terraform.md

copyright	lastupdated	subcollection
years 2021	2021-05-19	loadbalancer-service

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Setting up Terraform for IBM Cloud Load Balancer

{: #terraform-setup}

Terraform on {{site.data.keyword.cloud}} enables predictable and consistent provisioning of {{site.data.keyword.cloud_notm}} services so that you can rapidly build complex, multitier cloud environments following Infrastructure as Code (IaC) principles. Similar to using the {{site.data.keyword.cloud_notm}} CLI or API and SDKs, you can automate the provisioning, update, and deletion of your load balancer instances by using HashiCorp Configuration Language (HCL). {: shortdesc}

Looking for a managed Terraform on {{site.data.keyword.cloud}} solution? Try out {{site.data.keyword.bplong}}. With {{site.data.keyword.bpshort}}, you can use the Terraform scripting language that you are familiar with, but you don't must worry about setting up and maintaining the Terraform command line and the {{site.data.keyword.cloud}} Provider plug-in. {{site.data.keyword.bpshort}} also provides pre-defined Terraform templates that you can easily install from the {{site.data.keyword.cloud}} catalog. {: tip}

Installing Terraform and configuring resources for IBM Cloud Load Balancer

{: #install-terraform}

1. Follow the Terraform on {{site.data.keyword.cloud}} getting started tutorial to install the Terraform CLI and configure the {{site.data.keyword.cloud}} Provider plug-in for Terraform. The plug-in abstracts the {{site.data.keyword.cloud}} APIs that are used to provision, update, or delete IBM Cloud Load Balancer service instances and resources.

2. Create a Terraform configuration file that is named main.tf. In this file, you add the configuration to create a load balancer and to assign a user an access policy in Identity and Access Management (IAM) for that instance by using HashiCorp Configuration Language (HCL). For more information, see the Terraform documentation{: external}.

   The load balancer instance in the following example is named test_lb_local_service and is enabled on port 80. The ID of the local load balancer service group is ibm_lb_service_group.test_service_group.service_group_id and the weight for the load balancer service group is 1.

   For more information, see the ibm_lb_service{: external} usage example. {: note}

   resource "ibm_lb_service" "test_lb_local_service" {
    port = 80
    enabled = true
    service_group_id = ibm_lb_service_group.test_service_group.service_group_id
    weight = 1
    health_check_type = "DNS"
    ip_address_id = ibm_compute_vm_instance.test_server.ip_address_id
    }

   {: codeblock}

3. Initialize the Terraform CLI.

   terraform init

   {: codeblock}

4. Create a Terraform execution plan. The Terraform execution plan summarizes all the actions that need to be run to create the load balancer in your account.

   terraform plan

   {: codeblock}

5. Create the load balancer instance and IAM access policy in {{site.data.keyword.cloud_notm}}.

   terraform apply

   {: codeblock}

6. From the {{site.data.keyword.cloud_notm}} resource list{: external}, select the load balancer instance that you created and note the instance ID.