Answers: <p>Running Ansible with the Virtual Environment
  When running Ansible, explicitly reference the virtual environment Python binary to ensure all dependencies use the correct environment.</p>
  <p>Option 1: Use the Virtual Environment Python
  Specify the path to the virtual environment's python binary:</p>
  <pre class="lang-yaml prettyprint-override"><code>- name: Run command using virtualenv Python
    ansible.builtin.command:
      cmd: /home/&lt;user&gt;/ansible_venv/bin/python -m ansible_runner run my_playbook.yml
  </code></pre>
  <p>Option 2: Use Environment Variables
  Set the PATH to include the virtual environment binaries temporarily:</p>
  <pre class="lang-yaml prettyprint-override"><code>- name: Set environment for ansible_runner
    ansible.builtin.environment:
      PATH: &quot;/home/&lt;user&gt;/ansible_venv/bin:{{ ansible_env.PATH }}&quot;
  </code></pre>
  
Answers: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers: 2024-12-05T14:13:15.100Z
Answers: Yeah, doesn't seem like there's a way around it other than to boostrap the virtual env with cloud-init or another playbook. Might be better to set the interpreter under defaults to `interpreter_python = "/home/<user>/ansible_venv/bin/python3"` to run the whole playbook/module in the venv.
Answers: RiverHeart
Answers: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers: 2024-11-28T10:43:17.187Z
Answers: 2024-11-28T10:43:17.187Z
Answers: Qodirov Shohijahon
Body: <p>I started playing with Ansible and, since I know some Python, decided to dig in and learn how to create modules. For this module, I need to setup an Apt repository and rather than reinvent the wheel I wanted call an Ansible role from Python. To do that I needed to install <code>ansible_runner</code>.</p>
  <p>On the remote machine (Ubuntu 24.04) pip complains that about installing system packages. This is apparently a new thing.</p>
  <pre><code>× This environment is externally managed
  ╰─&gt; To install Python packages system-wide, try apt install
      python3-xyz, where xyz is the package you are trying to
      install.
  
      If you wish to install a non-Debian-packaged Python package,
      create a virtual environment using python3 -m venv path/to/venv.
      Then use path/to/venv/bin/python and path/to/venv/bin/pip. Make
      sure you have python3-full installed.
  
      If you wish to install a non-Debian packaged Python application,
      it may be easiest to use pipx install xyz, which will manage a
      virtual environment for you. Make sure you have pipx installed.
  </code></pre>
  <p>Problem is, I can't find a way of making Ansible execute in a virtualenv. I can force the install using <code>pip install ansible_runner --break-system-packages</code> but that's frowned on and installing from apt means using an ancient, possibly incompatible package.</p>
  <p>So if I need to bootstrap <code>ansible_runner</code> on the remote machine and pip is a no go then what is the alternative?</p>
  <p>I guess I could setup a virtualenv for the ansible user and give the full path to that interpreter but then every module using <code>ansible_runner</code> would either need to setup this venv or be dependent on it already existing.</p>
  
Tags: <ansible><python>
Title: How to handle python modules with Ansible on Ubuntu 24.04?
UserDisplayName: RiverHeart
ThreadText: # How to handle python modules with Ansible on Ubuntu 24.04?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2024-11-27)
  
  I started playing with Ansible and, since I know some Python, decided to dig in and learn how to create modules. For this module, I need to setup an Apt repository and rather than reinvent the wheel I wanted call an Ansible role from Python. To do that I needed to install `ansible_runner`.
  
  On the remote machine (Ubuntu 24.04) pip complains that about installing system packages. This is apparently a new thing.
  
  ```
  × This environment is externally managed
  ╰─> To install Python packages system-wide, try apt install
      python3-xyz, where xyz is the package you are trying to
      install.
  
      If you wish to install a non-Debian-packaged Python package,
      create a virtual environment using python3 -m venv path/to/venv.
      Then use path/to/venv/bin/python and path/to/venv/bin/pip. Make
      sure you have python3-full installed.
  
      If you wish to install a non-Debian packaged Python application,
      it may be easiest to use pipx install xyz, which will manage a
      virtual environment for you. Make sure you have pipx installed.
  
  ```
  
  Problem is, I can't find a way of making Ansible execute in a virtualenv. I can force the install using `pip install ansible_runner --break-system-packages` but that's frowned on and installing from apt means using an ancient, possibly incompatible package.
  
  So if I need to bootstrap `ansible_runner` on the remote machine and pip is a no go then what is the alternative?
  
  I guess I could setup a virtualenv for the ansible user and give the full path to that interpreter but then every module using `ansible_runner` would either need to setup this venv or be dependent on it already existing.
  
  **Tags:** ansible, python
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2024-11-28. Score: 1 | Accepted answer
  
  Running Ansible with the Virtual Environment
  When running Ansible, explicitly reference the virtual environment Python binary to ensure all dependencies use the correct environment.
  
  Option 1: Use the Virtual Environment Python
  Specify the path to the virtual environment's python binary:
  
  ```yaml
  - name: Run command using virtualenv Python
    ansible.builtin.command:
      cmd: /home/<user>/ansible_venv/bin/python -m ansible_runner run my_playbook.yml
  
  ```
  
  Option 2: Use Environment Variables
  Set the PATH to include the virtual environment binaries temporarily:
  
  ```yaml
  - name: Set environment for ansible_runner
    ansible.builtin.environment:
      PATH: "/home/<user>/ansible_venv/bin:{{ ansible_env.PATH }}"
  
  ```
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Yeah, doesn't seem like there's a way around it other than to boostrap the virtual env with cloud-init or another playbook. Might be better to set the interpreter under defaults to `interpreter_python = "/home/<user>/ansible_venv/bin/python3"` to run the whole playbook/module in the venv.  
  
  ---
  
  