Terraform: An IaC Tool for Middleware Engineers

Introduction

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is a practice in IT infrastructure management that involves managing and provisioning computing resources through machine-readable configuration files, rather than through physical hardware configuration or interactive configuration tools.

HashiCorp Terraform is an IaC tool that lets us define both cloud and on-prem resources in human-readable configuration files that we can version, reuse, and share. We can then use a consistent workflow to provision and manage all our infrastructure throughout its lifecycle. Terraform can manage low-level components like compute, storage, and networking resources, high-level components like DNS entries and SaaS features, as well as the configuration of application servers such as WebLogic, JBoss, and WebSphere.

Terraform Requirements in Middleware Technologies

• Provider Requirements: Terraform relies on “providers” plugins to interact with remote systems. Middleware technologies often require specific providers to manage resources like databases, message queues, and application servers. These providers must be declared in the Terraform configuration.
• Infrastructure Management: Middleware environments typically involve complex configurations and dependencies. Terraform helps automate the provisioning and management of these environments, ensuring consistency and reducing manual errors.
• Server Requirements: A management server (often a virtual machine with Linux OS) is required to run Terraform scripts. This server should have sufficient CPU, memory, and disk space, along with necessary packages like Docker, kubectl, and Helm.

Importance of Terraform for Middleware Administrators

• Automation and Efficiency: Terraform allows MW Administrators to automate the deployment and configuration of middleware components across various cloud platforms. This automation leads to more efficient and reliable infrastructure management.
• Consistency and Version Control: Terraform’s version control capabilities ensure that infrastructure changes are tracked and can be rolled back if necessary.
• Scalability: Middleware environments often need to scale dynamically based on demand. Terraform’s declarative approach makes it easier to scale resources up or down by simply modifying configuration files.
• Cross-Platform Management: MW Administrators often work with multiple cloud providers. Terraform supports a wide range of providers, enabling administrators to manage resources across different platforms from a single configuration.
• Improved Collaboration: Terraform’s configuration files can be shared and reviewed by team members, improving collaboration and reducing the risk of misconfigurations.

Managing Middleware Technologies using Terraform

• WebLogic: Terraform can be used to manage Oracle WebLogic Server environments, particularly when deployed on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI). There are Terraform scripts available that allows us to create and configure WebLogic domains, manage resources like compute instances, networks, and databases, and even handle scaling and load balancing.
• JBoss (WildFly): Terraform can also be used to deploy and manage JBoss (WildFly) environments. For example, we can use Terraform to deploy WildFly on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, including setting up VM instances, load balancers, and databases. This setup can be managed through Terraform scripts, which allow for automated and consistent deployments.
• WebSphere Application Server (WAS): While there is less direct documentation on managing WAS with Terraform, we can still use Terraform to manage the underlying infrastructure that supports WAS. This includes provisioning VMs, configuring networks, and setting up storage.

Prerequisites & Steps to Learn Terraform

Prerequisites:

• Basic Understanding of Cloud Platforms: Need to be familiar with at least one cloud provider like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. Understanding the basic services (compute, storage, networking) will be very helpful.
• Basic Command Line Skills: Learn how to navigate and execute commands in a command-line interface (CLI). This is essential as Terraform is primarily used through the CLI.
• Networking Basics: Understanding basic networking concepts such as IP addresses, subnets, and firewalls will help in managing infrastructure more effectively.
• Version Control (Git): Basic knowledge of version control systems like Git is useful for managing and collaborating on Terraform code.

Steps to Learn:

Start with the Basics from official Terraform Documentation, hands-on practice, using real-world examples, as well as we can refer additional resources such as Online Courses(Udemy, Coursera), YouTube Tutorials, and Books.

Enhanced User Experience with Terraform

• Simplified Infrastructure Management:
  • Declarative syntax
• Consistency and Reliability:
  • Version control and state management
• Collaboration and Teamwork:
  • Shared configurations and Terraform Cloud
• Automation and Efficiency
  • Automated workflows and reusable modules
• Scalability and Flexibility:
  • Multi-cloud support and dynamic scaling
• Improved Documentation and Best Practices:
  • Clear documentation and best practices

Future Scope of Terraform

Terraform has a promising future and a broad scope in the field of infrastructure management. Here are some key points:

• Growing Adoption:
  • Widespread Use
  • Open Source and Community Support
• Integration with Emerging Technologies:
  • Multi-Cloud and Hybrid Cloud
  • Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
• Enhancements and Innovations:
  • Terraform Cloud and Enterprise

Terraform is also used by many leading tech companies, including those in the FAANG (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google) and Big 4 (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG).

Additional Technologies (Good To Know)

Knowing of below technologies can certainly make the learning process easier and more comprehensive. While it’s not strictly necessary to be familiar with these technologies –

• Jenkins
  • CI/CD Integration
  • Pipeline Automation
• Docker
  • Containerization
  • Infrastructure Management
• Kubernetes
  • Orchestration
  • Resource Management

Is any Programming Language knowledge required to Learn Terraform?

No, we don’t need to know any specific programming language to learn Terraform. Terraform uses its configuration language called HashiCorp Configuration Language (HCL), which is designed to be easy to read and write, even for those without a programming background. Here are some key points –

Why HCL is Accessible

• Declarative Syntax:
  • HCL is declarative, meaning you describe the desired state of your infrastructure, and Terraform handles the rest. This approach is more about defining what you want rather than how to achieve it.
• Human-Readable:
  • HCL is designed to be human-readable and straightforward, making it accessible for beginners.
• Basic Concepts in HCL
  • Resources:
    • Define the components of your infrastructure (e.g., virtual machines, networks).
  • Providers:
    • Specify the cloud providers or services you are using (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
  • Variables:
    • It allows you to parameterize your configurations for reusability and flexibility.
  • Outputs:
    • Provide information about the resources created, which can be used in other configurations or for debugging.

I hope this post provides you a good knowledge about Terraform. If you have any questions, feel free to share your feedback here or you can connect over LinkedIn/Instagram.