446 lines
17 KiB
Markdown
446 lines
17 KiB
Markdown
---
|
|
stage: Configure
|
|
group: Configure
|
|
info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/engineering/ux/technical-writing/#assignments
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
# GitLab managed Terraform State **(FREE)**
|
|
|
|
> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/epics/2673) in GitLab 13.0.
|
|
|
|
[Terraform remote backends](https://www.terraform.io/docs/language/settings/backends/index.html)
|
|
enable you to store the state file in a remote, shared store. GitLab uses the
|
|
[Terraform HTTP backend](https://www.terraform.io/docs/language/settings/backends/http.html)
|
|
to securely store the state files in local storage (the default) or
|
|
[the remote store of your choice](../../../administration/terraform_state.md).
|
|
|
|
WARNING:
|
|
Using local storage (the default) on clustered deployments of GitLab will result in
|
|
a split state across nodes, making subsequent executions of Terraform inconsistent.
|
|
You are highly advised to use a remote storage in that case.
|
|
|
|
The GitLab managed Terraform state backend can store your Terraform state easily and
|
|
securely, and spares you from setting up additional remote resources like
|
|
Amazon S3 or Google Cloud Storage. Its features include:
|
|
|
|
- Versioning of Terraform state files.
|
|
- Supporting encryption of the state file both in transit and at rest.
|
|
- Locking and unlocking state.
|
|
- Remote Terraform plan and apply execution.
|
|
|
|
A GitLab **administrator** must [setup the Terraform state storage configuration](../../../administration/terraform_state.md)
|
|
before using this feature.
|
|
|
|
## Permissions for using Terraform
|
|
|
|
In GitLab version 13.1, the [Maintainer role](../../permissions.md) was required to use a
|
|
GitLab managed Terraform state backend. In GitLab versions 13.2 and greater, the
|
|
[Maintainer role](../../permissions.md) is required to lock, unlock, and write to the state
|
|
(using `terraform apply`), while the [Developer role](../../permissions.md) is required to read
|
|
the state (using `terraform plan -lock=false`).
|
|
|
|
## Set up GitLab-managed Terraform state
|
|
|
|
To get started with a GitLab-managed Terraform state, there are two different options:
|
|
|
|
- [Use a local machine](#get-started-using-local-development).
|
|
- [Use GitLab CI](#get-started-using-gitlab-ci).
|
|
|
|
Terraform States can be found by navigating to a Project's
|
|
**{cloud-gear}** **Infrastructure > Terraform** page.
|
|
|
|
### Get started using local development
|
|
|
|
If you plan to only run `terraform plan` and `terraform apply` commands from your
|
|
local machine, this is a simple way to get started:
|
|
|
|
1. Create your project on your GitLab instance.
|
|
1. Navigate to **Settings > General** and note your **Project name**
|
|
and **Project ID**.
|
|
1. Define the Terraform backend in your Terraform project to be:
|
|
|
|
```hcl
|
|
terraform {
|
|
backend "http" {
|
|
}
|
|
}
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
1. Create a [Personal Access Token](../../profile/personal_access_tokens.md) with
|
|
the `api` scope.
|
|
|
|
1. On your local machine, run `terraform init`, passing in the following options,
|
|
replacing `<YOUR-STATE-NAME>`, `<YOUR-PROJECT-ID>`, `<YOUR-USERNAME>` and
|
|
`<YOUR-ACCESS-TOKEN>` with the relevant values. This command initializes your
|
|
Terraform state, and stores that state in your GitLab project. The name of
|
|
your state can contain only uppercase and lowercase letters, decimal digits,
|
|
hyphens, and underscores. This example uses `gitlab.com`:
|
|
|
|
```shell
|
|
terraform init \
|
|
-backend-config="address=https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/<YOUR-PROJECT-ID>/terraform/state/<YOUR-STATE-NAME>" \
|
|
-backend-config="lock_address=https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/<YOUR-PROJECT-ID>/terraform/state/<YOUR-STATE-NAME>/lock" \
|
|
-backend-config="unlock_address=https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/<YOUR-PROJECT-ID>/terraform/state/<YOUR-STATE-NAME>/lock" \
|
|
-backend-config="username=<YOUR-USERNAME>" \
|
|
-backend-config="password=<YOUR-ACCESS-TOKEN>" \
|
|
-backend-config="lock_method=POST" \
|
|
-backend-config="unlock_method=DELETE" \
|
|
-backend-config="retry_wait_min=5"
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
If you already have a GitLab-managed Terraform state, you can use the `terraform init` command
|
|
with the prepopulated parameters values:
|
|
|
|
1. On the top bar, select **Menu > Projects** and find your project.
|
|
1. On the left sidebar, select **Infrastructure > Terraform**.
|
|
1. Next to the environment you want to use, select the [Actions menu](#managing-state-files)
|
|
**{ellipsis_v}** and select **Copy Terraform init command**.
|
|
|
|
You can now run `terraform plan` and `terraform apply` as you normally would.
