fix(virtualization): create vmware target folder before vm deploy

README.md

@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ Top-level variables outside `system`/`hypervisor`.
 
 #### `system.content`
 
-Uniform package content source, family-resolved. `source: ''` defaults to `dvd` on `rhel` and to `mirror` everywhere else, AlmaLinux, Rocky and Fedora included: they have public mirrors, RHEL does not. Satellite values come from inventory/vault only, never committed code.
+Uniform package content source, family-resolved. `source: ''` defaults to `dvd` on EL and `mirror` on Debian/Ubuntu/Arch. Satellite values come from inventory/vault only, never committed code.
 
 | Key                        | Type   | Default        | Description                                                        |
 | -------------------------- | ------ | -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
@@ -538,8 +538,6 @@ When `hypervisor.type: vmware` uses the `vmware_tools` connection:
 
 `system.disks[0]` is the OS disk (no `mount.path`). Additional entries define data disks.
 
-On VMware, `device` is resolved on the target from the SCSI address instead: entry N is the disk at target N on the first SCSI controller (N+1 from index 7 on, since unit 7 is reserved). The kernel's `sdX` order is not stable between the install environment and the installed system, so a letter-derived path can point at another disk.
-
 | Key           | Type   | Description                                            |
 | ------------- | ------ | ------------------------------------------------------ |
 | `size`        | number | Disk size in GB (required for virtual)                 |

roles/bootstrap/vars/hardware.yml

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ bootstrap_hardware_packages:
       amd: [amd-ucode]
     firmware_base: []
     firmware:
-      intel: [linux-firmware-intel]      # iwlwifi (WiFi) + i915/xe (GPU) + ibt (BT) firmware live here
+      intel: [linux-firmware-other]      # iwlwifi + i915 firmware live here
       amd: [linux-firmware-amdgpu]
       nvidia: [linux-firmware-nvidia]
       atheros: [linux-firmware-atheros]

roles/bootstrap/vars/main.yml

@@ -206,7 +206,6 @@ bootstrap_debian:
     - openssh-server
     - python3
     - xfsprogs
-    - xz-utils
   extra:
     - bat
     - curl
@@ -259,7 +258,6 @@ bootstrap_ubuntu:
     - openssh-server
     - python3
     - xfsprogs
-    - xz-utils
   extra:
     - bash-completion
     - bat

roles/cleanup/defaults/main.yml

@@ -3,5 +3,3 @@
 cleanup_verify_boot: true
 cleanup_boot_timeout: 300
 cleanup_remove_on_failure: true
-cleanup_poweroff_retries: 24
-cleanup_poweroff_delay: 5

roles/cleanup/tasks/proxmox.yml

@@ -6,30 +6,7 @@
   module_defaults:
     community.proxmox.proxmox_disk: "{{ _proxmox_auth }}"
     community.proxmox.proxmox_kvm: "{{ _proxmox_auth_node }}"
-    community.proxmox.proxmox_vm_info: "{{ _proxmox_auth_node }}"
   block:
-    - name: Wait for the installer environment to power off
-      community.proxmox.proxmox_vm_info:
-        vmid: "{{ system_cfg.id }}"
-      register: cleanup_proxmox_power
-      until: >-
-        ((cleanup_proxmox_power.proxmox_vms | default([]) | first | default({})).status
-         | default('')) == 'stopped'
-      retries: "{{ cleanup_poweroff_retries }}"
-      delay: "{{ cleanup_poweroff_delay }}"
-      failed_when: false
-      no_log: true
-
-    - name: Force the installer environment off when it did not shut down
-      when: >-
-        ((cleanup_proxmox_power.proxmox_vms | default([]) | first | default({})).status
-         | default('')) != 'stopped'
-      community.proxmox.proxmox_kvm:
-        vmid: "{{ system_cfg.id }}"
-        state: stopped
-        force: true
-      no_log: true
-
     - name: Cleanup Setup Disks
       community.proxmox.proxmox_disk:
         name: "{{ hostname }}"
@@ -44,8 +21,8 @@
       failed_when: false
       no_log: true
 
