"\'; echo ENDFOUND && sleep 0\'']...), pausing for 0 seconds
attempt: 2
[WARNING]: Unhandled error in Python interpreter discovery for host 127.0.0.1: Failed to connect to the host via ssh: ssh: connect to host 127.0.0.1 port 22: Connection refused
remaining tries: 2
attempt: 1, pause: 0
<127.0.0.1> ssh_retry: attempt: 1, ssh return code is 255. cmd ([b'ssh', b'-o', b'ControlMaster=auto', b'-o', b'ControlPersist=30m', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ConnectionAttempts=10', b'-o', b'UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null', b'-o', b'StrictHostKeyChecking=no', b'-o', b'KbdInteractiveAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'PreferredAuthentications=gssapi-with-mic,gssapi-keyex,hostbased,publickey', b'-o', b'PasswordAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'User="ansible"', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ControlPath=/home/milosz/.ansible/cp/58926ec2f8', b'127.0.0.1', b"/bin/sh -c '/usr/bin/python && sleep 0'"]...), pausing for 0 seconds
attempt: 2
fatal: [127.0.0.1]: UNREACHABLE! => {"changed": false, "msg": "Data could not be sent to remote host \"127.0.0.1\". Make sure this host can be reached over ssh: ssh: connect to host 127.0.0.1 port 22: Connection refused\r\n", "unreachable": true}
PLAY RECAP ******************************************************************************************************************************
127.0.0.1 : ok=0 changed=0 unreachable=1 failed=0 skipped=0 rescued=0 ignored=0
Increasing ANSIBLE_SSH_RETRIES environment variable further will introduce an additional pause between each connection attempt. The algorithm that determines pause time is quite simple.
pause = 2 ** attempt - 1
if pause > 30:
pause = 30
This table illustrates it further.
| Connection attempt |
| ANSIBLE_SSH_RETRIES |
| Pause after the connection attempt |
Execution example.
$ ANSIBLE_SSH_RETRIES=7 ansible-playbook -i hosts playbook.yml -vv
ansible-playbook 2.9.6
config file = /home/milosz/Projekty/ansible/ansible.cfg
configured module search path = ['/home/milosz/Projekty/ansible/library']
ansible python module location = /usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/ansible
executable location = /usr/bin/ansible-playbook
python version = 3.8.2 (default, Apr 27 2020, 15:53:34) [GCC 9.3.0]
Using /home/milosz/Projekty/ansible/ansible.cfg as config file
PLAYBOOK: playbook.yml ******************************************************************************************************************
1 plays in playbook.yml
PLAY [all] ******************************************************************************************************************************
TASK [Gathering Facts] ******************************************************************************************************************
task path: /home/milosz/Projekty/ansible/playbook.yml:2
remaining tries: 8
attempt: 1, pause: 0
<127.0.0.1> ssh_retry: attempt: 1, ssh return code is 255. cmd ([b'ssh', b'-o', b'ControlMaster=auto', b'-o', b'ControlPersist=30m', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ConnectionAttempts=10', b'-o', b'UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null', b'-o', b'StrictHostKeyChecking=no', b'-o', b'KbdInteractiveAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'PreferredAuthentications=gssapi-with-mic,gssapi-keyex,hostbased,publickey', b'-o', b'PasswordAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'User="ansible"', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ControlPath=/home/milosz/.ansible/cp/58926ec2f8', b'127.0.0.1', b'/bin/sh -c \'echo PLATFORM; uname; echo FOUND; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/bin/python\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.7\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.6\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.5\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python2.7\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python2.6\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/libexec/platform-python\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/bin/python3\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python\'"\'"\'; echo ENDFOUND && sleep 0\'']...), pausing for 0 seconds
attempt: 2, pause: 1