|
|
|
|
### Get started using GitLab CI
|
|
|
|
If you don't want to start with local development, you can also use GitLab CI to
|
|
run your `terraform plan` and `terraform apply` commands.
|
|
|
|
Next, [configure the backend](#configure-the-backend).
|
|
|
|
#### Configure the backend
|
|
|
|
After executing the `terraform init` command, you must configure the Terraform backend
|
|
and the CI YAML file:
|
|
|
|
1. In your Terraform project, define the [HTTP backend](https://www.terraform.io/docs/language/settings/backends/http.html)
|
|
by adding the following code block in a `.tf` file (such as `backend.tf`) to
|
|
define the remote backend:
|
|
|
|
```hcl
|
|
terraform {
|
|
backend "http" {
|
|
}
|
|
}
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
1. In the root directory of your project repository, configure a
|
|
`.gitlab-ci.yml` file. This example uses a pre-built image which includes a
|
|
`gitlab-terraform` helper. For supported Terraform versions, see the [GitLab
|
|
Terraform Images project](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/terraform-images).
|
|
|
|
```yaml
|
|
image: registry.gitlab.com/gitlab-org/terraform-images/stable:latest
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
1. In the `.gitlab-ci.yml` file, define some CI/CD variables to ease
|
|
development. In this example, `TF_ROOT` is the directory where the Terraform
|
|
commands must be executed, `TF_ADDRESS` is the URL to the state on the GitLab
|
|
instance where this pipeline runs, and the final path segment in `TF_ADDRESS`
|
|
is the name of the Terraform state. Projects may have multiple states, and
|
|
this name is arbitrary, so in this example we set it to `example-production`
|
|
which corresponds with the directory we're using as our `TF_ROOT`, and we
|
|
ensure that the `.terraform` directory is cached between jobs in the pipeline
|
|
using a cache key based on the state name (`example-production`):
|
|
|
|
```yaml
|
|
variables:
|
|
TF_ROOT: ${CI_PROJECT_DIR}/environments/example/production
|
|
TF_ADDRESS: ${CI_API_V4_URL}/projects/${CI_PROJECT_ID}/terraform/state/example-production
|
|
|
|
cache:
|
|
key: example-production
|
|
paths:
|
|
- ${TF_ROOT}/.terraform
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
1. In a `before_script`, change to your `TF_ROOT`:
|
|
|
|
```yaml
|
|
before_script:
|
|
- cd ${TF_ROOT}
|
|
|
|
stages:
|
|
- prepare
|
|
- validate
|
|
- build
|
|
- deploy
|
|
|
|
init:
|
|
stage: prepare
|
|
script:
|
|
- gitlab-terraform init
|
|
|
|
validate:
|
|
stage: validate
|
|
script:
|
|
- gitlab-terraform validate
|
|
|
|
plan:
|
|
stage: build
|
|
script:
|
|
- gitlab-terraform plan
|
|
- gitlab-terraform plan-json
|
|
artifacts:
|
|
name: plan
|
|
paths:
|
|
- ${TF_ROOT}/plan.cache
|
|
reports:
|
|
terraform: ${TF_ROOT}/plan.json
|
|
|
|
apply:
|
|
stage: deploy
|
|
environment:
|
|
name: production
|
|
script:
|
|
- gitlab-terraform apply
|
|
dependencies:
|
|
- plan
|
|
when: manual
|
|
only:
|
|
- master
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
1. Push your project to GitLab, which triggers a CI job pipeline. This pipeline
|
|
runs the `gitlab-terraform init`, `gitlab-terraform validate`, and
|
|
`gitlab-terraform plan` commands.
|
|
|
|
The output from the above `terraform` commands should be viewable in the job logs.
|
|
|
|
WARNING:
|
|
Like any other job artifact, Terraform plan data is viewable by anyone with the Guest [role](../../permissions.md) on the repository.
|
|
Neither Terraform nor GitLab encrypts the plan file by default. If your Terraform plan
|
|
includes sensitive data such as passwords, access tokens, or certificates, GitLab strongly
|
|
recommends encrypting plan output or modifying the project visibility settings.
|
|
|
|
### Example project
|
|
|
|
See [this reference project](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/configure/examples/gitlab-terraform-aws) using GitLab and Terraform to deploy a basic AWS EC2 in a custom VPC.
|
|
|
|
## Using a GitLab managed Terraform state backend as a remote data source
|
|
|
|
You can use a GitLab-managed Terraform state as a
|
|
[Terraform data source](https://www.terraform.io/docs/language/state/remote-state-data.html).
