Playbook

The ETCD module provides two core playbooks. Use etcd.yml to install and configure etcd clusters. Use etcd-rm.yml to remove clusters or members.

etcd.yml

Playbook source: etcd.yml

This playbook installs and configures an etcd cluster on the hardcoded etcd group. Then it starts the etcd service.

The following subtasks are available in etcd.yml:

• etcd_assert : Validate etcd identity parameters (etcd_seq must be defined as a non-negative integer)
• etcd_install : Install etcd packages
• etcd_dir : Create etcd data and configuration directories
• etcd_config : Generate etcd configuration
  • etcd_conf : Generate etcd main config file /etc/etcd/etcd.conf
  • etcd_cert : Generate etcd TLS certificates (CA, server cert, private key)
• etcd_member : Add new member to existing cluster (only runs when etcd_init=existing)
• etcd_launch : Launch etcd service
• etcd_auth : Enable RBAC authentication (create root user and enable auth)
• etcd_register : Register etcd to VictoriaMetrics monitoring

etcd-rm.yml

Playbook source: etcd-rm.yml

A dedicated playbook for removing etcd clusters or individual members. The following subtasks are available in etcd-rm.yml:

• etcd_safeguard : Check safeguard and abort if enabled
• etcd_pause : Pause for 3 seconds, allowing user to abort with Ctrl-C
• etcd_deregister : Remove etcd registration from VictoriaMetrics monitoring targets
• etcd_leave : Try graceful leaving etcd cluster before purge
• etcd_svc : Stop and disable etcd service with systemd
• etcd_data : Remove etcd data (disable with etcd_rm_data=false)
• etcd_pkg : Uninstall etcd packages (enable with etcd_rm_pkg=true)

The removal playbook uses the etcd_remove role with the following configurable parameters:

• etcd_safeguard: Prevents accidental removal when set to true
• etcd_rm_data: Controls whether ETCD data is deleted (default: true)
• etcd_rm_pkg: Controls whether ETCD packages are uninstalled (default: false)

Demo

Cheatsheet

Etcd Installation & Configuration:

./etcd.yml                                      # Initialize etcd cluster
./etcd.yml -t etcd_launch                       # Restart entire etcd cluster
./etcd.yml -t etcd_conf                         # Refresh /etc/etcd/etcd.conf with latest state
./etcd.yml -t etcd_cert                         # Regenerate etcd TLS certificates
./etcd.yml -l 10.10.10.12 -e etcd_init=existing # Scale out: add new member to existing cluster

Etcd Removal & Cleanup:

./etcd-rm.yml -l 10.10.10.12                       # Leave, deregister, stop, and delete local data by default
./etcd-rm.yml -l 10.10.10.12 -e etcd_rm_data=false # Leave, deregister, and stop, preserving local data/config
./etcd-rm.yml -l 10.10.10.12 -e etcd_rm_pkg=true   # Also uninstall Etcd packages
./etcd-rm.yml -l etcd                              # Destroy the entire cluster and its local data

Convenience Scripts:

bin/etcd-add <ip>                               # Add new member to existing cluster (recommended)
bin/etcd-rm <ip>                                # Remove specific member from cluster (recommended)
bin/etcd-rm                                     # Remove entire etcd cluster

Safeguard

The ETCD module provides a safeguard against accidental deletion. Control it with etcd_safeguard. The default is false, which disables the safeguard.

After you initialize a production etcd cluster, we recommend that you enable the safeguard. This helps prevent accidental deletion of existing instances:

etcd:
  hosts:
    10.10.10.10: { etcd_seq: 1 }
    10.10.10.11: { etcd_seq: 2 }
    10.10.10.12: { etcd_seq: 3 }
  vars:
    etcd_cluster: etcd
    etcd_safeguard: true  # Enable safeguard protection

If etcd_safeguard is true, etcd-rm.yml aborts before any deregistration, cluster-leave, service-stop, or deletion action. This boolean guard does not check whether the instance is running. Override it with a command-line parameter:

./etcd-rm.yml -l <exact-target> -e etcd_safeguard=false  # Override only after verifying target and backups

After a real run, inspect etcdctl member list, endpoint health, and remaining quorum, regardless of the safeguard value. A successful task status does not verify the runtime state.