How to Use Ansible Yum and DNF Modules for Linux Package Management

Last Updated on 1 week by Sachin G

Managing software packages manually on Linux systems—especially across dozens or hundreds of servers—is both time-consuming and error-prone. As a Linux system administrator, DevOps professional. Mastering Ansible’s yum and dnf modules gives you automation power to handle package management consistently and efficiently.

In this blog post, you’ll learn how to install, update, and remove packages using Ansible, understand the difference between yum and dnf modules, and explore best practices for managing Linux packages across RHEL, CentOS, Rocky Linux, and other Red Hat-based distributions.

What is ansible.builtin.yum or ansible.builtin.dnf?

ansible.builtin collection included default yum or dnf module that managed package operations on the managed host. The ansible.builtin.yum module is part of the core Ansible modules for system updates and is used to manage software packages on RHEL, CentOS, and other YUM-based distributions. The ansible. builtin.yum / ansible. builtin.dnf module serves as a connection between the playbook and the YUM package manager. which is the default package management utility for RPM-based Linux operating systems like CentOS, AlmaLinux, Rocky, Oracle Linux, etc. It supports install RPM with Ansible, updating packages, removing them, and even handling Yum Repository Management. This module enabled users to perform a variety of package-related operations, including installation, removal, and updating across multiple systems.

I have explained How Ansible Navigator and the Ansible execution environment can be installed. Click here to read more.

How to Install Packages Using Ansible Yum or DNF Module?

Before working on the yum or dnf module, you can check the description or attributes through the following command and how to use this module in the example section.

ansible-navigator doc ansible.builtin.yum 

ansible-doc ansible.builtin.yum 

You can add the -s option will show attributes before the doc then it will show only attribute information.

How to Install Packages Using Ansible Yum or DNF Module?

Use the yum module for Old CentOS and earlier or dnf for RHEL / CentOS 8+ or Stream Version. Both modules are used in Ansible playbooks to automate package installation across managed nodes.

Ansible Yum or dnf module Example: Basic Structure

The usage of Ansible. builtin. yum or ansible.builtin.dnf. The module follows a simple and intuitive syntax within Ansible playbooks.

- name: Install package 
  hosts: host_pattern
  tasks:
      - name: Install httpd package
        ansible.builtin.yum:
             name: package_name ( eg httpd )
             state: present

Use state: present For an idempotent configuration, the package will only be installed if it isn’t already present.

Here’s a simple playbook for yum install:

In this Ansible Playbook, the state parameter defines the desired outcome (e.g., present, absent). It supports idempotent operations across all target systems.

In this example, the playbook instructs Ansible to install the Apache web server package (httpd) on remote hosts designated as web servers.

The ansible.builtin.yum or ansible.builtin.dnf module empowers administrators and DevOps practitioners to streamline package management tasks within their infrastructure.

What’s the Difference Between Ansible Yum and DNF Modules?

• yum is used on RHEL/CentOS 7 and earlier

• dnf is used on RHEL/CentOS/Rocky/Fedora/AlmaLinux 8+

• dnf is the modern replacement for yum and supports better dependency handling

Package Installation, Removal & Updates

The yum module supports full package management with Ansible. Here are common examples:

Install Packages Using Ansible

- name: Install multiple packages
  ansible.builtin.yum:
    name:
      - vim
      - curl
      - wget
    state: present

Ansible Remove Package

- name: Remove a package
  ansible.builtin.yum:
    name: vsftpd
    state: absent

Update Yum Package Ansible

- name: Update all packages
  ansible.builtin.yum:
    name: "*"
    state: latest

This also fits into use cases like bulk server patching, security updates automation, and multi-node synchronization.

How to Install the Latest Version of a Package with Ansible DNF?

Example:

- name: Install latest version of MariaDB
  dnf:
    name: mariadb
    state: latest

This guarantees you’re using the most recent package from the yum repository or EPEL repository.

Best Practices for Ansible Package Management

• Use state: present or latest only where necessary
• Avoid hardcoding OS-specific modules — use conditionals if managing mixed environments
• Keep your yum or dnf tasks are modular and reusable
• Combine with handlers for restarting services after installs
• Monitor for failures or skipped hosts using the Ansible output

For dynamic environments, use variables to define package lists:

vars:
  packages:
    - httpd
    - firewalld

Then loop through them using:

- name: Install multiple packages
  yum:
    name: "{{ item }}"
    state: present
  loop: "{{ packages }}"

FAQs

About the Author

Sachin G

I’m Sachin Gupta — a freelance IT support specialist and founder of techtransit.org. I’m certified in Linux, Ansible, OpenShift (Red Hat), cPanel, and ITIL, with over 15 years of hands-on experience. I create beginner-friendly Linux tutorials, help with Ansible automation, and offer IT support on platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and PeoplePerHour. Follow Tech Transit for practical tips, hosting guides, and real-world Linux expertise!

www.techtransit.org