How to set host_key_checking=false in ansible inventory file?

Question

I would like to use `ansible-playbook` command instead of '`vagrant provision`'. However setting `host_key_checking=false` in the `hosts` file does not seem to work. ``` # hosts file vagrant ansible_ssh_private_key_file=~/.vagrant.d/insecure_private_key ansible_ssh_user=vagrant ansible_ssh_port=2222 ansible_ssh_host=127.0.0.1 host_key_checking=false ``` Is there a configuration variable outside of `Vagrantfile` that can override this value?

Accepted Answer

Due to the fact that I answered this in 2014, I have updated my answer to account for more recent versions of ansible.

Yes, you can do it at the host/inventory level (Which became possible on newer ansible versions) or global level:

inventory:

Add the following.

```
ansible_ssh_common_args='-o StrictHostKeyChecking=no'
```

host:

Add the following.

```
ansible_ssh_extra_args='-o StrictHostKeyChecking=no'
```

hosts/inventory options will work with connection type `ssh` and not `paramiko`. Some people may strongly argue that inventory and hosts is more secure because the scope is more limited.

global:

Ansible User Guide - Host Key Checking

You can do it either in the `/etc/ansible/ansible.cfg` or `~/.ansible.cfg` file:

```
[defaults]
host_key_checking = False
```

Or you can setup and env variable (this might not work on newer ansible versions):

```
export ANSIBLE_HOST_KEY_CHECKING=False
```

How to set host_key_checking=false in ansible inventory file?

Solution

Problem