Creating and switching workspaces in Terraform - Quick Revision & Summary

Recall & Review

beginner

What is a Terraform workspace?

A Terraform workspace is like a separate environment where you can manage different versions of your infrastructure independently, similar to having different folders for different projects.

beginner

How do you create a new workspace in Terraform?

Use the command terraform workspace new <workspace_name> to create a new workspace.

beginner

How can you switch to an existing workspace?

Use terraform workspace select <workspace_name> to switch to an existing workspace.

beginner

What command lists all available Terraform workspaces?

Use terraform workspace list to see all workspaces in your current Terraform project.

intermediate

Why use Terraform workspaces instead of separate projects?

Workspaces let you manage multiple environments (like dev, test, prod) in the same project without copying files, making it easier to keep infrastructure consistent and organized.

Which command creates a new Terraform workspace?

A terraform workspace new myworkspace

B terraform workspace select myworkspace

C terraform init myworkspace

D terraform apply myworkspace

The command terraform workspace new <name> creates a new workspace.

How do you switch to an existing workspace named 'test'?

A terraform workspace new test

B terraform workspace select test

C terraform switch test

D terraform workspace use test

Use terraform workspace select test to switch to the 'test' workspace.

What does terraform workspace list show?

A All Terraform projects on your machine

B All Terraform versions installed

C All workspaces in the current Terraform project

D All resources in the current workspace

It lists all workspaces available in the current Terraform project.

Why might you use workspaces in Terraform?

A To speed up Terraform apply

B To write code faster

C To store secrets securely

D To manage multiple environments like dev and prod separately

Workspaces help manage different environments independently within the same project.

What happens if you run terraform workspace select with a workspace name that does not exist?

A Terraform returns an error

B Terraform switches to the default workspace

C Terraform creates the workspace automatically

D Terraform deletes the current workspace

Terraform returns an error because the workspace does not exist.

Explain how to create and switch between Terraform workspaces.

Think of workspaces as separate folders for different environments.

Describe why using Terraform workspaces can be helpful in managing infrastructure.

Imagine managing different rooms in the same house instead of building new houses.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of Terraform workspaces?

easy

A. To separate different infrastructure environments

B. To store Terraform state files locally

C. To create new Terraform modules

D. To manage user permissions

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand workspace concept

   Terraform workspaces allow you to manage multiple distinct environments like development and production within the same configuration.

2. Step 2: Identify the purpose

   Separating infrastructure environments helps avoid conflicts and keeps states isolated.

3. Final Answer:

   To separate different infrastructure environments -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Workspaces separate environments = A [OK]

Hint: Workspaces isolate environments like folders for projects [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing workspaces with modules
• Thinking workspaces manage permissions
• Believing workspaces store files locally only

2. Which command correctly creates a new workspace named staging?

easy

A. terraform workspace create staging

B. terraform workspace new staging

C. terraform workspace add staging

D. terraform workspace select staging

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall workspace creation syntax

   The correct command to create a new workspace is terraform workspace new <name>.

2. Step 2: Match the command to the option

   terraform workspace new staging uses terraform workspace new staging, which is correct.

3. Final Answer:

   terraform workspace new staging -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Create workspace = terraform workspace new [OK]

Hint: Use 'terraform workspace new' to create workspaces [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using 'create' instead of 'new'
• Using 'add' which is invalid
• Confusing 'select' with creation

3. Given the commands:

terraform workspace new test-env
tf workspace select test-env
tf workspace show

What will be the output of terraform workspace show?

medium

A. test-env

B. Error: workspace not found

C. No workspace selected

D. default

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze command correctness

   The first command terraform workspace new test-env is correct and creates the workspace 'test-env'.

2. Step 2: Identify invalid commands

   The next two commands use the alias tf instead of terraform, which will cause errors unless 'tf' is defined as an alias.

3. Step 3: Determine output of terraform workspace show

   Since tf workspace select test-env likely fails, the workspace is not switched, so terraform workspace show will output the current workspace, which remains default.

4. Final Answer:

   default -> Option D

5. Quick Check:

   Invalid alias causes select to fail, so workspace remains default [OK]

Hint: Use full 'terraform' command unless alias is defined [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming 'tf' alias works by default
• Expecting workspace switch without correct command
• Ignoring command syntax errors

4. You run terraform workspace select prod but get an error: Workspace 'prod' does not exist. What should you do to fix this?

medium

A. Run terraform workspace new prod to create it first

B. Run terraform init to initialize the workspace

C. Delete the default workspace and retry

D. Run terraform workspace list to delete 'prod'

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the error

   The error means the workspace 'prod' does not exist yet, so it cannot be selected.

2. Step 2: Create the missing workspace

   You must create it first using terraform workspace new prod before selecting it.

3. Final Answer:

   Run terraform workspace new prod to create it first -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Select workspace requires existing workspace [OK]

Hint: Create workspace before selecting it [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to select without creating
• Running init instead of new
• Deleting default workspace unnecessarily

5. You want to maintain separate Terraform states for dev and prod environments using workspaces. Which sequence of commands correctly sets this up and switches to prod?

hard

A. terraform workspace new prodterraform workspace select dev

B. terraform workspace select devterraform workspace select prod

C. terraform workspace new devterraform workspace new prodterraform workspace select prod

D. terraform workspace new devterraform workspace select devterraform workspace new prod

Solution

1. Step 1: Create both workspaces

   Use terraform workspace new dev and terraform workspace new prod to create separate environments.

2. Step 2: Switch to the desired workspace

   Use terraform workspace select prod to switch to the production environment.

3. Final Answer:

   terraform workspace new dev
   terraform workspace new prod
   terraform workspace select prod -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Create then select workspace sequence [OK]

Hint: Create all workspaces before selecting one [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Selecting workspace before creating it
• Not creating both environments
• Switching to wrong workspace after creation