Im writing a yaml script to get the DEAULT cipher string being used. Here is my speciic code section:block: - name: check the default cipher bigip_command: commands: - tmm --clientciphers DEFAULT | grep -i {{ cipher_string}} provider: "{{ provider }}" delegate_to: localhost register: cipher_out ignore_errors: true when: software_version_out.stdout != '15.1.4.1' This is the error I get:TASK [check the default cipher] **************************************************************************************************************************************************************[WARNING]: Using "write" commands is not idempotent. You should use a module that is specifically made for that. If such a module does not exist, then please file a bug. The command inquestion is "tmm --clientciphers DEFAULT | grep -i de..." Is there another way to get this information via tmsh?

There might be other ways to retrieve this, but I tried using cli transport (SSH) and it worked. This needs paramiko plugin installed for SSH. --- - name: find cipher hosts: bigip connection: local vars_files: - secret - f5 vars: provider: password: "{{ secret }}" user: "{{ uid }}" server: bigip server_port: 22 transport: cli tasks: - name: find cipher bigip_command: commands: - bash - tmm --clientciphers DEFAULT provider: "{{ provider }}"

Hey Sanjay, Thanks for the reply, I tried your suggestions and it still fails but I get a different error this time: TASK [check the default cipher] *************************************************************************************************************************************************************An exception occurred during task execution. To see the full traceback, use -vvv. The error was: socket.timeout: The read operation timed out Here is the new code: - name: check the default cipher bigip_command: commands: - bash - tmm --clientciphers DEFAULT | grep -i {{ cipher_string }} provider: "{{ provider }}" delegate_to: localhost register: cipher_out ignore_errors: true - debug: msg: "{{ cipher_out }}"

Please check if ssh port is allowed from the ansible server to bigip.

I checked and verified SSH is allowed from the ansible server to the BIG-IPs

Strange. Have you added server_port and transport parameters to provider? Also, can you chek full traceback using -vvv

need a way to get the DEFAULT cipher string via a yaml script

spalande
Nacreous
Jul 13, 2021
There might be other ways to retrieve this, but I tried using cli transport (SSH) and it worked. This needs paramiko plugin installed for SSH.
--- - name: find cipher hosts: bigip connection: local vars_files: - secret - f5 vars: provider: password: "{{ secret }}" user: "{{ uid }}" server: bigip server_port: 22 transport: cli tasks: - name: find cipher bigip_command: commands: - bash - tmm --clientciphers DEFAULT provider: "{{ provider }}"
- Kevin_Nail
  Nimbostratus
  Jul 13, 2021
  Hey Sanjay,
  
  Thanks for the reply, I tried your suggestions and it still fails but I get a different error this time:
  
  TASK [check the default cipher] *************************************************************************************************************************************************************
  An exception occurred during task execution. To see the full traceback, use -vvv. The error was: socket.timeout: The read operation timed out
  
  Here is the new code:
  
      - name: check the default cipher
       bigip_command:
        commands:
        - bash
        - tmm --clientciphers DEFAULT | grep -i {{ cipher_string }}
        provider: "{{ provider }}"
       delegate_to: localhost
       register: cipher_out
       ignore_errors: true
      - debug:
        msg: "{{ cipher_out }}"
  - spalande
    Nacreous
    Jul 13, 2021
    Please check if ssh port is allowed from the ansible server to bigip.
Kevin_Nail
Nimbostratus
Jul 13, 2021
I checked and verified SSH is allowed from the ansible server to the BIG-IPs
- spalande
  Nacreous
  Jul 13, 2021
  Strange. Have you added server_port and transport parameters to provider? Also, can you chek full traceback using -vvv
Kevin_Nail
Nimbostratus
Jul 13, 2021
Good catch, I forgot to add those... They have been added but still no luck. Here the debug output with -vvv for one of the servers

seeing this: "msg": "tmsh -c \"tmm --clientciphers DEFAULT \" | grep -i des\r\nSyntax Error: unexpected argument \"tmm\"\r\n[root@bigipckn

