Terraform Cloud Automation
This playbook describes the sequential steps required to define and provision cloud infrastructure using HashiCorp's Terraform. It guides through setting up Terraform, writing the configuration, initializing and applying the configuration to automate cloud deployments.
Step 1: Installation
Install Terraform by downloading the appropriate package for your operating system from the Terraform website and follow the installation instructions.
Step 2: Configuration
Define your cloud infrastructure in configuration files with an extension .tf. Use Terraform's declarative language to specify your infrastructure as code.
Step 3: Initialization
Initialize your Terraform workspace using the command terraform init, which will install the necessary plugins and prepare your configuration for execution.
Step 4: Planning
Run terraform plan to create an execution plan. Terraform will determine what actions are necessary to achieve the desired state specified in the configuration files.
Step 5: Applying
Execute the plan by running terraform apply. Terraform will provision the infrastructure as described, giving you the opportunity to review the plan before confirming the action.
Step 6: Monitoring
After applying, you should monitor the state of your infrastructure. Terraform provides commands like terraform state to help manage and understand the current state.
Step 7: Updating
To update your infrastructure, modify your configuration files and repeat the planning and applying steps to realize the changes.
Step 8: Destruction
When you no longer need the infrastructure, you can remove it using terraform destroy, which will terminate the resources defined in your configuration files.
General Notes
Version Control
It's recommended to use version control to manage your Terraform configuration files. This helps in tracking changes and collaborating with others.
Sensitive Data
Be cautious with sensitive data in your configurations. Use variables and secrets management to protect credentials and other sensitive information.
Modules
Terraform modules can be used to create reusable components for your infrastructure, helping to keep your configurations DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself).
State Management
Understand Terraform state management, especially when working in a team. Remote state backends like Terraform Cloud can help with state locking and sharing.