-    - name: Boot the installed OS
+    - name: Start the VM
       community.proxmox.proxmox_kvm:
         vmid: "{{ system_cfg.id }}"
-        state: started
+        state: restarted
       no_log: true

roles/cleanup/tasks/vmware.yml

@@ -5,26 +5,9 @@
   become: false
   module_defaults:
     community.vmware.vmware_guest: "{{ _vmware_auth }}"
-    community.vmware.vmware_guest_info: "{{ _vmware_auth }}"
     vmware.vmware.vm_powerstate: "{{ _vmware_auth }}"
   no_log: true
   block:
-    - name: Wait for the installer environment to power off
-      community.vmware.vmware_guest_info:
-        name: "{{ hostname }}"
-      register: cleanup_vmware_power
-      until: (cleanup_vmware_power.instance.hw_power_status | default('') | lower) == 'poweredoff'
-      retries: "{{ cleanup_poweroff_retries }}"
-      delay: "{{ cleanup_poweroff_delay }}"
-      failed_when: false
-
-    - name: Force the installer environment off when it did not shut down
-      when: (cleanup_vmware_power.instance.hw_power_status | default('') | lower) != 'poweredoff'
-      vmware.vmware.vm_powerstate:
-        name: "{{ hostname }}"
-        state: powered-off
-        force: true
-
     - name: Remove CD-ROM from VM in vCenter
       community.vmware.vmware_guest:
         name: "{{ hostname }}"
@@ -58,7 +41,7 @@
           }}
       failed_when: false
 
-    - name: Boot the installed OS
+    - name: Start VM in vCenter
       vmware.vmware.vm_powerstate:
         name: "{{ hostname }}"
         state: powered-on

roles/configuration/tasks/bootloader.yml

@@ -18,24 +18,13 @@
       register: configuration_bootloader_result
       changed_when: configuration_bootloader_result.rc == 0
 
-    - name: Remove stale EFI boot entries for this OS
+    - name: Check existing EFI boot entries
-      # UEFI NVRAM entries survive a disk wipe (they live in firmware, not on disk).
+      ansible.builtin.command: efibootmgr
-      # A prior install leaves a dead entry, and a case-insensitive duplicate label
+      register: configuration_efi_entries
-      # ("ArchLinux" vs "archlinux") would otherwise win the boot order - the firmware
+      changed_when: false
-      # then falls through to removable media. Delete every entry carrying our label,
-      # then recreate exactly one clean entry.
-      ansible.builtin.shell:
-        cmd: >-
-          set -o pipefail;
-          efibootmgr | grep -iP '^Boot[0-9A-F]{4}\*?\s+{{ _efi_vendor }}\s*$'
-          | grep -oP '^Boot\K[0-9A-F]{4}'
-          | xargs -r -I{} efibootmgr -b {} -B
-        executable: /bin/bash
-      register: _efi_gc_result
-      changed_when: _efi_gc_result.stdout | length > 0
-      failed_when: false
 
-    - name: Create EFI boot entry (efibootmgr -c prepends it to BootOrder)
+    - name: Ensure EFI boot entry exists
+      when: ('* ' + _efi_vendor) not in configuration_efi_entries.stdout
       ansible.builtin.command: >-
         efibootmgr -c
         -L '{{ _efi_vendor }}'
@@ -45,16 +34,15 @@
       register: configuration_efi_entry_result
       changed_when: configuration_efi_entry_result.rc == 0
 
-    - name: Install removable EFI fallback loader
+    - name: Set installed OS as first EFI boot entry
-      # Firmware-agnostic fallback (\EFI\BOOT\BOOTX64.EFI): many consumer firmwares
+      ansible.builtin.shell:
-      # ignore or reset custom NVRAM entries and boot only the removable path.
+        cmd: >-
-      when: _configuration_platform.grub_install
+          set -o pipefail &&
-      ansible.builtin.command: >-
+          efibootmgr | grep -i '{{ _efi_vendor }}' | grep -oP 'Boot\K[0-9A-F]+' | head -1
-        {{ chroot_command }} /usr/bin/install -Dm644
+          | xargs -I{} efibootmgr -o {}
-        {{ partitioning_efi_mountpoint }}/EFI/{{ _efi_vendor }}/{{ _efi_loader }}
+        executable: /bin/bash
-        {{ partitioning_efi_mountpoint }}/EFI/BOOT/BOOTX64.EFI
+      register: _efi_bootorder_result
-      register: _efi_fallback_result
+      changed_when: _efi_bootorder_result.rc == 0
-      changed_when: _efi_fallback_result.rc == 0
 
     - name: Ensure lvm2 for non btrfs filesystems
       when: os == "archlinux" and system_cfg.filesystem != "btrfs"

roles/configuration/tasks/firewall.yml

@@ -12,21 +12,6 @@
     and 'No such file or directory' not in (_firewall_enable.stderr | default(''))
     and 'does not exist' not in (_firewall_enable.stderr | default(''))
 