...ignoring
<localhost> EXEC /bin/sh -c 'rm -f -r /home/knail/.ansible/tmp/ansible-tmp-1626198381.7990808-136657036311064/ > /dev/null 2>&1 && sleep 0'
The full traceback is:
File "/tmp/ansible_bigip_command_payload_q17s1o1t/ansible_bigip_command_payload.zip/ansible/modules/network/f5/bigip_command.py", line 719, in main
File "/tmp/ansible_bigip_command_payload_q17s1o1t/ansible_bigip_command_payload.zip/ansible/modules/network/f5/bigip_command.py", line 659, in exec_module
File "/tmp/ansible_bigip_command_payload_q17s1o1t/ansible_bigip_command_payload.zip/ansible/modules/network/f5/bigip_command.py", line 437, in exec_module
File "/tmp/ansible_bigip_command_payload_q17s1o1t/ansible_bigip_command_payload.zip/ansible/modules/network/f5/bigip_command.py", line 599, in execute
File "/tmp/ansible_bigip_command_payload_q17s1o1t/ansible_bigip_command_payload.zip/ansible/modules/network/f5/bigip_command.py", line 508, in execute
File "/tmp/ansible_bigip_command_payload_q17s1o1t/ansible_bigip_command_payload.zip/ansible/modules/network/f5/bigip_command.py", line 582, in _execute
File "/tmp/ansible_bigip_command_payload_q17s1o1t/ansible_bigip_command_payload.zip/ansible/modules/network/f5/bigip_command.py", line 602, in execute_on_device
File "/tmp/ansible_bigip_command_payload_q17s1o1t/ansible_bigip_command_payload.zip/ansible/module_utils/network/f5/common.py", line 168, in run_commands
  raise F5ModuleError(to_text(err, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))
fatal: [192.168.196.100 -> localhost]: FAILED! => {
  "changed": false,
  "invocation": {
    "module_args": {
      "chdir": null,
      "commands": [
        "bash",
        "tmm --clientciphers DEFAULT | grep -i des"
      ],
      "interval": 1,
      "match": "all",
      "provider": {
        "auth_provider": null,
        "password": "VALUE_SPECIFIED_IN_NO_LOG_PARAMETER",
        "server": "192.168.196.100",
        "server_port": 22,
        "ssh_keyfile": null,
        "timeout": null,
        "transport": "cli",
        "user": "root",
        "validate_certs": false
      },
      "retries": 10,
      "transport": "rest",
      "wait_for": null,
      "warn": true
    }
  },
  "msg": "tmsh -c \"tmm --clientciphers DEFAULT \" | grep -i des\r\nSyntax Error: unexpected argument \"tmm\"\r\n[root@bigipckn:Active:Standalone] config # "
}
...ignoring

TASK [debug] ********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
task path: /home/knail/test-project/final.yaml:38
ok: [192.168.196.100] => {
  "msg": {
    "changed": false,
    "exception": " File \"/tmp/ansible_bigip_command_payload_q17s1o1t/ansible_bigip_command_payload.zip/ansible/modules/network/f5/bigip_command.py\", line 719, in main\n File \"/tmp/ansible_bigip_command_payload_q17s1o1t/ansible_bigip_command_payload.zip/ansible/modules/network/f5/bigip_command.py\", line 659, in exec_module\n File \"/tmp/ansible_bigip_command_payload_q17s1o1t/ansible_bigip_command_payload.zip/ansible/modules/network/f5/bigip_command.py\", line 437, in exec_module\n File \"/tmp/ansible_bigip_command_payload_q17s1o1t/ansible_bigip_command_payload.zip/ansible/modules/network/f5/bigip_command.py\", line 599, in execute\n File \"/tmp/ansible_bigip_command_payload_q17s1o1t/ansible_bigip_command_payload.zip/ansible/modules/network/f5/bigip_command.py\", line 508, in execute\n File \"/tmp/ansible_bigip_command_payload_q17s1o1t/ansible_bigip_command_payload.zip/ansible/modules/network/f5/bigip_command.py\", line 582, in _execute\n File \"/tmp/ansible_bigip_command_payload_q17s1o1t/ansible_bigip_command_payload.zip/ansible/modules/network/f5/bigip_command.py\", line 602, in execute_on_device\n File \"/tmp/ansible_bigip_command_payload_q17s1o1t/ansible_bigip_command_payload.zip/ansible/module_utils/network/f5/common.py\", line 168, in run_commands\n  raise F5ModuleError(to_text(err, errors='surrogate_then_replace'))\n",
    "failed": true,
    "msg": "tmsh -c \"tmm --clientciphers DEFAULT \" | grep -i des\r\nSyntax Error: unexpected argument \"tmm\"\r\n[root@bigipckn:Active:Standalone] config # "
  }
}
spalande
Nacreous
Jul 13, 2021
It seems to be syntax error from the commands. Please use, transport parameter as "cli". I see, there is another used with "rest"
Not sure, what are you trying to grep. But can you try just using just default one first without using grep?

