The cloud block in Terraform is used to configure integration with HCP Terraform (formerly Terraform Cloud) or Terraform Enterprise. This configuration enables remote state management, remote operations, and team collaboration features.
To configure the cloud block, you add it within the terraform…The cloud block in Terraform is used to configure integration with HCP Terraform (formerly Terraform Cloud) or Terraform Enterprise. This configuration enables remote state management, remote operations, and team collaboration features.
To configure the cloud block, you add it within the terraform block in your configuration files. Here is the basic structure:
terraform {
cloud {
organization = "your-organization-name"
workspaces {
name = "your-workspace-name"
}
}
}
Key components of the cloud block include:
1. **Organization**: This required argument specifies the HCP Terraform organization where your workspaces reside. Organizations serve as containers for workspaces and team management.
2. **Workspaces**: This nested block defines which workspace to use. You can specify workspaces using either the 'name' attribute for a single workspace or 'tags' attribute to match multiple workspaces based on tag criteria.
3. **Hostname**: An optional argument that defaults to app.terraform.io. For Terraform Enterprise installations, you would specify your custom hostname here.
4. **Token**: While you can specify authentication tokens here, it is recommended to use environment variables (TF_TOKEN_app_terraform_io) or the terraform login command for security purposes.
When using the cloud block, Terraform stores state remotely in HCP Terraform and can execute runs remotely rather than on your local machine. This provides benefits such as centralized state storage, state locking, run history, and policy enforcement.
Important considerations: The cloud block cannot be used simultaneously with backend blocks. You must choose one approach for state management. Additionally, some arguments within the cloud block can be configured through environment variables, providing flexibility for different deployment scenarios.
After adding the cloud block, run terraform init to initialize the connection to HCP Terraform and migrate any existing state if necessary.
Configuring the Cloud Block in HCP Terraform
Why is the Cloud Block Important?
The cloud block is essential for integrating your Terraform configuration with HCP Terraform (formerly Terraform Cloud). It enables remote state management, collaborative workflows, and centralized execution of Terraform runs. Understanding how to configure the cloud block is critical for the Terraform Associate exam as it demonstrates your ability to leverage HCP Terraform's enterprise features.
What is the Cloud Block?
The cloud block is a configuration block added to your Terraform settings that connects your local Terraform configuration to HCP Terraform. It was introduced in Terraform 1.1 as a more streamlined alternative to the remote backend configuration. The cloud block is placed within the terraform block in your configuration files.
1. Organization: Specifies which HCP Terraform organization to connect to
2. Workspaces Block: Defines which workspace(s) to use. You can specify: - name: A single, specific workspace name - tags: A set of tags to select multiple workspaces
3. Hostname: Optional parameter for Terraform Enterprise installations (defaults to app.terraform.io)
4. Token: Authentication is handled through terraform login command or environment variables, not in the configuration file
Key Configuration Options:
- Single Workspace: workspaces { name = "production"}
1. Run terraform login to generate and store a token 2. Set the TF_TOKEN_app_terraform_io environment variable 3. Use a credentials block in the CLI configuration file
Cloud Block vs Remote Backend
The cloud block replaces the remote backend for HCP Terraform integration. Key differences: - Cloud block has simpler syntax - Cloud block supports tag-based workspace selection - Cloud block is the recommended approach for Terraform 1.1+
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Configuring the Cloud Block
1. Remember the hierarchy: The cloud block must be nested inside the terraform block
2. Know the mutually exclusive options: You can use either name OR tags in the workspaces block, but not both simultaneously
3. Authentication awareness: Tokens should never be stored in configuration files - use terraform login or environment variables
4. Workspace selection: When using tags, Terraform will prompt you to select a workspace if multiple match
5. Version requirements: The cloud block requires Terraform version 1.1 or later
6. Cannot mix backends: You cannot use both a cloud block and a backend block in the same configuration
7. Default hostname: If hostname is omitted, it defaults to app.terraform.io (HCP Terraform)
8. Organization is required: The organization argument is mandatory in the cloud block
9. Local operations: When using the cloud block, operations like plan and apply run remotely by default
10. State management: State is stored remotely in HCP Terraform when using the cloud block - you cannot use local state