What are the pros and cons of using Terraform vs Ansible for multi-cloud deployments?

Terraform, a cloud infrastructure as code tool, excels at orchestrating multi-cloud setups. Its pros include declarative syntax and broad provider support. However, Ansible, an automation tool, offers flexibility and simplicity. It's vital to blend both for optimal results—Terraform for infrastructure provisioning and Ansible for configuration management—creating a powerful synergy in multi-cloud deployments.

In 2024, HashiCorp changed the Open-Source license to the BUSL without consulting with the community and broke the trust. The reaction was a fork of the latest open-source version of Terraform and a new project, OpenTofu, has been born. To avoid any license problems in the future, OpenTofu has joined the Linux Foundation.

Mastering Multi-Cloud with Terraform and Ansible! ☁️🔧 - I'd use Terraform for its declarative syntax and multi-cloud support 📜 – perfect for consistent deployments. - Terraform shines in creating and managing infrastructures across clouds 🌐 – its cloud-agnostic approach is a game-changer. - Ansible excels in configuration management and automation 🔄 – offering flexibility and simplicity. - Ansible's procedural nature is great for provisioning and configuring infrastructures 🛠️ – it provides a comprehensive automation solution. Pro tip: Combine Terraform's infrastructure provisioning with Ansible's configuration management for a robust multi-cloud strategy! 🌟

Terraform- Pros: Declarative configuration, multi-cloud support, state management; Cons: Learning curve, potential verbosity, limited imperative capabilities. Ansible- Pros: Agentless, simplicity, configuration management; Cons: Limited infrastructure provisioning, state management challenges, learning curve for advanced features. Terraform is well-suited for managing infrastructure across multiple clouds with a focus on provisioning, while Ansible excels in configuration management and automation tasks. Choosing between them depends on the specific needs and preferences of your multi-cloud deployment strategy. Combining both tools in a complementary manner is also a common and effective approach.

Terraform (tf) is used to define & provision infra without getting into complications of how to create it? In TF, we define what is needed for infra. Ex: If a VM on Azure, a) define cloud providers-> azurerm b) Define your resources like VMs, Networks, Security groups tf will create infra for you. Whereas, if you want to configure the same VM with apache webserver then you need Ansible. Here, you define how you want to configure your web application Ex: a) On which OS you are going to deploy your web server b) Steps for installing apache server on that particular OS, etc Thus, Terraform is declarative i.e specify what is the desired result & Ansible is imperative i.e step-by step defining a process to achieve the desired state.

Ansible is an open-source automation tool that simplifies the configuration management, application deployment, and task automation in IT environments. Developed by Red Hat, Ansible is agentless, meaning it doesn't require any software to be installed on the target machines. It operates over SSH (Secure Shell) and uses a simple, human-readable language called YAML (Yet Another Markup Language) for defining automation tasks. Ansible is commonly used for automating repetitive tasks, orchestrating complex workflows, and ensuring consistency across servers and infrastructure. It is widely adopted in DevOps practices and cloud environments for managing and scaling infrastructure efficiently.

Ansible is an open-source automation tool used for configuration management, application deployment, and task automation in IT environments. It allows users to define and automate various tasks using simple, human-readable YAML files called playbooks, making it easier to manage and maintain large-scale infrastructure. Ansible uses SSH to connect to remote servers and execute tasks, making it agentless and lightweight.

- Ansible is an open-source automation tool designed for configuration management, application deployment, task automation, and orchestrating infrastructure as code. - Developed by Red Hat, Ansible simplifies complex IT tasks by allowing users to define desired states and configurations using simple, human-readable YAML files. - One of Ansible's key features is its agentless architecture, which eliminates the need to install and manage software agents on target systems. - Instead, Ansible communicates with remote machines over SSH or other transport protocols, making it lightweight and easy to set up.

Ansible is a fantastic open-source tool that automates how you set up, deploy, and coordinate your cloud apps and servers. It uses an easy-to-read language called YAML (Yet Another Markup Language). The coolest part? It's agentless, meaning you don't need to install anything on the remote hosts you're handling. It talks to the hosts using SSH or WinRM, carrying out tasks and reporting the results back to you. It's super versatile, working with various cloud providers and platforms like Linux, Windows, and VMware.