-# Distro base sets ship the daemon preset-enabled (RHEL @core pulls firewalld in),
-# so opting out has to disable the unit, not merely skip enabling it.
-- name: Disable the firewall daemon in the install chroot
-  when:
-    - firewall_phase == 'install'
-    - _configuration_platform.init_system == 'systemd'
-    - not system_cfg.features.firewall.enabled | bool
-  ansible.builtin.command: "{{ chroot_command }} systemctl disable {{ system_cfg.features.firewall.backend }}"
-  register: _firewall_disable
-  changed_when: "'Removed' in (_firewall_disable.stderr | default(''))"
-  failed_when: >-
-    _firewall_disable.rc != 0
-    and 'No such file or directory' not in (_firewall_disable.stderr | default(''))
-    and 'does not exist' not in (_firewall_disable.stderr | default(''))
-
 # ufw's CLI needs a running kernel and is a no-op in the chroot (leaves ENABLED=no),
 # so its activation and SSH rule are applied here, after reboot.
 - name: Allow SSH through ufw before enabling

roles/configuration/tasks/grub.yml

@@ -43,14 +43,11 @@
           }}
         grub_root_flags: >-
           {{ ['rootflags=subvol=@'] if system_cfg.filesystem == 'btrfs' else [] }}
-        grub_selinux_args: >-
-          {{ [] if system_cfg.features.selinux.enabled | bool else ['selinux=0'] }}
         # String-concat (not list-concat like grub_kernel_cmdline_base below): ansible-lint's
         # jinja render trips on list+list when grub_lvm_args leads the expression here.
         grub_cmdline_linux_base: >-
           {{
-            ((grub_lvm_args | join(' ')) ~ ' ' ~ (grub_selinux_args | join(' ')) ~ ' '
+            ((grub_lvm_args | join(' ')) ~ ' ' ~ (_hardware_profile_kernel_params | default([]) | join(' '))) | trim
-             ~ (_hardware_profile_kernel_params | default([]) | join(' '))) | trim
           }}
         grub_kernel_cmdline_base: >-
           {{
@@ -60,7 +57,6 @@
               + ['ro']
               + grub_lvm_args
               + grub_root_flags
-              + grub_selinux_args
               + (_hardware_profile_kernel_params | default([]))
             )
             | join(' ')

roles/configuration/tasks/satellite_register.yml

@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
     org_id: "{{ system_cfg.content.satellite.org }}"
     activationkey: "{{ system_cfg.content.satellite.activation_key }}"
     environment: "{{ system_cfg.content.satellite.environment | default(omit, true) }}"
+    auto_attach: true
     force_register: true
     server_proxy_hostname: "{{ (system_cfg.content.proxy | urlsplit('hostname')) | default(omit, true) }}"
     server_proxy_port: "{{ (system_cfg.content.proxy | urlsplit('port')) | default(omit, true) }}"

roles/configuration/tasks/selinux.yml

@@ -22,12 +22,10 @@
         mode: "0644"
 
     # Fedora: setfiles segfaults during bootstrap chroot relabeling, so SELinux
-    # is left permissive and expected to relabel on first boot. Opting out writes
+    # is left permissive and expected to relabel on first boot.
-    # disabled here and selinux=0 on the kernel cmdline (grub.yml), the only form
+    - name: Disable SELinux
-    # EL9 honours.
-    - name: Set the SELinux mode
       when: os == "fedora" or not system_cfg.features.selinux.enabled | bool
       ansible.builtin.lineinfile:
         path: /mnt/etc/selinux/config
         regexp: ^SELINUX=
-        line: "SELINUX={{ 'permissive' if system_cfg.features.selinux.enabled | bool else 'disabled' }}"
+        line: SELINUX=permissive

roles/configuration/tasks/services.yml

@@ -54,18 +54,6 @@
     and 'No such file or directory' not in (configuration_enable_service_result.stderr | default(''))
     and 'does not exist' not in (configuration_enable_service_result.stderr | default(''))
 
-- name: Check for the EL qemu-guest-agent RPC allow-list
-  ansible.builtin.stat:
-    path: /mnt/etc/sysconfig/qemu-ga
-  register: configuration_qga_sysconfig
-
-- name: Allow clone-stamping RPCs in the EL qemu-guest-agent allow-list
-  when: configuration_qga_sysconfig.stat.exists
-  ansible.builtin.replace:
-    path: /mnt/etc/sysconfig/qemu-ga
-    regexp: '^(FILTER_RPC_ARGS="--allow-rpcs=(?:(?!guest-exec)[^"])*)"'
-    replace: '\1,guest-exec,guest-exec-status,guest-file-open,guest-file-close,guest-file-read,guest-file-write"'
-
 - name: Enable display manager for selected desktop
   when:
     - _configuration_platform.init_system == 'systemd'

roles/configuration/tasks/sudo.yml

@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@
     validate: /usr/sbin/visudo --check --file=%s
 
