Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
DevOps Fundamental: Treating Infrastructure as Code
Just as application code follows specific syntax and format, infrastructure provisioning should adhere to defined standards. In essence, infrastructure is managed as code, stored in a version control system which tracks changes and updates over time.
By practicing Infrastructure as Code (IaC), configurations are defined declaratively, allowing for consistency and repeatability. This approach ensures that infrastructure provisioning, orchestration, and deployment processes align with the principles of DevOps, enabling teams to efficiently manage and scale their infrastructure while maintaining reliability and traceability.
Terraform: streamlining Cloud Infrastructure Management
HashiCorp Terraform is an infrastructure-as-code tool that simplifies managing cloud and on-prem resources through human-readable configuration files. These files, which can be versioned, reused, and shared, support a consistent workflow for provisioning and managing infrastructure across its lifecycle. Terraform handles both basic resources like compute, storage, and networking, and complex ones such as DNS and SaaS features.
Deploying with Terraform involves modular code organization for customization and reusability, and parameterized configurations for tailored deployments. The process is divided into two main phases:
- AWS Infrastructure Creation: Infrastructure setup is centralized for consistency and control.
- Network Function Deployment: Using a GitHub repository for code and configuration, deployment is executed through an application pipeline, ensuring efficiency and automation.
AWS CloudFormation: Simplifying Cloud Resource Management
AWS CloudFormation simplifies cloud resource management by offering a unified system for modeling and provisioning AWS and third-party resources. It eliminates the need for multiple tools by providing a single solution for infrastructure mapping and development.
Its key features include:
- Efficient dependency management to navigate complex resource relationships,
- Streamlined modifications and destruction for easy infrastructure iteration
- AWS-native focus for optimal resource management within the AWS ecosystem.
Additionally, it automates service connections and dependencies for seamless integration, and ensures controlled resource modification and deletion with CloudWatch integration for enhanced visibility and management.