|
|
To use your existing Terraform state backend as a data source, provide the following details
|
|
as [Terraform input variables](https://www.terraform.io/docs/language/values/variables.html):
|
|
|
|
- **address**: The URL of the remote state backend you want to use as a data source.
|
|
For example, `https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/<TARGET-PROJECT-ID>/terraform/state/<TARGET-STATE-NAME>`.
|
|
- **username**: The username to authenticate with the data source. If you are using a [Personal Access Token](../../profile/personal_access_tokens.md) for
|
|
authentication, this is your GitLab username. If you are using GitLab CI, this is `'gitlab-ci-token'`.
|
|
- **password**: The password to authenticate with the data source. If you are using a Personal Access Token for
|
|
authentication, this is the token value. If you are using GitLab CI, it is the contents of the `${CI_JOB_TOKEN}` CI/CD variable.
|
|
|
|
An example setup is shown below:
|
|
|
|
1. Create a file named `example.auto.tfvars` with the following contents:
|
|
|
|
```plaintext
|
|
example_remote_state_address=https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/<TARGET-PROJECT-ID>/terraform/state/<TARGET-STATE-NAME>
|
|
example_username=<GitLab username>
|
|
example_access_token=<GitLab Personal Access Token>
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
1. Define the data source by adding the following code block in a `.tf` file (such as `data.tf`):
|
|
|
|
```hcl
|
|
data "terraform_remote_state" "example" {
|
|
backend = "http"
|
|
|
|
config = {
|
|
address = var.example_remote_state_address
|
|
username = var.example_username
|
|
password = var.example_access_token
|
|
}
|
|
}
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
Outputs from the data source can now be referenced in your Terraform resources
|
|
using `data.terraform_remote_state.example.outputs.<OUTPUT-NAME>`.
|
|
|
|
You need at least the [Developer role](../../permissions.md) in the target project
|
|
to read the Terraform state.
|
|
|
|
## Migrating to GitLab Managed Terraform state
|
|
|
|
Terraform supports copying the state when the backend is changed or
|
|
reconfigured. This can be useful if you need to migrate from another backend to
|
|
GitLab managed Terraform state. Using a local terminal is recommended to run the commands needed for migrating to GitLab Managed Terraform state.
|
|
|
|
The following example demonstrates how to change the state name, the same workflow is needed to migrate to GitLab Managed Terraform state from a different state storage backend.
|
|
|
|
### Setting up the initial backend
|
|
|
|
```shell
|
|
PROJECT_ID="<gitlab-project-id>"
|
|
TF_USERNAME="<gitlab-username>"
|
|
TF_PASSWORD="<gitlab-personal-access-token>"
|
|
TF_ADDRESS="https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/${PROJECT_ID}/terraform/state/old-state-name"
|
|
|
|
terraform init \
|
|
-backend-config=address=${TF_ADDRESS} \
|
|
-backend-config=lock_address=${TF_ADDRESS}/lock \
|
|
-backend-config=unlock_address=${TF_ADDRESS}/lock \
|
|
-backend-config=username=${TF_USERNAME} \
|
|
-backend-config=password=${TF_PASSWORD} \
|
|
-backend-config=lock_method=POST \
|
|
-backend-config=unlock_method=DELETE \
|
|
-backend-config=retry_wait_min=5
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
```plaintext
|
|
Initializing the backend...
|
|
|
|
Successfully configured the backend "http"! Terraform will automatically
|
|
use this backend unless the backend configuration changes.
|
|
|
|
Initializing provider plugins...
|
|
|
|
Terraform has been successfully initialized!
|
|
|
|
You may now begin working with Terraform. Try running "terraform plan" to see
|
|
any changes that are required for your infrastructure. All Terraform commands
|
|
should now work.
|
|
|
|
If you ever set or change modules or backend configuration for Terraform,
|
|
rerun this command to reinitialize your working directory. If you forget, other
|
|
commands will detect it and remind you to do so if necessary.
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
### Changing the backend
|
|
|
|
Now that `terraform init` has created a `.terraform/` directory that knows where
|
|
the old state is, you can tell it about the new location:
|
|
|
|
```shell
|
|
TF_ADDRESS="https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/${PROJECT_ID}/terraform/state/new-state-name"
|
|
|
|
terraform init \
|
|
-backend-config=address=${TF_ADDRESS} \
|
|
-backend-config=lock_address=${TF_ADDRESS}/lock \
|
|
-backend-config=unlock_address=${TF_ADDRESS}/lock \
|
|
-backend-config=username=${TF_USERNAME} \
|
|
-backend-config=password=${TF_PASSWORD} \
|
|
-backend-config=lock_method=POST \
|
|
-backend-config=unlock_method=DELETE \
|
|
-backend-config=retry_wait_min=5
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
```plaintext
|
|
Initializing the backend...
|
|
Backend configuration changed!