 - name: Deploy per-user sudoers rules
-  when: (item.value.sudo | default(false)) not in [false, '', none]
+  # Jinja truthiness: bool true / a rule string => deploy; false / '' / unset => skip.
+  when: item.value.sudo | default(false)
   vars:
     configuration_sudoers_rule: >-
       {{ item.value.sudo if item.value.sudo is string else 'ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL' }}

roles/configuration/tasks/users.yml

@@ -26,22 +26,17 @@
 
 - name: Create user accounts
   vars:
+    configuration_user_group: "{{ _configuration_platform.user_group }}"
     # plaintext is hashed; a pre-computed crypt hash ($6$/$y$/...) passes through.
     configuration_user_pw: >-
       {{ item.value.password if (item.value.password | string)[:1] == '$'
          else item.value.password | password_hash('sha512') }}
-    configuration_user_groups: >-
-      {{ item.value.groups | default(
-           [_configuration_platform.user_group]
-           if (item.value.sudo | default(false)) not in [false, '', none]
-           else []) }}
     configuration_useradd_cmd: >-
       {{ chroot_command }} /usr/sbin/useradd --create-home --user-group
       --uid {{ 1000 + _idx }}
-      {{ ('--groups ' ~ (configuration_user_groups | join(','))) if (configuration_user_groups | length) > 0 else '' }}
+      --groups {{ configuration_user_group }} {{ item.key }}
       {{ ('--password ' ~ configuration_user_pw) if (item.value.password | default('') | string | length > 0) else '' }}
       --shell {{ item.value.shell | default('/bin/bash') }}
-      {{ item.key }}
   ansible.builtin.command: "{{ configuration_useradd_cmd }}"
   loop: "{{ system_cfg.users | dict2items }}"
   loop_control:

roles/environment/tasks/_prepare_installer.yml

@@ -73,25 +73,28 @@
         mode: "0755"
 
     - name: Detect RHEL ISO device
-      ansible.builtin.command: lsblk -rbno NAME,TYPE,SIZE
+      ansible.builtin.command: lsblk -rno NAME,TYPE
       register: environment_lsblk_result
       changed_when: false
 
     - name: Select RHEL ISO device
       vars:
-        _roms: >-
+        _rom_devices: >-
-          {%- set out = [] -%}
+          {{
-          {%- for line in environment_lsblk_result.stdout_lines -%}
+            environment_lsblk_result.stdout_lines
-          {%-   set p = line.split() -%}
+            | map('split', ' ')
-          {%-   if (p | length) >= 3 and p[1] == 'rom' -%}
+            | selectattr('1', 'equalto', 'rom')
-          {%-     set _ = out.append({'name': p[0], 'size': p[2] | int}) -%}
+            | map('first')
-          {%-   endif -%}
+            | map('regex_replace', '^', '/dev/')
-          {%- endfor -%}
+            | list
-          {{ out }}
+          }}
       ansible.builtin.set_fact:
         environment_rhel_iso_device: >-
-          {{ ('/dev/' ~ (_roms | sort(attribute='size') | last).name)
+          {{
-             if (_roms | length) > 0 else '/dev/sr1' }}
+            _rom_devices[-1]
+            if _rom_devices | length > 1
+            else (_rom_devices[0] | default('/dev/sr1'))
+          }}
 
     - name: Mount RHEL ISO
       ansible.posix.mount:

roles/global_defaults/defaults/main.yml

@@ -78,8 +78,7 @@ system_defaults:
   timezone: "Europe/Vienna"
   locale: "en_US.UTF-8"
   keymap: "us"
-  # source: dvd|mirror|satellite|none ('' -> family default: rhel=dvd, else mirror;
+  # source: dvd|mirror|satellite|none ('' -> family default: EL=dvd, else mirror).
-  # almalinux/rocky/fedora have public mirrors, rhel does not).
   # satellite values come from inventory/vault only, never committed code.
   content:
     source: ""

roles/global_defaults/tasks/_normalize_disks.yml

@@ -94,7 +94,6 @@
 
     - name: Set install_drive from primary disk
       when:
-        - install_drive is not defined
         - system_disks_cfg | length > 0
         - system_disks_cfg[0].device | string | length > 0
       ansible.builtin.set_fact:

roles/global_defaults/tasks/system.yml

@@ -35,12 +35,10 @@
         }, recursive=True)
       }}
 
-# Keyed on os, not hostname: inventories set hostname themselves, and doing so
-# would otherwise skip enrichment and leave os undefined for validation.
 - name: Check if pre-computed system_cfg needs enrichment
   when: system_cfg is defined
   ansible.builtin.set_fact:
-    _bootstrap_needs_enrichment: "{{ os is not defined }}"
+    _bootstrap_needs_enrichment: "{{ hostname is not defined }}"
 
