Ansible Junos Facts Module: Running RedHat junipernetworks.junos Modules in juniper.device Collection

Ansible Junos Facts Module: Running RedHat junipernetworks.junos Modules in juniper.device Collection

The juniper.device collection allows continued use of RedHat style module paths (junipernetworks.junos.junos_facts). Existing playbooks run unmodified while new automation may adopt juniper.device.facts. You can also execute the RedHat facts task using the juniper.device collection namespace. This post shows:

1. RedHat module path playbook (junipernetworks.junos.junos_facts)
2. Native module path playbook (juniper.device.facts)
3. Executing RedHat task via juniper.device namespace
4. Inventory patterns (NETCONF / PyEZ / local)
5. Returned data fields
6. Facts usage cheat sheet
7. Troubleshooting
8. Summary

---

1. RedHat Module Path Playbook (Unchanged)

Inventory (NETCONF)

[junos]
<Device IP>

[junos:vars]
ansible_network_os=juniper.device.junos
ansible_ssh_user=<username>
ansible_ssh_pass=<password>
ansible_port=22
ansible_connection=ansible.netcommon.netconf

[all:vars]
ansible_python_interpreter=<python interpreter path>

Playbook

---
- name: Gather Junos facts (RedHat module path)
  hosts: junos
  gather_facts: false
  connection: ansible.netcommon.netconf
  collections:
    - junipernetworks.junos

  tasks:
    - name: Collect default subset
      junipernetworks.junos.junos_facts:
      register: rh_facts

    - name: Show facts
      debug:
        var: rh_facts

Run

ansible-playbook -i inventory_rh pb.redhat_facts.yml

Sample Output (Excerpt)

ansible_net_hostname: evoeventtestb
ansible_net_model: mx960
ansible_net_system: junos
ansible_net_version: 25.4I-20250615_dev_common.0.1157

---

2. Native Module Path Playbook (juniper.device.facts)

Inventory (PyEZ Transport)

[junos]
pyez_facts ansible_host=x.x.x.x ansible_user=<user> ansible_ssh_pass=<pass> ansible_port=22 \
ansible_connection=juniper.device.pyez ansible_command_timeout=300

[all:vars]
ansible_python_interpreter=<python interpreter path>

(Local/on-box)

[junos]
localhost ansible_connection=local ansible_python_interpreter=/usr/bin/python3

Playbook

---
- name: Gather Junos facts (native module path)
  hosts: junos
  gather_facts: false
  collections:
    - juniper.device

  tasks:
    - name: Run native facts
      juniper.device.facts:
      register: native_facts

    - name: Show native facts
      debug:
        var: native_facts.ansible_facts.junos

Run

ansible-playbook -i inventory_native pb.native_facts.yml

Sample Output (Excerpt)

hostname: evoeventtestb
model: MX960
serialnumber: VM685037CBB2
version: 25.4I-20250615_dev_common.0.1157
RE0.mastership_state: master
RE1.mastership_state: backup

---

3. Executing RedHat Facts Using juniper.device Namespace

Same RedHat module (junos_facts) callable through juniper.device collection namespace.

[junos]
<Device IP>

[junos:vars]
ansible_network_os=juniper.device.junos
ansible_ssh_user=<username>
ansible_ssh_pass=<password>
ansible_port=22
ansible_connection=ansible.netcommon.netconf

[all:vars]
ansible_python_interpreter=<python interpreter path>

Playbook

---
- name: Gather Junos facts (RedHat module path via juniper.device namespace)
  hosts: junos
  gather_facts: false
  connection: ansible.netcommon.netconf
  collections:
    - juniper.device

  tasks:
    - name: Collect default subset
      juniper.device.junos_facts:
      register: rh_facts

    - name: Show facts
      debug:
        var: rh_facts

Run

ansible-playbook -i inventory_rh pb.redhat_facts.yml

Sample Output (Excerpt)

ansible_net_hostname: evoeventtestb
ansible_net_model: mx960
ansible_net_system: junos
ansible_net_version: 25.4I-20250615_dev_common.0.1157

---

4. Directory Structure Example

_playbooks/
  pb.redhat_facts.yml
  pb.native_facts.yml
inventory_rh
inventory_native

---

5. Returned Data Fields

RedHat Path Key (ansible_facts)	Native Path Key (ansible_facts.junos)	Notes
ansible_net_hostname	hostname	Device host-name
ansible_net_model	model	Chassis model
ansible_net_version	version	Junos version
ansible_net_serialnum	serialnumber	Serial number
(not present)	RE0 / RE1 maps	RE operational states
(not present)	up_time	Human readable uptime
ansible_net_system	(implicit junos)	OS identifier

Native adds richer per-RE/platform context.

---

6. Facts Cheat Sheet (Native)

Goal	Approach
Basic platform data	Run module without params
Hostname	native_facts.ansible_facts.junos.hostname
Serial	native_facts.ansible_facts.junos.serialnumber
RE master state	native_facts.ansible_facts.junos.RE0.mastership_state
Conditional task	when: native_facts.ansible_facts.junos.model == “MX960”

---

7. Troubleshooting

Symptom	Cause	Fix
Warning: NoneType .get	Loader quirk	Ignore if success
Connection failure	NETCONF disabled	set system services netconf ssh
Timeout	Large chassis	Increase ansible_command_timeout
Missing RE1 data	Single RE device	Normal
Empty facts	Auth/privilege	Verify creds & NETCONF

Quick tests:

ssh -s netconf <device-ip>
nc -vz <device-ip> 830

---

8. Summary

• RedHat junipernetworks.junos.junos_facts runs unchanged inside juniper.device.
• Native juniper.device.facts returns enhanced Junos-specific structures.
• Both can coexist; adopt native for new automation while keeping existing