<127.0.0.1> ssh_retry: attempt: 2, ssh return code is 255. cmd ([b'ssh', b'-o', b'ControlMaster=auto', b'-o', b'ControlPersist=30m', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ConnectionAttempts=10', b'-o', b'UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null', b'-o', b'StrictHostKeyChecking=no', b'-o', b'KbdInteractiveAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'PreferredAuthentications=gssapi-with-mic,gssapi-keyex,hostbased,publickey', b'-o', b'PasswordAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'User="ansible"', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ControlPath=/home/milosz/.ansible/cp/58926ec2f8', b'127.0.0.1', b'/bin/sh -c \'echo PLATFORM; uname; echo FOUND; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/bin/python\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.7\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.6\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.5\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python2.7\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python2.6\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/libexec/platform-python\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/bin/python3\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python\'"\'"\'; echo ENDFOUND && sleep 0\'']...), pausing for 1 seconds
attempt: 3, pause: 3
<127.0.0.1> ssh_retry: attempt: 3, ssh return code is 255. cmd ([b'ssh', b'-o', b'ControlMaster=auto', b'-o', b'ControlPersist=30m', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ConnectionAttempts=10', b'-o', b'UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null', b'-o', b'StrictHostKeyChecking=no', b'-o', b'KbdInteractiveAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'PreferredAuthentications=gssapi-with-mic,gssapi-keyex,hostbased,publickey', b'-o', b'PasswordAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'User="ansible"', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ControlPath=/home/milosz/.ansible/cp/58926ec2f8', b'127.0.0.1', b'/bin/sh -c \'echo PLATFORM; uname; echo FOUND; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/bin/python\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.7\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.6\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.5\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python2.7\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python2.6\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/libexec/platform-python\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/bin/python3\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python\'"\'"\'; echo ENDFOUND && sleep 0\'']...), pausing for 3 seconds
attempt: 4, pause: 7
<127.0.0.1> ssh_retry: attempt: 4, ssh return code is 255. cmd ([b'ssh', b'-o', b'ControlMaster=auto', b'-o', b'ControlPersist=30m', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ConnectionAttempts=10', b'-o', b'UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null', b'-o', b'StrictHostKeyChecking=no', b'-o', b'KbdInteractiveAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'PreferredAuthentications=gssapi-with-mic,gssapi-keyex,hostbased,publickey', b'-o', b'PasswordAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'User="ansible"', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ControlPath=/home/milosz/.ansible/cp/58926ec2f8', b'127.0.0.1', b'/bin/sh -c \'echo PLATFORM; uname; echo FOUND; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/bin/python\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.7\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.6\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.5\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python2.7\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python2.6\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/libexec/platform-python\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/bin/python3\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python\'"\'"\'; echo ENDFOUND && sleep 0\'']...), pausing for 7 seconds
attempt: 5, pause: 15
<127.0.0.1> ssh_retry: attempt: 5, ssh return code is 255. cmd ([b'ssh', b'-o', b'ControlMaster=auto', b'-o', b'ControlPersist=30m', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ConnectionAttempts=10', b'-o', b'UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null', b'-o', b'StrictHostKeyChecking=no', b'-o', b'KbdInteractiveAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'PreferredAuthentications=gssapi-with-mic,gssapi-keyex,hostbased,publickey', b'-o', b'PasswordAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'User="ansible"', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ControlPath=/home/milosz/.ansible/cp/58926ec2f8', b'127.0.0.1', b'/bin/sh -c \'echo PLATFORM; uname; echo FOUND; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/bin/python\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.7\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.6\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.5\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python2.7\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python2.6\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/libexec/platform-python\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/bin/python3\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python\'"\'"\'; echo ENDFOUND && sleep 0\'']...), pausing for 15 seconds
