Run salt states twice with different pillar data? - salt-stack

Question

I have set up pillar data for websites, e.g. web_root, virtualhost and mysql:
web_root:
config_file: salt://some/path.conf
key: some data
directory_name: directoryA
virtualhost:
config_file: salt://some/path.conf
name: websiteA
mysql:
database:
- websiteA_db
These map to states for web_root, virtualhost and mysql (using formula).
I'd like to use have a minion run these states multiple times, using separate pillar data, e.g.
include:
- apache
- php
{% for instance in [instanceA, instanceB] -%}
{% load pillar data /pillar/{{ instance }} -%}
- web_root #run the state
- virtualhost #run the state
- mysql #run the state
{% endfor -%}
Is this possible? I know I can set up pillar data like so:
web_root:
instanceA:
config_file: salt://some/pathA.conf
key: some data
directory_name: directoryA
instanceB:
config_file: salt://some/pathB.conf
key: some data
directory_name: directoryB
virtualhost:
instanceA:
config_file: salt://some/pathA.conf
name: websiteA
instanceB:
config_file: salt://some/pathB.conf
name: websiteB
mysql:
database:
- websiteA_db
- websiteB_db
But it means I have to add loops to each state file, making it less readable as well as use different syntax, e.g. for mysql which is a formula with set syntax requirements.

Answer 1

You'll want to do something like this:
Pillar Data
web_root:
instances:
A:
- name: A
- key: key_A_data
B:
- name: B
- key: key_B_data
State file
{% set names = salt['pillar.get']('web_root:instances') %}
apache:
pkg.installed: []
{% for name in names %}
instance{{ name }}:
- config_file: salt://some/path{{ name }}.conf
- key: {{ key }}
- directory_name: directory{{ name }}
{% endfor %}
Then just do the same thing for the rest of your objects. This way you don't have to change your state file when you add objects to the pillar.