Module Overview

1. Module Overview

Hi there. Welcome to Module 2: Terms and Concepts. This module elaborates on the Terraform workflow that was introduced in Module 1. Now this is going to be a very short module; while there's a lot to cover about how to author infrastructure, this module explores the foundation concepts you’ll need to be familiar with before getting into the details of code constructs such as resources variables and output values. This module includes key concepts and terminology and the basics of the HashiCorp Language – or HCL. Wondering what HCL language looks like? What do resources mean in the Terraform world? This module is for you. This module will cover each phase of the Terraform workflow, from author to apply. You’ll learn to create basic configuration files and explore the HCL language. HCL is similar to JSON, easy to learn, and powerful for configuring infrastructure resources. You’ll learn about the initialize phase, which includes providers. Next comes the plan and apply phases, where you’ll examine the purpose of a few important terraform commands. This module will also cover an optional phase called validate, where you’ll learn about the Terraform validator tool. And it concludes by describing how to create, update, and destroy Google Cloud resources using Terraform. This module concludes with a short demo on creating infrastructure objects, a hands-on lab to apply your knowledge, and a recap of topics covered in the module. Let’s get started!

2. Let's practice!

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This exercise is part of the course

Getting Started with Terraform for Google Cloud

BeginnerSkill Level

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This section welcomes learners to the Google Cloud Fundamentals: Core Infrastructure course, and provides an overview of the course structure and goals.

Exercise 1: Course Introduction

This is an introductory module that covers the business need for Terraform. We’ll start with the basics by providing an overview of infrastructure as code (IaC), which is the basic concept for Terraform. We will explore how Terraform can be used as an IaC tool on Google Cloud and also cover its features and benefits. We’ll then look at how Terraform transforms lines of code into real infrastructure on Google Cloud.

Exercise 1: Module Overview Exercise 2: Infrastructure as Code Exercise 3: Terraform Overview Exercise 4: Using Terraform Exercise 5: Quiz : Introduction to Terraform for Google Cloud — Question 1 Exercise 6: Quiz : Introduction to Terraform for Google Cloud — Question 2 Exercise 7: Quiz : Introduction to Terraform for Google Cloud — Question 3 Exercise 8: Quiz : Introduction to Terraform for Google Cloud — Question 4 Exercise 9: Module Summary

In this module, we introduce you to HashiCorp Language and discuss the terms and concepts involved in authoring a Terraform configuration. We also explore some of the important Terraform commands involved in managing the terraform configuration. Upon completion of this module, you will be able to interpret what each code block means, create basic configuration files within Terraform and be able to explain the purpose of a few few important terraform commands and we will also explore what a Validator tool is.`

Exercise 1: Module Overview

Current Exercise

Exercise 2: Terraform Configurations and the HashiCorp Language Exercise 3: Author Phase Terms and Concepts Exercise 4: Terraform Commands Exercise 5: The Terraform Validator Exercise 6: Demo - Terraform Workflow Exercise 7: Lab Intro: Infrastructure as Code with Terraform Exercise 8: Infrastructure as Code with Terraform Exercise 9: Quiz: Terms and Concepts — Question 1 Exercise 10: Quiz: Terms and Concepts — Question 2 Exercise 11: Quiz: Terms and Concepts — Question 3 Exercise 12: Module Summary

In this module, you will explore more about resources, variables, and output resources. We will begin by exploring how to create infrastructure components using resources and then explore how Terraform handles dependencies within resources. While we have been covering resource creation by using hard-code resource arguments, we will explore how you can parameterize a given configuration using variables. We will explore the syntax to declare, define and use them within your configuration. We will then discuss how you can export resource attributes outside the resource declaration using output values. We will then wrap up the module by discovering how you can simplify code authoring using Terraform registry, and Cloud Foundation Toolkit.

Exercise 1: Module Overview Exercise 2: Introduction to Resources Exercise 3: Meta-arguments for Resources Exercise 4: Resource Dependencies Exercise 5: Variables Exercise 6: Variables Best Practices Exercise 7: Output Values Exercise 8: Terraform Registry and Cloud Foundation Toolkit Exercise 9: Lab Intro: Creating Resource Dependencies with Terraform Exercise 10: Creating Resource Dependencies with Terraform Exercise 11: Quiz: Writing Infrastructure Code for Google Cloud — Question 1 Exercise 12: Quiz: Writing Infrastructure Code for Google Cloud — Question 2 Exercise 13: Quiz: Writing Infrastructure Code for Google Cloud — Question 3 Exercise 14: Quiz: Writing Infrastructure Code for Google Cloud — Question 4 Exercise 15: Module Summary

You will explore what modules are, how to use them from a public registry, how to use modules to reuse configurations, and parameterize configurations using input variables. You will also explore how to use output values to access resource attributes outside of the module.

Exercise 1: Module Overview Exercise 2: Introduction to Terraform Modules Exercise 3: Modules use cases and benefits Exercise 4: Reuse Configurations with Modules Exercise 5: Variables and Outputs Exercise 6: Best Practices and a Real Time Scenario Exercise 7: Lab Intro: Automating the Deployment of Infrastructure Using Terraform Exercise 8: Automating the Deployment of Infrastructure Using Terraform Exercise 9: Quiz: Organizing and Reusing Configuration with Terraform Modules — Question 1 Exercise 10: Quiz: Organizing and Reusing Configuration with Terraform Modules — Question 2 Exercise 11: Quiz: Organizing and Reusing Configuration with Terraform Modules — Question 3 Exercise 12: Quiz: Organizing and Reusing Configuration with Terraform Modules — Question 4 Exercise 13: Module Summary

The module starts with an introduction to Terraform state. You’ll then learn about the different ways to store Terraform state. Later in the module you’ll explore the benefits of storing the state file in a remote location. While there are many remote locations in which you can store the state file, this module describes how to store it in a Google Cloud Storage Bucket. You’ll wrap up the module by learning best practices for working with state files.

Exercise 1: Module Overview Exercise 2: Introduction to Terraform State Exercise 3: Storing State Files Exercise 4: Terraform State Best Practices Exercise 5: Lab Intro: Creating a Remote Backend Exercise 6: Creating a Remote Backend Exercise 7: Quiz: Introduction to Terraform State — Question 1 Exercise 8: Quiz: Introduction to Terraform State — Question 2 Exercise 9: Module Summary

In this final section, we review what's been presented in this course.

Exercise 1: Course Summary Exercise 2: Course Resource: All Slides