What does infrastructure as code mean?
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is a method to provision and manage IT infrastructure through the use of source code, rather than through standard operating procedures and manual processes.
You’re basically treating the servers, databases, networks, and other infrastructure like software. And this code can help you configure and deploy these infrastructure components quickly and consistently.
In the past, setting up IT infrastructure has been a very manual process. Humans have to physically rack and stack servers. Then this hardware has to be manually configured to the requirements and settings of the operating system used and application that’s being hosted. Finally, the application has to be deployed to the hardware. Only then can your application be launched. Ugh.
With IaC, you can use tools like Terraform, CloudFormation, Puppet, Chef, and other tools to create scripts that will configure your servers, databases, operating systems, and software. And you can easily and quickly deploy and replicate these sometimes complicated environments easily.
What is infrastructure automation? I
nfrastructure automation is the process of scripting environments — from installing an operating system to installing and configuring servers on instances, to configuring how the instances and software communicate with one another, and much more.
Goals of Infrastructure as Code
The types of outcomes that many teams and organizations look to achieve through infrastructure as code include:
- IT infrastructure supports and enables change, rather than being an obstacle or a constraint.
- Changes to the system are routine, without drama or stress for users or IT staff.
- IT staff spends their time on valuable things that engage their abilities, not on routine, repetitive tasks.
- Users are able to define, provision, and manage the resources they need, without needing IT staff to do it for them.
- Teams are able to easily and quickly recover from failures, rather than assuming failure can be completely prevented.
- Improvements are made continuously, rather than done through expensive and risky “big bang” projects.
- Solutions to problems are proven through implementing, testing, and measuring them, rather than by discussing them in meetings and documents.
Challenges with Dynamic Infrastructure
- Server Sprawl – lead to the number of servers growing faster than the ability of the team to manage them as well as they would like.
- Configuration Drift – Differences in versions and configurations across servers mean that software and scripts that work on some machines don’t work on others.
- Snowflake Servers – A snowflake server is different from any other server on your network. It’s special in ways that can’t be replicated.
- Fragile Infrastructure – A fragile infrastructure is easily disrupted and not easily fixed.
Principles/Benefits of Infrastructure as Code
- Systems Can Be Easily Reproduced
- Systems Are Disposable
- Systems Are Consistent
- Processes Are Repeatable
- Version All the Things
- Increased efficiency in software development
- Cost savings
Conclusion
Infrastructure as Code can simplify and accelerate your infrastructure provisioning process, help you avoid mistakes and comply with policies, keep your environments consistent, and save your company a lot of time and money.
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