e.g. tmm --clientciphers DEFAULT
Kevin_Nail
Nimbostratus
Jul 13, 2021
hmm I dont know where the transport: rest is coming from. Its not in my code anywhere (which I've re-attched)

I've removed the grep. Still same error

---

- name: check DEFAULT and client cipher strings
gather_facts: false
hosts: all
vars:
  provider:
   password: "{{ BACKEND_PASSWORD }}"
   server: "{{ inventory_hostname }}"
   user: "{{ BACKEND_USERNAME }}"
   server_port: 22
   transport: cli
   validate_certs: false
  cipher_string: des
  ignore_cipher: "!des"
  ignore_cipher2: "!3des"
tasks:
  - name: get virtual list
   bigip_command:
    commands:
     - tmsh show /sys version | grep "Version "
    provider: "{{ provider }}"
   delegate_to: localhost
   register: software_version_out
  - debug:
    msg: "{{ software_version_out.stdout }}"
  - name: run the checks
   block:
    - name: check the default cipher
     bigip_command:
      commands:
      - bash
      - tmm --clientciphers DEFAULT
      provider: "{{ provider }}"
     delegate_to: localhost
     register: cipher_out
     ignore_errors: true
    - debug:
      msg: "{{ cipher_out }}"
   when: software_version_out.stdout != '15.1.4.1'

and I still get the same error:

fatal: [192.168.196.100 -> localhost]: FAILED! => {
  "changed": false,
  "invocation": {
    "module_args": {
      "chdir": null,
      "commands": [
        "bash",
        "tmm --clientciphers DEFAULT"
      ],
      "interval": 1,
      "match": "all",
      "provider": {
        "auth_provider": null,
        "password": "VALUE_SPECIFIED_IN_NO_LOG_PARAMETER",
        "server": "192.168.196.100",
        "server_port": 22,
        "ssh_keyfile": null,
        "timeout": null,
        "transport": "cli",
        "user": "root",
        "validate_certs": false
      },
      "retries": 10,
      "transport": "rest",
      "wait_for": null,
      "warn": true
    }
  },
  "msg": "tmsh -c \"tmm --clientciphers DEFAULT\"\r\nSyntax Error: unexpected argument \"tmm\"\r\n[root@bigipckn:Active:Standalone] config # "
}
spalande
Nacreous
Jul 13, 2021
Looks indentation error. Please use in below format.

bigip_command: commands: - bash - tmm --clientciphers DEFAULT

Please refer one I pasted in the first comment. Please do not use tab and use spaces as shown there.
Kevin_Nail
Nimbostratus
Jul 13, 2021
Hey Sanjay

Looking back at your first comment... there was indentation there:

bigip_command:
commands:
- bash
- tmm --clientciphers DEFAULT
provider: "{{ provider }}"

But I will remove them as you suggest
Kevin_Nail
Nimbostratus
Jul 13, 2021
Same error:

"msg": "tmsh -c \"tmm --clientciphers DEFAULT\"\r\nSyntax Error: unexpected argument \"tmm\"\r\n[root@bigipckn12:Active:Standalone] config # "
- spalande
  Nacreous
  Jul 13, 2021
  Please post the screenshot of commands parameter. I will take a look tomorrow.
  
  Till then see why syntax error is appearing as the code I posted works perfectly fine for me.
Kevin_Nail
Nimbostratus
Jul 13, 2021
Be happy to.. But what command parameters are you wanting to see? Im just wanting to get the DEFAULT clientciphers from the F5. Apparantly ansible is dropping me into tmsh, which does not like running tmm...
Dont know what the difference is between yours that works and mine that doesnt...
Kevin_Nail
Nimbostratus
Jul 13, 2021
Hey Sanjay,

Just an update. I got this working, The problem was with the way the way the command was processing

- tmm --clientciphers DEFAULT

ansible big-ip module was prepending "tmsh -c" to the beginning of the line. Making it have problems. I re-arranged the command so that the bash statement and the tmm are passed in the same line, like this:

"bash -c 'tmm --clientciphers DEFAULT'"
This works because when processed the big-ip server prepends the tmsh -c so it looks like this:

tmsh -c "bash -c 'tmm --clientciphers DEFAULT'"

anyway, it works now, Thanks! for all your help. You got me looking in the right place

Kevin

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