attempt: 6, pause: 30
<127.0.0.1> ssh_retry: attempt: 6, ssh return code is 255. cmd ([b'ssh', b'-o', b'ControlMaster=auto', b'-o', b'ControlPersist=30m', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ConnectionAttempts=10', b'-o', b'UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null', b'-o', b'StrictHostKeyChecking=no', b'-o', b'KbdInteractiveAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'PreferredAuthentications=gssapi-with-mic,gssapi-keyex,hostbased,publickey', b'-o', b'PasswordAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'User="ansible"', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ControlPath=/home/milosz/.ansible/cp/58926ec2f8', b'127.0.0.1', b'/bin/sh -c \'echo PLATFORM; uname; echo FOUND; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/bin/python\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.7\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.6\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.5\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python2.7\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python2.6\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/libexec/platform-python\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/bin/python3\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python\'"\'"\'; echo ENDFOUND && sleep 0\'']...), pausing for 30 seconds
attempt: 7, pause: 30
<127.0.0.1> ssh_retry: attempt: 7, ssh return code is 255. cmd ([b'ssh', b'-o', b'ControlMaster=auto', b'-o', b'ControlPersist=30m', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ConnectionAttempts=10', b'-o', b'UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null', b'-o', b'StrictHostKeyChecking=no', b'-o', b'KbdInteractiveAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'PreferredAuthentications=gssapi-with-mic,gssapi-keyex,hostbased,publickey', b'-o', b'PasswordAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'User="ansible"', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ControlPath=/home/milosz/.ansible/cp/58926ec2f8', b'127.0.0.1', b'/bin/sh -c \'echo PLATFORM; uname; echo FOUND; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/bin/python\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.7\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.6\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python3.5\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python2.7\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python2.6\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/libexec/platform-python\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'/usr/bin/python3\'"\'"\'; command -v \'"\'"\'python\'"\'"\'; echo ENDFOUND && sleep 0\'']...), pausing for 30 seconds
attempt: 8
[WARNING]: Unhandled error in Python interpreter discovery for host 127.0.0.1: Failed to connect to the host via ssh: ssh: connect to host 127.0.0.1 port 22: Connection refused
remaining tries: 8
attempt: 1, pause: 0
<127.0.0.1> ssh_retry: attempt: 1, ssh return code is 255. cmd ([b'ssh', b'-o', b'ControlMaster=auto', b'-o', b'ControlPersist=30m', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ConnectionAttempts=10', b'-o', b'UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null', b'-o', b'StrictHostKeyChecking=no', b'-o', b'KbdInteractiveAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'PreferredAuthentications=gssapi-with-mic,gssapi-keyex,hostbased,publickey', b'-o', b'PasswordAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'User="ansible"', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ControlPath=/home/milosz/.ansible/cp/58926ec2f8', b'127.0.0.1', b"/bin/sh -c '/usr/bin/python && sleep 0'"]...), pausing for 0 seconds
attempt: 2, pause: 1
<127.0.0.1> ssh_retry: attempt: 2, ssh return code is 255. cmd ([b'ssh', b'-o', b'ControlMaster=auto', b'-o', b'ControlPersist=30m', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ConnectionAttempts=10', b'-o', b'UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null', b'-o', b'StrictHostKeyChecking=no', b'-o', b'KbdInteractiveAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'PreferredAuthentications=gssapi-with-mic,gssapi-keyex,hostbased,publickey', b'-o', b'PasswordAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'User="ansible"', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ControlPath=/home/milosz/.ansible/cp/58926ec2f8', b'127.0.0.1', b"/bin/sh -c '/usr/bin/python && sleep 0'"]...), pausing for 1 seconds
