Test SSH connection with the Ansible ping module

---

###

## First play: Dynamically configure SSH user based on test

##

- hosts: "{{ host_group }}"

  gather_facts: false  # don't try to ssh yet!!

  vars:

    ansible_ssh_user: "{{ username }}"

  tasks:

    - name: "Test SSH connection"

      ping:  # <-- no args needed

      ignore_unreachable: true

      ignore_errors: true

      changed_when: false

      register: ssh_test

    - name: "Fall back to root user?"

      when: ssh_test.unreachable is defined

      connection: local

      set_fact:

        ansible_ssh_user: root

###

## Next play: Do something 

###

- hosts: "{{ host_group }}"

  tasks:

    - name: your task here

      # ...