 - name: Merge pre-computed system_cfg with bootstrap system_defaults
   when:
@@ -81,7 +79,9 @@
     os_version: "{{ system_cfg.version | default('') | string }}"
 
 - name: Normalize disk configuration (pre-computed system_cfg)
-  when: system_cfg is defined
+  when:
+    - system_cfg is defined
+    - install_drive is not defined
   ansible.builtin.include_tasks: _normalize_disks.yml
 
 # Runs on every path before validation, so an empty firewall.backend / content.source

roles/global_defaults/tasks/validation.yml

@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@
     _autologin: "{{ system_cfg.features.desktop.autologin | default(false) }}"
   ansible.builtin.assert:
     that:
-      - _autologin is boolean and not _autologin or (_autologin is string and _autologin | length > 0 and _autologin in system_cfg.users | map(attribute='name'))
+      - _autologin is boolean and not _autologin or (_autologin is string and _autologin | length > 0 and _autologin in system_cfg.users)
     fail_msg: >-
       desktop.autologin must be false or a username string present in
       system.users; got '{{ _autologin }}'. Bool true is not accepted - the
@@ -355,12 +355,14 @@
 
 - name: Validate at least one user with a password is defined
   vars:
-    _pw_users: "{{ system_cfg.users | selectattr('password', 'defined') | map(attribute='password') | map('string') | reject('equalto', '') | list }}"
+    _pw_users: "{{ system_cfg.users | dict2items | selectattr('value.password', 'defined') | list }}"
   ansible.builtin.assert:
     that:
-      - system_cfg.users | default([]) | length > 0
+      - system_cfg.users | default({}) | length > 0
       - _pw_users | length > 0
-    fail_msg: "At least one user with a non-empty password must be defined in system.users."
+      - _pw_users[0].key | string | length > 0
+      - _pw_users[0].value.password | string | length > 0
+    fail_msg: "At least one user with a password must be defined in system.users."
     quiet: true
   no_log: true
 

roles/partitioning/tasks/_resolve_vmware_disks.yml

@@ -1,61 +0,0 @@
----
-# The virtualization role attaches system.disks to SCSI controller 0 in list order, and
-# vSphere never gives a disk unit 7 (the controller's own address). The kernel's sdX order
-# is not that order and differs between the install environment and the installed OS, so
-# a disk derived as /dev/sd<letter of its index> can be the wrong one. Resolve by target.
-- name: List disks with their SCSI address
-  ansible.builtin.command: lsblk -dnpo NAME,TYPE,HCTL
-  register: partitioning_vmware_lsblk
-  changed_when: false
-
-- name: Map SCSI targets to devices
-  vars:
-    _scsi: >-
-      {%- set out = [] -%}
-      {%- for line in partitioning_vmware_lsblk.stdout_lines -%}
-      {%-   set p = line.split() -%}
-      {%-   if (p | length) == 3 and p[1] == 'disk' and p[2] is match('^\d+:0:\d+:0$') -%}
-      {%-     set _ = out.append({'name': p[0], 'host': p[2].split(':')[0], 'target': p[2].split(':')[2]}) -%}
-      {%-   endif -%}
-      {%- endfor -%}
-      {{ out }}
-  ansible.builtin.set_fact:
-    partitioning_vmware_hosts: "{{ _scsi | map(attribute='host') | unique | list }}"
-    partitioning_vmware_targets: "{{ _scsi | items2dict(key_name='target', value_name='name') }}"
-    partitioning_vmware_target_count: "{{ _scsi | length }}"
-
-- name: Assert the system disks sit on one SCSI controller with unique targets
-  ansible.builtin.assert:
-    that:
-      - partitioning_vmware_hosts | length == 1
-      - partitioning_vmware_targets | length == partitioning_vmware_target_count | int
-    fail_msg: >-
-      Expected every disk on one SCSI controller with unique targets, got
-      {{ partitioning_vmware_lsblk.stdout_lines | select('search', ' disk ') | list }}.
-    quiet: true
-
-- name: Assert each system disk has a device at its SCSI target
-  vars:
-    _target: "{{ (idx if idx < 7 else idx + 1) | string }}"
-  ansible.builtin.assert:
-    that:
-      - _target in partitioning_vmware_targets
-    fail_msg: "system.disks[{{ idx }}] ({{ item.size }} GB) expects a disk at SCSI target {{ _target }}, none found."
-    quiet: true
-  loop: "{{ system_cfg.disks }}"
-  loop_control:
-    index_var: idx
-    label: "{{ idx }}"
-
-- name: Point system disks and install_drive at the resolved devices
-  vars:
-    _disks: >-
-      {%- set out = [] -%}
-      {%- for d in system_cfg.disks -%}
-      {%-   set dev = partitioning_vmware_targets[(loop.index0 if loop.index0 < 7 else loop.index0 + 1) | string] -%}
-      {%-   set _ = out.append(d | combine({'device': dev, 'partition': dev ~ '1'})) -%}
-      {%- endfor -%}
-      {{ out }}
-  ansible.builtin.set_fact:
-    system_cfg: "{{ system_cfg | combine({'disks': _disks}) }}"
-    install_drive: "{{ _disks[0].device }}"