Ansible is an open-source automation tool that simplifies complex tasks in IT operations. It uses a human-readable language, YAML (Yet Another Markup Language), to script automation tasks. Ansible operates on an agentless architecture, eliminating the need for additional software on the remote hosts it manages. It communicates with these hosts via SSH or WinRM protocols, executing tasks and reporting results back. Ansible’s versatility extends to its compatibility with multiple cloud providers and platforms, including Linux, Windows, and VMware, making it a go-to tool for efficient and streamlined IT operations.

Terraform is best used for creating and managing infrastructure across multiple cloud platforms. It's especially powerful in scenarios where you need to maintain consistent and repeatable deployments due to its declarative Infrastructure as Code (IaC) approach. This allows you to focus on defining the desired state of your infrastructure, with Terraform handling the specifics. It's also adept at managing multi-cloud environments thanks to its cloud-agnostic model. Terraform is recommended if your primary focus is on cloud resource provisioning and state management.

Terraform is good and perfect for the Infrastructure manage as the tool knows how to handle and infrastructure lifecycle! It is always a recommended practice to keep your infrastructure as code and make it immutable. It will help you to implement DR and HA effectively without worrying about "always on standby DR solutions".

Terraform excels when your cloud ideas require architecture in addition to bricks. It works like magic to manage intricate infrastructure, juggling networks, servers, and databases like code blocks. Ideal for: automating recurring deployments, developing multi-tier applications, and duplicating settings across clouds. Terraform excels at creating complex cloud cities rather than merely isolated servers.

Terraform is typically used when managing infrastructure as code is necessary to provision, configure, and maintain cloud resources or on-premises infrastructure. It's particularly valuable in scenarios where you need to automate the creation and management of complex, multi-cloud or hybrid environments. Terraform enables infrastructure to be defined in a declarative manner, making it easier to version control, collaborate on, and reproduce infrastructure changes reliably.

Terraform shines when you're building and handling the core structure of your cloud environment - stuff like networks, security groups, databases, and more. By turning your infrastructure into code, it lets you control, test, and reuse this code across various projects and environments. It's brilliant for tapping into the unique features of different cloud providers and merging them into your Terraform setup. This tool also excels in managing complex links between resources and running multiple tasks simultaneously, which is handy for adjusting your infrastructure to match your changing needs.

Yes, there are overlapped capabilities when we talk about Terraform and Ansible but, comparing Terraform vs Ansible is wrong. Ansible is damn good at the automation side; it can be your servers, platforms, containers, network, software, firewalls, network devices; you count anything. Using the right tool at the right place; means combining the power of Terraform and Ansible.

There are some modules that allow to use ansible for provisioning infrastructure in the cloud, don't do that. It's not what it was created for, even though many engineers do this mistake. It can work, but tools like terraform will make your life much easier

Ansible is ideal for automating the setup, configuration, and deployment of applications onto servers. Its procedural nature allows it to follow a defined sequence of operations, making it excellent for tasks where order matters. As it's agentless, it simplifies managing diverse systems without additional software installation. It also supports various tasks beyond the cloud, like networking and databases. Therefore, Ansible is a top choice if your work centers on server configuration, application deployment, and complex orchestrations.

Often overlooked in our current world of cloud everything; Ansible is typically needed when you are dealing with good ol' bare-metal servers. The nitty gritty underneath of everything running is relying on hardware provisioning and basic server setup. People often forget; "Cloud = just someone else's server" Ansible can roll up its sleeves and get down to the nitty-gritty of bare-metal systems. It's designed to handle configuration management at a very detailed level, making it more suited to deal with the nuances of physical servers. Plus, Ansible doesn't need an agent running on the target machine; SSH is all it asks for.

Totally agree with this viewpoint actually. I have used an environment where Terraform creates the Infra & Ansible does the Configuration Management part on top of it & then the entire automation pipelines complete. Yes there maybe some overlaps but the outliers far outweighs the similarities! Yes, when we have a containerized world, Ansible/Puppet might not be that relevant but the customers environments in reality are very different from what we write on Linkedin

Terraform packs in a bunch of perks. It's a multi-talented tool, working seamlessly across various cloud providers and services. The use of a declarative language simplifies how you describe your setup. With Terraform, you maintain a constant state of your infrastructure, and you can run dry runs and plans before making changes, which helps avoid conflicts. Its integration with different tools and platforms allows for better tracking of changes and helps enhance DevOps practices.

