Ansible is a powerful open-source automation tool that allows system administrators to manage and configure multiple remote servers effortlessly. However, when working with Ansible Playbooks that involve running scripts, you may encounter the "npx : Cannot be loaded because running scripts is disabled" error. This error occurs due to the default security settings on your system that prohibit the execution of scripts. In this blog, we will explore various solutions to fix this issue and continue using Ansible Playbooks seamlessly.

The error message indicates that PowerShell's execution policy is restricting the execution of scripts on your system. Ansible uses PowerShell to execute certain commands, including "npx," which is a package runner for Node.js. By default, PowerShell restricts script execution to prevent potential security risks. While this is essential for system safety, it can hinder Ansible from running the required scripts, causing the "npx" error.

Solution 1: Changing the Execution Policy in the Ansible Playbook:

One approach to fix this issue is by changing the execution policy directly within the Ansible Playbook itself. Although this method is not recommended for production systems due to potential security risks, it can be useful for testing or development environments. Here's how you can do it:

      win_shell: Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

In this example, we use the "win_shell" module to set the execution policy to "RemoteSigned" on the target hosts. Note that using this approach may require administrative privileges on the target systems.

Solution 2: Setting Execution Policy on Target Hosts:

A safer and more systematic approach is to configure the PowerShell execution policy directly on the target hosts before running the Ansible Playbook. This ensures that your system remains secure while allowing Ansible to execute scripts without any errors. Here are the steps to follow:

Open a PowerShell session on each target host as an administrator.

Run the following command to set the execution policy to "RemoteSigned":

or "Unrestricted" if you are confident in the security of the scripts:

Confirm the change by typing "Y" and press Enter.

Solution 3: Configuring Execution Policy via Group Policy:

For larger environments or organizations managing many Windows servers, configuring the PowerShell execution policy using Group Policy is a more centralized and efficient approach. This ensures consistency across all target hosts. Here's how you can do it:

Open "Group Policy Management Console" on a domain controller.

Create a new Group Policy Object (GPO) or edit an existing one.

Navigate to "Computer Configuration" > "Policies" > "Administrative Templates" > "Windows Components" > "Windows PowerShell."

Double-click on "Turn on Script Execution."

Select "Enabled" and choose the desired execution policy (e.g., "Allow local scripts and remote signed scripts").

Encountering the "npx : Cannot be loaded because running scripts is disabled" error in Ansible Playbooks can be frustrating, but understanding the underlying issue and applying the appropriate solutions can resolve the problem. While temporarily changing the execution policy within the Ansible Playbook might suffice for testing purposes, it is essential to prioritize security and adopt more permanent solutions, such as configuring the execution policy on target hosts or using Group Policy. By implementing these fixes, you can continue to leverage the power of Ansible in managing your Windows environments efficiently and securely. Always remember to exercise caution when modifying security settings, especially in production environments, to avoid potential vulnerabilities.

Learn how to fix 'npx: Cannot be loaded because running scripts is disabled' error in Ansible Playbooks on Windows systems.

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