roles/partitioning/tasks/main.yml

@@ -1,10 +1,4 @@
 ---
-- name: Resolve VMware disks by SCSI target
-  when:
-    - hypervisor_type == "vmware"
-    - system_cfg.type == "virtual"
-  ansible.builtin.include_tasks: _resolve_vmware_disks.yml
-
 - name: Detect system sizing
   ansible.builtin.include_tasks: _detect_sizing.yml
 

roles/system_check/tasks/_placement.yml

@@ -1,253 +0,0 @@
----
-- name: Collect the boot media this run attaches
-  ansible.builtin.set_fact:
-    system_check_media: >-
-      {{ [{'name': 'boot_iso', 'value': boot_iso}]
-         + ([{'name': 'rhel_iso', 'value': rhel_iso}]
-            if (rhel_iso | default('') | string | length > 0) else []) }}
-
-- name: Verify vCenter boot media and placement target
-  when: hypervisor_type == "vmware"
-  delegate_to: localhost
-  become: false
-  module_defaults:
-    group/community.vmware.vmware:
-      hostname: "{{ hypervisor_cfg.url }}"
-      username: "{{ hypervisor_cfg.username }}"
-      password: "{{ hypervisor_cfg.password }}"
-      validate_certs: "{{ hypervisor_cfg.certs | bool }}"
-  block:
-    - name: Assert the boot media is a datastore path
-      ansible.builtin.assert:
-        that:
-          - item.value is match('^\\[[^\\]]+\\]\\s*\\S')
-        fail_msg: |
-          {{ item.name }} is "{{ item.value }}", which is not a vSphere datastore path.
-          Set {{ item.name }} to the form "[datastore] folder/file.iso",
-          for example "[ssdmsa_lun1] ISO/SGBoot-2026.06.09-x86_64.iso".
-        quiet: true
-      loop: "{{ system_check_media }}"
-      loop_control:
-        label: "{{ item.name }}"
-
-    - name: Resolve the datastores this run depends on
-      ansible.builtin.set_fact:
-        system_check_datastores_needed: >-
-          {%- set ns = namespace(refs=[{'source': 'hypervisor.storage',
-                                        'datastore': hypervisor_cfg.storage, 'path': ''}]) -%}
-          {%- for media in system_check_media -%}
-          {%- set ns.refs = ns.refs + [{
-                'source': media.name,
-                'datastore': media.value | regex_replace('^\\[([^\\]]+)\\].*$', '\\1'),
-                'path': media.value | regex_replace('^\\[[^\\]]+\\]\\s*', '')
-              }] -%}
-          {%- endfor -%}
-          {{ ns.refs }}
-
-    - name: Query the ESXi placement host
-      when: hypervisor_cfg.node | default('') | length > 0
-      community.vmware.vmware_host_facts:
-        esxi_hostname: "{{ hypervisor_cfg.node }}"
-      register: system_check_esxi
-      delegate_facts: true
-      until: system_check_esxi.ansible_facts is defined
-      retries: 3
-      delay: 10
-      failed_when: false
-      changed_when: false
-      no_log: true
-
-    - name: Assert the ESXi placement host is readable
-      when: hypervisor_cfg.node | default('') | length > 0
-      ansible.builtin.assert:
-        that:
-          - system_check_esxi.ansible_facts is defined
-        fail_msg: |
-          ESXi host {{ hypervisor_cfg.node }} (hypervisor.node) could not be read from vCenter {{ hypervisor_cfg.url }}.
-          {{ system_check_esxi.msg | default('Unknown error') }}
-          Set hypervisor.node to an ESXi host in datacenter {{ hypervisor_cfg.datacenter }},
-          or clear hypervisor.node and set hypervisor.cluster instead.
-        quiet: true
-
-    - name: Assert the ESXi placement host can take a new VM
-      when: hypervisor_cfg.node | default('') | length > 0
-      ansible.builtin.assert:
-        that:
-          - system_check_esxi.ansible_facts.ansible_host_connection_state == "connected"
-          - not (system_check_esxi.ansible_facts.ansible_in_maintenance_mode | bool)
-        fail_msg: |
-          ESXi host {{ hypervisor_cfg.node }} (hypervisor.node) cannot take a new VM:
-          connection state is {{ system_check_esxi.ansible_facts.ansible_host_connection_state }},
-          maintenance mode is {{ system_check_esxi.ansible_facts.ansible_in_maintenance_mode }}.
-          Wait for the host to come back, or set hypervisor.node to another host.
-        quiet: true
-
-    - name: Query the datastores of the placement cluster
-      when: hypervisor_cfg.node | default('') | length == 0
-      community.vmware.vmware_datastore_info:
-        cluster: "{{ hypervisor_cfg.cluster }}"
