Terraform

Multi-Cloud Infrastructures with Terraform

Building Multi-Cloud Infrastructures with Terraform: A Personal Journey

Managing and provisioning cloud resources can be challenging, especially when dealing with multiple cloud providers. I recently embarked on a journey to build a multi-cloud infrastructure, specifically focusing on Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure. In this post, I'll share what I did, the steps I took, why I chose this approach, and the benefits in comparison to other options. Terraform was the tool I chose for this undertaking, and here's why:

AWS Configuration with Terraform (main.tf)

1. Required Providers

terraform {
required_providers {
aws = {
source  = "hashicorp/aws"
version = "~> 2.0"
}
}
}

I specified AWS as the required provider. It was essential to select the right version to ensure compatibility.

2. AWS Provider Configuration

provider "aws" {
region = "us-east-1"
}

I chose the us-east-1 region for its reliability and extensive service offerings.

3. Resources

resource "aws_vpc" "my_vpc" { ... }
resource "aws_subnet" "my_subnet" { ... }
resource "aws_instance" "my_instance" { ... }

VPC: I created a VPC to define a separate network space.
Subnet: To segment the network further, I added a subnet.
Instance: I launched an EC2 instance, selecting the t2.micro type for cost efficiency.

Azure Configuration with Terraform (azure.tf)

1. Required Providers

terraform {
required_providers {
azurerm = {
source  = "hashicorp/azurerm"
version = "=3.0.0"
}
}
}

I told Terraform to use the Azure provider, making sure to use the right version.

2. Azure Provider Configuration

provider "azurerm" {
features {}
}

Here, I enabled specific features related to Azure.

3. Resources

resource "azurerm_resource_group" "rg" { ... }
resource "azurerm_virtual_network" "main" { ... }
resource "azurerm_subnet" "web" { ... }

Resource Group: I defined a container to manage and organize Azure resources.
Virtual Network: I created a virtual network to isolate my resources within Azure.
Subnet: Just like in AWS, I segmented the virtual network with a subnet.

Why I Chose Terraform and the Benefits

Consistency Across Clouds: Terraform's standardized syntax provided a consistent experience across both AWS and Azure.
Scalability: Terraform made scaling resources easy and efficient.
Automation and Reusability: Terraform's modular approach allowed for the creation of reusable components.
Security and Compliance: Terraform's policy enforcement was instrumental in ensuring adherence to security standards.
Cost-Effective: Terraform offered a unified and cost-effective solution compared to other options I considered.

Conclusion

Building this multi-cloud infrastructure with Terraform was an enlightening experience. The above code snippets provide insights into what I built, and I hope they inspire you to explore the endless possibilities with Terraform. Happy coding!