Combine connection parameters like url and user togeteher

[nesanton]

SUMMARY

When many foreman and katello modules are used in a play one might find it frustrating having to scecify the very same server_url, username, password, validate_certs all the time. And it's not really possible to use module_defaults, because one can't seem to wildcard them like foreman*.

Idea is to add an extra variable to all the modules and nest these underneath:

connection:
  server_url:
  username:
  password:
  validate_certs:

This way it's only one var to feed to any module. I guess it can coexist with the current way.

ISSUE TYPE

• Feature Idea

[sean797]

Linking to https://github.com/theforeman/foreman-ansible-modules/pull/178

[mdellweg]

Also linking: https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/58070

[evgeni]

@mdellweg didn't I once saw a playbook of yours where you used some YaML reference or so to pass the connection parameters? It's not the same but still makes life easier.

[mdellweg]

Like here: https://github.com/mdellweg/pulp_ansible_modules/blob/master/tests/playbooks/file_distribution.yaml#L55 Yes, but its scope is limited to one file.

[nesanton]

I learnt to live with either yaml references like @mdellweg's or this:

vars:
  foreman_api:
     server_url: https://blah.blah.com
     username: blah
     password: blahblah
     validate_certs: no
module_defaults:
  foreman_this: "{{ foreman_api }}"
  foreman_that: "{{ foreman_api }}"
  katello_here: "{{ foreman_api }}"

or the combination of two.

Anyway, closing this, because it seems to be (or going to be) sort of solvable by module grouping.