Terraform offers a robust set of advantages, including unparalleled support for multi-cloud and hybrid cloud deployments, a declarative syntax that enhances readability and collaboration, sophisticated resource graph and dependency management for efficient infrastructure provisioning, modularity through reusable modules, alignment with Infrastructure as Code practices for version control and automation, state management for tracking and planning changes, the concept of immutable infrastructure for security and scalability, plan and apply workflow for controlled changes, parallel execution for improved efficiency, making it a comprehensive and versatile Infrastructure as Code tool for managing complex and scalable infrastructure environments

Terraform makes it easy to manage multiple clouds in one place. It uses code to keep track of changes, work together, and repeat tasks. Terraform helps ensure that operations are consistent, management is stable, and designs can be used again. You can review changes before they're made. Terraform is supported by a helpful community and uses simple language to make complex setups easier.

In my experience, Terraform offers two key advantages. Firstly, it's an industry standard, providing numerous benefits and a wealth of resources for users. Secondly, in multi-cloud environments, where each cloud provider has its unique infrastructure provisioning format, Terraform simplifies the process by enabling you to use a single language to manage them all.

Terraform offers several advantages. It supports multiple cloud providers, uses a declarative language, and maintains a consistent state of your infrastructure. It allows dry runs before applying changes and integrates with other tools and platforms. This enhances tracking of changes, prevents conflicts, and improves DevOps practices. Terraform’s modularity promotes code reuse for consistent setups, and its intelligent dependency management simplifies resource handling.

You need to secure the state file and properly manage it. Sensitive data will appear in the state file so you need to have an RBAC solution that you can control who gets access to this file. You also should encrypt this file at rest.

Terraform is not hard, it may not be useful for on-prem setups or for provisioning instances (because that's what ansible is for) but terraform is definitely not difficult tool to learn

Terraform is the magic wand for your cloud architect. By using code, it creates server infrastructure, much to Lego, saving you countless clicks and labor-intensive work. Imagine having your code create any resource or cloud, making it consistent and reusable. It releases flexibility, unlocks efficiency, and banishes troubles to the server graveyard. Dreams of a cloudy future can come true with Terraform!

Terraform is powerful but tricky. Learning curve and state file management are key challenges. Mistakes can cause errors, especially in large setups. Vague error messages make troubleshooting tough. Customization depends on provider and module quality. Think of it as a potent tool with a need for precision.

There are several problems in the open-source version of Terraform, which has been artificially introduced by HashiCorp to force companies to use their paid solution - Terraform Cloud: - no encryption of the state files - lack of the support for the CI/CD - limited support for the complex, multi-environment setups Some open-source tools were created to help the community with the above issues, such as Terragrunt, Atlantis and others. One of the first improvements the OpenTofu (open-source fork of the Terraform) introduced was adding encryption support to the state files.

I personally use both Terraform and Ansible in my automation tasks. They work well together. That said, this approach is called the mutable infrastructure approach since Ansible will keep making changes to your servers. A better approach is to consider immutable infrastructure. So consider using Packer to generate a machine image and Terraform to deploy it. If you need changes to the image, then create a new Packer image and deploy with Terraform again, then destroy the old machine, and so on. There are cases when this approach may not be the easiest, I'm thinking of Databases for example, although there are ways to get it done.

Terraform and Ansible are not competitors; they're complementary tools that work at different layers of infrastructure as code. Terraform excels at provisioning infrastructure, while Ansible is perfect for configuring and managing software. Together, they provide a comprehensive solution for infrastructure and application automation, streamlining the entire process.

The answer by Darwin Monroy is correct. Terraform and Ansible are complementary, not competing, tools. There is even a joint whitepaper from HashiCorp and Red Hat describing how to use the two tools together--because even the makers of these tools realize that's what you're going to do. Honestly, this whole question is invalid.

There is a big misunderstanding in the DevOps community regarding Terraform vs Ansible. There should not be a direct comparison between them as each of those tools has different use cases. Terraform is used for IAC for infrastructure automation whereas Ansible's main use case is configuration management. Although both of them can do both things like IAC and configuration management The way Terraform operates one can't customize much on configuration management using provisioners. Similarly using various Ansible modules one can do IAC but not much customization like Terraform.

Do also consider Nix situationally. Nix's ability to do in place atomic upgrades on just 1 software in a virtual machine may fit certain use cases more.