attempt: 3, pause: 3
<127.0.0.1> ssh_retry: attempt: 3, ssh return code is 255. cmd ([b'ssh', b'-o', b'ControlMaster=auto', b'-o', b'ControlPersist=30m', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ConnectionAttempts=10', b'-o', b'UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null', b'-o', b'StrictHostKeyChecking=no', b'-o', b'KbdInteractiveAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'PreferredAuthentications=gssapi-with-mic,gssapi-keyex,hostbased,publickey', b'-o', b'PasswordAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'User="ansible"', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ControlPath=/home/milosz/.ansible/cp/58926ec2f8', b'127.0.0.1', b"/bin/sh -c '/usr/bin/python && sleep 0'"]...), pausing for 3 seconds
attempt: 4, pause: 7
<127.0.0.1> ssh_retry: attempt: 4, ssh return code is 255. cmd ([b'ssh', b'-o', b'ControlMaster=auto', b'-o', b'ControlPersist=30m', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ConnectionAttempts=10', b'-o', b'UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null', b'-o', b'StrictHostKeyChecking=no', b'-o', b'KbdInteractiveAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'PreferredAuthentications=gssapi-with-mic,gssapi-keyex,hostbased,publickey', b'-o', b'PasswordAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'User="ansible"', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ControlPath=/home/milosz/.ansible/cp/58926ec2f8', b'127.0.0.1', b"/bin/sh -c '/usr/bin/python && sleep 0'"]...), pausing for 7 seconds
attempt: 5, pause: 15
<127.0.0.1> ssh_retry: attempt: 5, ssh return code is 255. cmd ([b'ssh', b'-o', b'ControlMaster=auto', b'-o', b'ControlPersist=30m', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ConnectionAttempts=10', b'-o', b'UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null', b'-o', b'StrictHostKeyChecking=no', b'-o', b'KbdInteractiveAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'PreferredAuthentications=gssapi-with-mic,gssapi-keyex,hostbased,publickey', b'-o', b'PasswordAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'User="ansible"', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ControlPath=/home/milosz/.ansible/cp/58926ec2f8', b'127.0.0.1', b"/bin/sh -c '/usr/bin/python && sleep 0'"]...), pausing for 15 seconds
attempt: 6, pause: 30
<127.0.0.1> ssh_retry: attempt: 6, ssh return code is 255. cmd ([b'ssh', b'-o', b'ControlMaster=auto', b'-o', b'ControlPersist=30m', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ConnectionAttempts=10', b'-o', b'UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null', b'-o', b'StrictHostKeyChecking=no', b'-o', b'KbdInteractiveAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'PreferredAuthentications=gssapi-with-mic,gssapi-keyex,hostbased,publickey', b'-o', b'PasswordAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'User="ansible"', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ControlPath=/home/milosz/.ansible/cp/58926ec2f8', b'127.0.0.1', b"/bin/sh -c '/usr/bin/python && sleep 0'"]...), pausing for 30 seconds
attempt: 7, pause: 30
<127.0.0.1> ssh_retry: attempt: 7, ssh return code is 255. cmd ([b'ssh', b'-o', b'ControlMaster=auto', b'-o', b'ControlPersist=30m', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ConnectionAttempts=10', b'-o', b'UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null', b'-o', b'StrictHostKeyChecking=no', b'-o', b'KbdInteractiveAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'PreferredAuthentications=gssapi-with-mic,gssapi-keyex,hostbased,publickey', b'-o', b'PasswordAuthentication=no', b'-o', b'User="ansible"', b'-o', b'ConnectTimeout=10', b'-o', b'ControlPath=/home/milosz/.ansible/cp/58926ec2f8', b'127.0.0.1', b"/bin/sh -c '/usr/bin/python && sleep 0'"]...), pausing for 30 seconds
attempt: 8
fatal: [127.0.0.1]: UNREACHABLE! => {"changed": false, "msg": "Data could not be sent to remote host \"127.0.0.1\". Make sure this host can be reached over ssh: ssh: connect to host 127.0.0.1 port 22: Connection refused\r\n", "unreachable": true}
PLAY RECAP ******************************************************************************************************************************
127.0.0.1 : ok=0 changed=0 unreachable=1 failed=0 skipped=0 rescued=0 ignored=0
How to define the number of connection attempts
Use an environment variable to limit the number of connection attempts.
$ ANSIBLE_SSH_RETRIES=7 ansible-playbook -i hosts playbook.yml
Use an ansible configuration file to specify the number of connection attempts in a lasting way.
$ cat ansible.cfg
[ssh_connection] pipelining = True retries = 2 [defaults] vault_password_file = .vault_pass.txt