How To Create AKS Cluster In Azure Using Terraform ?

Azure AKS also called as Azure Kubernetes Service is service that provides Kubernetes implementation in the Azure cloud. Azure Kubernetes service is a managed service that allows deployment of containerized applications in azure cloud. Setting up a Kubernetes cluster in azure is tedious task so lets see how we can set up AKS using terraform.

Understanding Of Primary Terminologies

The following are the primary components of Azure AKS related with Terraform:

• Terraform: It is Infrastructure as an infrastructure-as-a-service tool that allows the deployment of resources to multiple cloud providers through code.
• Azure AKS: In Microsoft Azure, AKS is a managed service for deployment of containerized applications to Kubernetes cluster.
• IaaC: Infrastructure as a Code allows to representation of cloud infrastructure in the form of code.

Setup Azure AKS Using Terraform: A Step-By-Step Guide

Step 1: Set Up Terraform

• Download the Terraform zip from the installation page of the Terraform website.
• Extract and paste the terraform folder to the required location and add the path to runnable in environment variables.

Step 2: Set Up Azure CLI

• Download the Azure CLI setup from the official website.
• Run the installer and follow the steps to install.

Step 3: Configure Azure CLI

• Open terminal and run below command.

az login

• A browser window will open for login. Login with your azure credentials. Once it is done you will see output as below.

Step 4: Create Terraform Code

• Goto your project folder and create main.tf file.
• Add terraform block to code with azure as required provider with latest version. You can find the latest version at hashicorp registry.

• Terraform block should look like below. You can add required version to avoid invalidation.

terraform {
  required_providers {
    azurerm = {
        source = "hashicorp/azurerm"
        version = "~>3.0"
    }
  }
}

• Now add provider as azurerm like below. Specify other details as required.

provider "azurerm" {
  features {}
}

• Add configuration for AKS cluster. For this article we will add only required arguments. You can specify other arguments if required.

resource "azurerm_kubernetes_cluster" "gfg_aks" {
  name                = "gfg-aks"
  location            = "eastus"
  resource_group_name = "DeepsLab"
  dns_prefix          = "gfgaks"

  default_node_pool {
    name       = "default"
    node_count = 1
    vm_size    = "Standard_D2_v2"
  }

  identity {
    type = "SystemAssigned"
  }
}

• We have specified name for AKS cluster. We have specified the location and resource group where cluster should be created.
• The node pool must be specified for the cluster. For this we have added one pool with 1 node of size D2_v2.
• we have added system assigned identity and dns prefix for dns name.
• The complete code will look like below.

terraform {
  required_providers {
    azurerm = {
        source = "hashicorp/azurerm"
        version = "~>3.0"
    }
  }
}

provider "azurerm" {
  features {}
}

resource "azurerm_kubernetes_cluster" "gfg_aks" {
  name                = "gfg-aks"
  location            = "eastus"
  resource_group_name = "DeepsLab"
  dns_prefix          = "gfgaks"

  default_node_pool {
    name       = "default"
    node_count = 1
    vm_size    = "Standard_D2_v2"
  }

  identity {
    type = "SystemAssigned"
  }
}

Step 5: Apply The Terraform Code

• Once the code is ready you can apply it.
• First init the terraform by running below command in project folder where main.tf is present.

terraform init

• After successful output of terraform apply the changes using below command.

terrraform apply

• After verifying type "yes" to confirm and apply.

• Terraform will start creating cluster.

• You can also verify deployment by visiting Kubernetes services page of Azure.

Conclusion

We have successfully deployed an Azure AKS cluster with the help of terraform in this article. the configuration described can be further modified to make changes to the node pool of cluster in azure. This is how terraform allows reusable and modifiable configuration of infrastructure.