|
|
|
|
Terraform has detected that the configuration specified for the backend
|
|
has changed. Terraform will now check for existing state in the backends.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquiring state lock. This may take a few moments...
|
|
Do you want to copy existing state to the new backend?
|
|
Pre-existing state was found while migrating the previous "http" backend to the
|
|
newly configured "http" backend. No existing state was found in the newly
|
|
configured "http" backend. Do you want to copy this state to the new "http"
|
|
backend? Enter "yes" to copy and "no" to start with an empty state.
|
|
|
|
Enter a value: yes
|
|
|
|
|
|
Successfully configured the backend "http"! Terraform will automatically
|
|
use this backend unless the backend configuration changes.
|
|
|
|
Initializing provider plugins...
|
|
|
|
Terraform has been successfully initialized!
|
|
|
|
You may now begin working with Terraform. Try running "terraform plan" to see
|
|
any changes that are required for your infrastructure. All Terraform commands
|
|
should now work.
|
|
|
|
If you ever set or change modules or backend configuration for Terraform,
|
|
rerun this command to reinitialize your working directory. If you forget, other
|
|
commands will detect it and remind you to do so if necessary.
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
If you type `yes`, it copies your state from the old location to the new
|
|
location. You can then go back to running it in GitLab CI/CD.
|
|
|
|
## Managing state files
|
|
|
|
> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/273592) in GitLab 13.8.
|
|
|
|
Users with Developer and greater [permissions](../../permissions.md) can view the
|
|
state files attached to a project at **Infrastructure > Terraform**. Users with the
|
|
Maintainer role can perform commands on the state files. The user interface
|
|
contains these fields:
|
|
|
|
![Terraform state list](img/terraform_list_view_v13_8.png)
|
|
|
|
- **Name**: The name of the environment, with a locked (**{lock}**) icon if the
|
|
state file is locked.
|
|
- **Pipeline**: A link to the most recent pipeline and its status.
|
|
- **Details**: Information about when the state file was created or changed.
|
|
- **Actions**: Actions you can take on the state file, including copying the `terraform init` command,
|
|
downloading, locking, unlocking, or [removing](#remove-a-state-file) the state file and versions.
|
|
|
|
NOTE:
|
|
Additional improvements to the
|
|
[graphical interface for managing state files](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/epics/4563)
|
|
are planned.
|
|
|
|
## Remove a state file
|
|
|
|
Users with Maintainer and greater [permissions](../../permissions.md) can use the
|
|
following options to remove a state file:
|
|
|
|
- **GitLab UI**: Go to **Infrastructure > Terraform**. In the **Actions** column,
|
|
click the vertical ellipsis (**{ellipsis_v}**) button and select
|
|
**Remove state file and versions**.
|
|
- **GitLab REST API**: You can remove a state file by making a request to the
|
|
REST API. For example:
|
|
|
|
```shell
|
|
curl --header "Private-Token: <your_access_token>" --request DELETE "https://gitlab.example.com/api/v4/projects/<your_project_id>/terraform/state/<your_state_name>"
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
- [GitLab GraphQL API](#remove-a-state-file-with-the-gitlab-graphql-api).
|
|
|
|
### Remove a state file with the GitLab GraphQL API
|
|
|
|
You can remove a state file by making a GraphQL API request. For example:
|
|
|
|
```shell
|
|
mutation deleteState {
|
|
terraformStateDelete(input: { id: "<global_id_for_the_state>" }) {
|
|
errors
|
|
}
|
|
}
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
You can obtain the `<global_id_for_the_state>` by querying the list of states:
|
|
|
|
```shell
|
|
query ProjectTerraformStates {
|
|
project(fullPath: "<your_project_path>") {
|
|
terraformStates {
|
|
nodes {
|
|
id
|
|
name
|
|
}
|
|
}
|
|
}
|
|
}
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
For those new to the GitLab GraphQL API, read
|
|
[Getting started with GitLab GraphQL API](../../../api/graphql/getting_started.md).
|
|
|
|
## Troubleshooting
|
|
|
|
### Unable to lock Terraform state files in CI jobs for `terraform apply` using a plan created in a previous job
|
|
|
|
When passing `-backend-config=` to `terraform init`, Terraform persists these values inside the plan
|
|
cache file. This includes the `password` value.
|
|
|
|
As a result, to create a plan and later use the same plan in another CI job, you might get the error
|
|
`Error: Error acquiring the state lock` errors when using `-backend-config=password=$CI_JOB_TOKEN`.
|
|
This happens because the value of `$CI_JOB_TOKEN` is only valid for the duration of the current job.
|
|
|
|
As a workaround, use [http backend configuration variables](https://www.terraform.io/docs/language/settings/backends/http.html#configuration-variables) in your CI job,
|
|
which is what happens behind the scenes when following the
|
|
[Get started using GitLab CI](#get-started-using-gitlab-ci) instructions.
|