6 Infrastructure as Code for Networks Free Online FlashCards

What is infrastructure as code (IaC)?

Infrastructure as code manages infrastructure through versioned, machine-readable configuration rather than manual changes in consoles or device interfaces.

What does declarative network configuration specify?

Declare the network’s desired configuration; the tool determines which operations are needed to move the real infrastructure toward it.

What role does an IaC provider play?

A provider translates configuration into operations through the platform’s API.

Why keep network configuration in version control?

Version control makes changes reviewable, testable, and traceable, while reuse of reviewed configuration supports consistent environments.

What is infrastructure drift?

Drift is a difference between the declared configuration and the infrastructure actually in place; manual edits can create it.

What does Terraform state record?

Terraform state links configuration addresses to real remote object identities and stores metadata used to plan later changes.

How should teams handle Terraform state?

Use a shared backend with access controls and locking; avoid committing state files to version control because state may contain sensitive values.

What does an IaC plan do?

A plan compares configuration with recorded state and, by default, refreshes information from remote objects. It proposes actions but does not itself make changes.

What is the basic IaC deployment workflow?

Edit configuration, validate it, create and review a plan, apply the reviewed changes, and verify the result.

What is a reusable network module?

A module groups related resources behind inputs and outputs, helping teams reuse patterns and secure defaults without repeating configuration.

What dependency does a subnet’s `vpc_id` reference establish?

A subnet’s `vpc_id` reference to `aws_vpc.core.id` establishes a dependency on that VPC.

Why might a network resource be replaced instead of updated?

The provider and remote API determine whether an attribute can change in place; otherwise, the plan may propose destroying and recreating the resource.