File provisioner in Terraform - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is the purpose of the file provisioner in Terraform?

The file provisioner copies files or directories from the machine running Terraform to the target resource, such as a virtual machine, during provisioning.

beginner

Which argument specifies the source file or directory in a Terraform file provisioner?

The source argument specifies the path to the file or directory on the local machine that you want to copy to the target resource.

beginner

How do you specify the destination path on the target machine in a Terraform file provisioner?

Use the destination argument to set the path on the target machine where the file or directory will be copied.

intermediate

When does the file provisioner run during Terraform execution?

The file provisioner runs after the resource is created but before Terraform marks the resource as fully created.

intermediate

Why should you avoid using provisioners like file when possible in Terraform?

Provisioners can cause unpredictable behavior and make infrastructure less declarative. It's better to use native resource configurations or configuration management tools for setup.

What does the file provisioner do in Terraform?

A Runs shell commands on the target resource

B Deletes files on the target resource

C Creates new resources in the cloud

D Copies files from local machine to the target resource

The file provisioner copies files or directories from the local machine to the target resource during provisioning.

Which argument specifies the destination path in a file provisioner?

A destination

B path

C target

D source

The destination argument sets where the file will be copied on the target machine.

When does the file provisioner run during Terraform apply?

A Before resource creation

B After resource creation

C During resource destruction

D Before Terraform plan

The file provisioner runs after the resource is created but before Terraform finishes the apply.

Which of these is a best practice regarding provisioners like file?

A Use them to create cloud resources

B Use them for all configuration tasks

C Avoid them when possible

D Use them to delete resources

Provisioners can cause unpredictable results; it's better to avoid them when possible.

What must be true about the source path in a file provisioner?

A It must exist on the local machine running Terraform

B It must be a remote URL

C It must be inside the target resource

D It must be a cloud storage path

The source path must be a local file or directory accessible to Terraform.

Explain how the file provisioner works in Terraform and when it is used.

Think about copying files to a new virtual machine after it is created.

Describe the key arguments needed to configure a file provisioner in Terraform.

What do you need to tell Terraform where to copy from and to?