Variables

Variables are divided into static variables (defined before execution) and dynamic variables (generated during execution). Priority: Dynamic variables > Static variables.

Static Variables

Includes: inventory, global config, and parameters defined in templates. Priority: Global config > Inventory > Parameters defined in templates.

Inventory

YAML format, does not support template syntax. Passed via -i (kk -i inventory.yaml ...), effective on each host.

Specification Example:

apiVersion: kubekey.kubesphere.io/v1
kind: Inventory
metadata:
  name: default
spec:
  hosts:
    hostname1:
      k1: v1
    hostname2:
      k2: v2
    hostname3: {}
  groups:
    groupname1:
      groups:
        - groupname2
      hosts:
        - hostname1
      vars:
        k1: v1
    groupname2: {}
  vars:
    k1: v1

Field	Description
hosts	Key is host name, value is variables for that host.
groups	Group hosts. Key is group name, value contains groups, hosts, vars. groups are nested groups, hosts are hosts included in the group, vars are group variables that apply to all hosts in the group. Host set in group = hosts in groups ∪ hosts in hosts.
vars	Global variables, apply to all hosts.

Variable priority: Host variables > Group variables > Global variables.

Global Config

YAML format, does not support template syntax. Passed via -c (kk -c config.yaml ...), effective on each host.

apiVersion: kubekey.kubesphere.io/v1
kind: Config
metadata:
  name: default
spec:
  k: v

Any key-value can be defined under spec, participating in variable resolution along with inventory.

Parameters Defined in Templates

Includes:

• vars, vars_files of playbook
• defaults/main.yml, vars of role
• vars of task

Dynamic Variables

Generated at runtime, includes:

• gather_facts gathered host information
• register registered task output
• set_fact set variables

With the same name, later definitions override earlier ones.