-      register: system_check_cluster
-      until: system_check_cluster.datastores is defined
-      retries: 3
-      delay: 10
-      failed_when: false
-      changed_when: false
-      no_log: true
-
-    - name: Assert the placement cluster is readable
-      when: hypervisor_cfg.node | default('') | length == 0
-      ansible.builtin.assert:
-        that:
-          - system_check_cluster.datastores is defined
-        fail_msg: |
-          Cluster {{ hypervisor_cfg.cluster }} (hypervisor.cluster) could not be read from vCenter {{ hypervisor_cfg.url }}.
-          {{ system_check_cluster.msg | default('Unknown error') }}
-          Set hypervisor.cluster to a cluster in datacenter {{ hypervisor_cfg.datacenter }},
-          or clear hypervisor.cluster and pin hypervisor.node instead.
-        quiet: true
-
-    - name: Resolve the datastores available at the placement target
-      ansible.builtin.set_fact:
-        system_check_target: >-
-          {{ ('ESXi host ' ~ hypervisor_cfg.node ~ ' (hypervisor.node)')
-             if (hypervisor_cfg.node | default('') | length > 0)
-             else ('cluster ' ~ hypervisor_cfg.cluster ~ ' (hypervisor.cluster)') }}
-        system_check_datastores_available: >-
-          {{ (system_check_esxi.ansible_facts.ansible_datastore | map(attribute='name') | list)
-             if (hypervisor_cfg.node | default('') | length > 0)
-             else (system_check_cluster.datastores | map(attribute='name') | list) }}
-
-    - name: Assert every datastore this run needs is available at the placement target
-      ansible.builtin.assert:
-        that:
-          - item.datastore in system_check_datastores_available
-        fail_msg: |
-          Datastore {{ item.datastore }} (from {{ item.source }}) is not available on {{ system_check_target }}.
-          Datastores available there: {{ system_check_datastores_available | join(', ') }}.
-          Point {{ item.source }} at one of those datastores, or move placement to a host or cluster
-          that mounts {{ item.datastore }}.
-        quiet: true
-      loop: "{{ system_check_datastores_needed }}"
-      loop_control:
-        label: "{{ item.source }}: {{ item.datastore }}"
-
-    - name: Query the boot media on its datastore
-      community.vmware.vsphere_file:
-        datacenter: "{{ hypervisor_cfg.datacenter }}"
-        datastore: "{{ item.datastore }}"
-        path: "{{ item.path }}"
-        state: file
-      register: system_check_media_files
-      # A missing file fails with status 404; a dropped vCenter connection fails with status None.
-      until: system_check_media_files is not failed or system_check_media_files.status is not none
-      retries: 3
-      delay: 10
-      failed_when: false
-      changed_when: false
-      loop: "{{ system_check_datastores_needed | rejectattr('source', 'equalto', 'hypervisor.storage') | list }}"
-      loop_control:
-        label: "{{ item.source }}"
-
-    - name: Assert the boot media exists on its datastore
-      ansible.builtin.assert:
-        that:
-          - (item.status | default(0)) != 404
-        fail_msg: |
-          {{ item.item.source }} points at "[{{ item.item.datastore }}] {{ item.item.path }}",
-          which does not exist on datastore {{ item.item.datastore }}.
-          Set {{ item.item.source }} to a file that exists there, normally the current SGBoot ISO.
-        quiet: true
-      loop: "{{ system_check_media_files.results }}"
-      loop_control:
-        label: "{{ item.item.source }}"
-
-- name: Verify Proxmox boot media
-  when: hypervisor_type == "proxmox"
-  delegate_to: localhost
-  become: false
-  module_defaults:
-    community.proxmox.proxmox_storage_contents_info:
-      api_host: "{{ hypervisor_cfg.url }}"
-      api_user: "{{ hypervisor_cfg.username }}"
-      api_password: "{{ hypervisor_cfg.password | default(omit, true) }}"
-      api_token_id: "{{ hypervisor_cfg.token_id | default(omit, true) }}"
-      api_token_secret: "{{ hypervisor_cfg.token_secret | default(omit, true) }}"
-  block:
-    - name: Assert the boot media is a storage volume id
-      ansible.builtin.assert:
-        that:
-          - item.value is match('^[^:]+:iso/\\S')
-        fail_msg: |
-          {{ item.name }} is "{{ item.value }}", which is not a Proxmox volume id.
