ensure ddclient service is running; default protocols to []

- Add an explicit service state=started enabled=true task so the role is self-healing if the unit is disabled or stopped, rather than relying solely on the restart handler.
- Default ddclient_protocols to [] so the template's for-loop no longer errors when the var is omitted.
- README: note service management in the tagline and document the new ddclient_protocols default.

README.md

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Ansible Role: ddclient
 
-Installs and configures ddclient for dynamic DNS updates.
+Installs ddclient, writes `/etc/ddclient.conf` and `/etc/default/ddclient`, and ensures the `ddclient` service is enabled and running.
 
 ## Example Playbook
 
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ Only applicable if using the IP detection method `fw`.
 
 ### Protocol Configuration
 
+`ddclient_protocols` is a list of DDNS provider entries. Defaults to `[]` — the role runs to completion but ddclient will have no updates to perform until you set it.
+
 **Common keys:**
 
 | Key | Required | Description |

defaults/main.yaml

@@ -28,21 +28,16 @@ ddclient_postscript: ""                 # Script to run after update
 
 # IP Detection configuration
 ddclient_ipv4_detection:
-  method: webv4                         # Method: ip, if, web, fw, cmd
-  source: dyndns                        # Source for web/fw methods
-  address: ""                           # IP address for method=ip
-  interface: ""                         # Network interface (for method=if)
-  command: ""                           # Command to run (for method=cmd)
-  skip: ""                              # Pattern to skip in output
+  method: webv4                         # Method: ipv4, ifv4, webv4, fwv4, cmdv4
+  source: dyndns                        # URL / interface / command / IP, depending on method
 
 ddclient_ipv6_detection:
-  method: webv6                         # Method: ip, if, web, fw, cmd
-  source: dyndns                        # Source for web/fw methods
-  address: ""                           # IP address for method=ip
-  interface: ""                         # Network interface (for method=if)
-  command: ""                           # Command to run (for method=cmd)
-  skip: ""                              # Pattern to skip in output
+  method: webv6                         # Method: ipv6, ifv6, webv6, fwv6, cmdv6
+  source: dyndns                        # URL / interface / command / IP, depending on method
 
-fw_login: ""                          # Firewall login (for method=fw)
-fw_password: ""                       # Firewall password (for method=fw)
+ddclient_fw_login: ""                   # Firewall login (for method=fw)
+ddclient_fw_password: ""                # Firewall password (for method=fw)
+
+# DDNS providers to update
+ddclient_protocols: []
 

tasks/main.yaml

@@ -19,3 +19,9 @@
     owner: root
     mode: "0600"
   notify: Restart ddclient service
+
+- name: Ensure ddclient service is enabled and running
+  ansible.builtin.service:
+    name: ddclient
+    state: started
+    enabled: true

templates/ddclient.conf.j2

@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ debug={{ ddclient_debug | ternary('yes', 'no') }}
 # ============================================================
 # Update Behavior
 # ============================================================
+exec={{ ddclient_exec | ternary('yes', 'no') }}
 retry={{ ddclient_retry | ternary('yes', 'no') }}
 force={{ ddclient_force | ternary('yes', 'no') }}
 {% if ddclient_postscript %}