In this hands-on lab, we learn how and when to use init, plan, and apply.

To do so, we will set the keys and configurations to use a Terraform instance. To do this, we must:

1. Make sure the keys are set up to communicate with Terraform.
2. Make sure the configuration files are initiated.
3. Execute the config files to test our Terraform deployment.

Before We Begin

To get started, we need to log in to the GCP console using your credentials.

Create a Service Account

To get started, we need to create a service account:

1. From Google Cloud console’s main navigation, choose IAM & Admin then Service Accounts.
2. Click Create service account.
3. Give your service account the name terraform.
4. Click Create.
5. In the roles dropdown, select Project then Owner.
6. Click Continue and then Done.
7. On the Service accounts page, save the email provided for the one we just created.

 terraform@terraform-ba-154-f56f96b1.iam.gserviceaccount.com

Ensure Terraform Is Installed on the Host Instance

With our service account created, we can continue:

1. From Google Cloud navigation, choose Compute Engine then VM instances.

2. Click SSH next to terraform-test-instance.
3. Use root privileges: sudo -i
4. Change into the root directory: cd /
5. List its contents: ll
6. Make sure you see both a downloads folder and a Terraform  file.

7. Input the path to communicate with Terraform into the /etc/profile file: echo "PATH='$PATH:/downloads/'" >> /etc/profile
8. Run the following in order to be able to call Terraform: source /etc/profile
9. Call Terraform: terraform

Create a Service Account Key within the Instance

1. Allow the SDK to communicate with GCP: gcloud auth login
2. Enter Y when prompted.
3. Select the link that appears.
4. Select the account provided for this lab.
5. Select Allow.

6. Copy the key that appears and then enter it into our terminal and hit Enter.

7. Now, we need to create our key using: gcloud iam service-accounts keys create /downloads/terraform.json --iam-account <SERVICE_ACCOUNT_EMAIL>

8. Create a main.tf file: vi main.tf
9. Paste the following configuration, replacing <PROJECT_NAME> with your project name (it can be found in the top navigation bar in Google Cloud console):

provider “google” {

version = “3.5.0”

credentials = file(“/downloads/terraform.json”)

project = “<PROJECT_NAME>”

region = “us-central1”

zone = “us-central1-c”

}

resource “google_compute_network” “vpc_network” {

name = “new-terraform-network”

}

10. Save and exit the file by pressing Escape followed by : wq.
    

Use init, plan, and apply to Finish the Configuration

With everything set, it is time to finish our configuration:

1. Initialize the configuration file: terraform init

2. Validate the configuration file: terraform validate

3. Create the execution plan: terraform plan

4. Apply the changes: terraform apply
5. When prompted, enter yes.

6. Run terraform show command to get human readable output from a state or plan file.

7. Go to the Google Cloud Platform console, and from the main navigation bar, under Networking, select VPC network.
8. Find new-terraform-network  to confirm that we have a new vpc network created.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve complete this hands-on lab and created a vpc network using terraform !!

Happy Learning !!!