diff --git a/ansible/roles/status/tasks/main.yml b/ansible/roles/status/tasks/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3da95735e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ansible/roles/status/tasks/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+
+- name: start service
+  command: "service {{service}} status"
+
diff --git a/ansible/status.yml b/ansible/status.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5ffebc551
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ansible/status.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+---
+
+#variable "service" is required
+
+- hosts: "{{ lookup('env','TF_VAR_TESTNET_NAME') }}"
+  roles:
+    - status
+