How to Use Linode Ansible Dynamic Inventory

Learn how to use Linode Ansible dynamic inventory to automate cloud infrastructure. Our Linode support team is always here to help you.

How to Use Linode Ansible Dynamic Inventory

In Ansible, your inventory is everything. It defines the hosts Ansible can talk to, manage, and automate. Typically, this is done through static inventory files, a manual and time-consuming process when managing cloud servers. But what if your infrastructure is dynamic, like on Linode? That’s where Linode Ansible dynamic inventory comes in.

Instead of manually updating IP addresses and hostnames every time you create or delete a server, it fetches live infrastructure details from the Linode API. It dynamically builds the inventory, letting you focus on automation rather than inventory management.

Let’s dive right into how you can set this up and start using it today.

What is Linode Ansible Dynamic Inventory?

Linode Ansible dynamic inventory is a Python script (or plugin) that integrates directly with the Linode API. It queries your account, retrieves all active instances, and builds an inventory that Ansible can use instantly. No manual updates, no outdated hostnames.

This makes it perfect for developers and sysadmins managing multiple Linode servers, especially when instances are frequently added or removed (like with Linode Cyberduck).

Steps to Use

You don’t need anything fancy to get started. Follow these straightforward steps:

1. Download the Inventory Script

Get the official Linode Ansible dynamic inventory script from the Linode GitHub repository. Make sure you download it from a trusted source. It’s typically a Python script or plugin that can be executed with Ansible.

2. Configure Your Linode API Token

To allow Ansible to communicate with Linode’s API, you’ll need your Linode API token. You can create one from the Linode Cloud Manager under your profile → API Tokens.

Set it as an environment variable:

export LINODE_API_TOKEN=your_token_here

Alternatively, store it in your Ansible config or credentials file securely.

3. Run Ansible with the Dynamic Inventory

Now you’re ready to go. Instead of pointing Ansible to a static inventory file, reference the Linode inventory script directly:

ansible -i linode_inventory.py all -m ping

Or use it in a playbook:

ansible-playbook -i linode_inventory.py site.yml

Ansible will now fetch live server data from your Linode account every time it runs.

Why Use Linode Ansible Dynamic Inventory?

Using Linode  has clear advantages:

• Scalability: Automatically manage inventory as your infrastructure changes.
• Efficiency: Eliminate manual IP tracking or host file edits.
• Real-Time Accuracy: Always up-to-date with your current Linode setup.

This setup is ideal for continuous deployment, infrastructure automation, or managing fleets of cloud servers at scale.

[If needed, Our team is available 24/7 for additional assistance.]

Conclusion

If you’re managing infrastructure on Linode and using Ansible, there’s no reason to stick with static inventories. This lets you automate smarter, fetching live data, reacting to changes instantly, and simplifying your DevOps workflow.

Set it up once, and your inventory updates itself.