diff --git a/roles/extra_packages/tasks/main.yml b/roles/extra_packages/tasks/main.yml
index 57a66b6b75d7b1beb6f935bfacaea88cd00aba65..bfc45d323e89f13e0525ae7adf04bfa0431cc180 100644
--- a/roles/extra_packages/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/extra_packages/tasks/main.yml
@@ -1,32 +1,18 @@
 ---
-- include_vars: "{{ ansible_distribution }}_{{ ansible_distribution_major_version }}.yml"
+- name: load vars
+  include_vars: "{{ ansible_distribution }}_{{ ansible_distribution_major_version }}.yml"
+  when: extra_packages is not defined
 
-#- name: "Install extra packages"
-#  yum: "name={{ item }} state=present"
-#  with_items: "{{ packages }}"
-#  become: true
-#  become_user: root
-#  when: ansible_os_family == 'RedHat'
-
-- name: "Install package groups"
-  yum: "name={{ item }} state=present"
-  with_items: "{{ package_groups }}"
+- name: "Install extra packages"
+  yum: "name={{ item }} exclude={{ excludes|join(',') }} update_cache=yes state=present"
+  with_items: "{{ extra_packages }}"
   become: true
   become_user: root
   when: ansible_os_family == 'RedHat'
 
-- name: "Install environment groups"
-  yum: "name={{ item }} state=present"
-  with_items: "{{ environment_groups }}"
+- name: "Install extra packages"
+  apt: "name={{ item }} update_cache=yes state=present"
+  with_items: "{{ extra_packages }}"
   become: true
   become_user: root
-  when: ansible_os_family == 'RedHat'
-
-#- name: "Install extra packages"
-#  apt: "name={{ item }} state=present"
-#  with_items: "{{ packages }}"
-#  become: true
-#  become_user: root
-#  when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian'
-
-
+  when: ansible_os_family == 'Debian'
diff --git a/roles/extra_packages/vars/CentOS_7.yml b/roles/extra_packages/vars/CentOS_7.yml
index b2374ccd71d22286a47c79533ca661efd44d59a1..011e97555eaf6ea19870e0ebbbea95ef9aa35156 100644
--- a/roles/extra_packages/vars/CentOS_7.yml
+++ b/roles/extra_packages/vars/CentOS_7.yml
@@ -1,16 +1,8 @@
-# all packages to be installed on centos 7
-
-package_groups:
-    #  - '@development-tools'
+extra_packages:
   - '@Development Tools'
-
-environment_groups:
-    #  - "@^gnome-desktop-environment" #gnome environment
   - '@^Server with GUI'
   - '@^GNOME Desktop'
   - '@^KDE Plasma Workspaces'
-
-packages:
   - lzip
   - screen
   - mailx
diff --git a/roles/extra_packages/vars/Ubuntu_14.yml b/roles/extra_packages/vars/Ubuntu_14.yml
index a9bdb71983ef395f3fc5a23c9d59158a4eeb691e..d9869255c24dfa1bb2fe009f9520a129c7001440 100644
--- a/roles/extra_packages/vars/Ubuntu_14.yml
+++ b/roles/extra_packages/vars/Ubuntu_14.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # all packages to be installed on centos 7
-packages:
+extra_packages:
         - screen
         - mailutils
         - subversion