Patterns: Targeting all, web & host1
Select exactly which hosts a command hits.
Patterns: Targeting all, web & host1 is a free Ansible Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 2 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Ansible Academy learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
Patterns Pick the Targets
A host pattern is the first argument that decides exactly which inventory hosts an ad-hoc command will run against. 🎯
all Hits Everything
The special pattern all matches every host in your inventory. Use it for fleet-wide checks like a quick ping.
ansible all -m pingTarget a Group by Name
Use a group name like web to hit only the hosts in that group, leaving every other server untouched.
ansible web -m pingTarget a Single Host
Pass one hostname, such as host1, to run the command on just that machine and nothing else.
ansible host1 -m pingCombine with a Colon
Join targets with a colon to form a union. web:db reaches every host in either group at once.
ansible web:db -m pingExclude with :!
The :! operator subtracts hosts. all:!db means every host except those in the db group.
ansible all:!db -m pingIntersect with :&
The :& operator keeps only hosts in both sets. web:&staging matches web servers that are also staging.
ansible web:&staging -m pingWildcards Match Names
A wildcard like web*.example.com matches every host whose name fits the pattern. Quote it so your shell leaves it alone.
ansible "web*" -m pingLimit a Run with --limit
The --limit flag narrows any pattern further at runtime, handy for testing on one host before going wide.
ansible web -m ping --limit host1Preview with --list-hosts
Add --list-hosts to see exactly which machines a pattern resolves to, without running anything on them.
ansible web:db --list-hostsPatterns Combine Freely
You can chain operators in one pattern: web:db:!host1 means all web and db hosts, but skip host1.
ansible web:db:!host1 -m pingQuick Check
How do you exclude a group from a host pattern?
Recap
You can now aim precisely: all for everything, group or host names to narrow, and :, :& and :! to combine sets. 🎯
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Patterns: Targeting all, web & host1” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Patterns: Targeting all, web & host1” is free to read here on the web, and the Ansible Academy course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Ansible Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Patterns: Targeting all, web & host1”?
Select exactly which hosts a command hits. You practise Ansible Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start Ansible Academy?
No prior experience is required. Ansible Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 2 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Patterns: Targeting all, web & host1” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this Ansible Academy lesson?
Yes. Every Ansible Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- Anatomy of the ansible Command
- Patterns: Targeting all, web & host1
- Run Shell Commands with command & shell
- Privilege Escalation with become