-          Set {{ item.name }} to the form "<storage>:iso/<file>.iso",
-          for example "local:iso/SGBoot-2026.06.09-x86_64.iso".
-        quiet: true
-      loop: "{{ system_check_media }}"
-      loop_control:
-        label: "{{ item.name }}"
-
-    - name: Query the ISO volumes on the Proxmox node
-      community.proxmox.proxmox_storage_contents_info:
-        node: "{{ hypervisor_cfg.node }}"
-        storage: "{{ item.value | regex_replace('^([^:]+):.*$', '\\1') }}"
-        content: iso
-      register: system_check_proxmox_media
-      failed_when: false
-      changed_when: false
-      loop: "{{ system_check_media }}"
-      loop_control:
-        label: "{{ item.name }}"
-
-    - name: Assert the boot media storage serves ISOs on the Proxmox node
-      ansible.builtin.assert:
-        that:
-          - item.proxmox_storage_content is defined
-        fail_msg: |
-          Storage {{ item.item.value | regex_replace('^([^:]+):.*$', '\\1') }} (from {{ item.item.name }})
-          does not serve ISO content on Proxmox node {{ hypervisor_cfg.node }}.
-          {{ item.msg | default('Unknown error') }}
-          Point {{ item.item.name }} at a storage that is enabled for ISO images on that node,
-          or change hypervisor.node.
-        quiet: true
-      loop: "{{ system_check_proxmox_media.results }}"
-      loop_control:
-        label: "{{ item.item.name }}"
-
-    - name: Assert the boot media exists on the Proxmox node
-      ansible.builtin.assert:
-        that:
-          - item.item.value in (item.proxmox_storage_content | map(attribute='volid') | list)
-        fail_msg: |
-          {{ item.item.name }} points at "{{ item.item.value }}", which does not exist on Proxmox node
-          {{ hypervisor_cfg.node }}.
-          ISO volumes on that storage: {{ item.proxmox_storage_content | map(attribute='volid') | join(', ') }}.
-          Set {{ item.item.name }} to one of those volumes.
-        quiet: true
-      loop: "{{ system_check_proxmox_media.results }}"
-      loop_control:
-        label: "{{ item.item.name }}"
-
-- name: Verify libvirt boot media
-  when: hypervisor_type == "libvirt"
-  delegate_to: localhost
-  become: false
-  block:
-    - name: Stat the libvirt boot media
-      ansible.builtin.stat:
-        path: "{{ item.value }}"
-      register: system_check_libvirt_media
-      loop: "{{ system_check_media }}"
-      loop_control:
-        label: "{{ item.name }}"
-
-    - name: Assert the libvirt boot media exists
-      ansible.builtin.assert:
-        that:
-          - item.stat.exists
-        fail_msg: |
-          {{ item.item.name }} points at "{{ item.item.value }}", which does not exist on the libvirt host.
-          Set {{ item.item.name }} to the path of an ISO file that exists there.
-        quiet: true
-      loop: "{{ system_check_libvirt_media.results }}"
-      loop_control:
-        label: "{{ item.item.name }}"

roles/system_check/tasks/main.yml

@@ -82,11 +82,6 @@
             name: "{{ hostname }}"
             folder: "{{ system_cfg.path if system_cfg.path | length > 0 else omit }}"
           register: system_check_vmware_check_result
-          until: >-
-            not system_check_vmware_check_result.failed
-            or (system_check_vmware_check_result.msg is search('non-existing VM'))
-          retries: 3
-          delay: 10
           failed_when: false
           changed_when: false
           no_log: true
@@ -137,7 +132,3 @@
           To avoid data loss, the playbook will not overwrite or delete existing VMs.
           Please choose a different hostname or remove the existing VM manually before proceeding.
         quiet: true
-
-- name: Verify boot media and placement target
-  when: system_cfg.type == "virtual"
-  ansible.builtin.include_tasks: _placement.yml

tests/content/content_fixtures.yml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 # Raw system.content input -> expected normalized system_cfg.content. Covers family
-# source defaults (rhel=dvd, else mirror), url pass-through, satellite inputs, and the
+# source defaults (EL=dvd, else mirror), url pass-through, satellite inputs, and the
 # Arch reflector lock-out (dropped only when a custom mirror url is set).
 content_fixtures:
   - name: arch-mirror-url-drops-reflector