intro-to-terraform-and-intersight

Example Terraform configuration files to build a server profile in Intersight for both UCS C-series rack mount servers operating in standalone mode and for any UCS server attached to UCS Fabric Interconnects operating in Intersight Managed Mode.

This code repository is tested based on Intersight as it was released on Tuesday, April 26 2022. Keep in mind the platform is a SaaS platform that frequently rolls out bug fixes and features. Please check the Terraform provider for Intersight GitHub issues page for new or resolved issues that may affect the provider's behavior.

Repository layout

There is a Vagrantfile provided if you want a "clean" environment in which to run Terraform. Instructions are provided at the bottom on how to consume it.

There are two subdirectories, each of which contain self contained Terraform HCL (Hashicorp Configuration Language) that defines the resources required for a server profile. The only required setup involves Intersight authentication.

• UCS Standalone Server Profile
• UCS Intersight Managed Server Profile

Details of setup and operation of each style is documented in their respective README.md files.

Vagrant Developer Environment Included

If you don't have Terraform on your laptop/desktop/cloud, you can simply use the provided Vagrantfile to spin up a VM in VirtualBox, log into that VM, and run the terraform commands there. The process looks like:

• Install Vagrant via direct download or via Home Brew
• Install VirtualBox via direct download or via Home Brew
• Run the following commands:

(laptop)$ vagrant up
# Let the environment provision (could take several minutes)
(laptop)$ vagrant ssh
# Now you are logged into the VM
# Set up Intersight authentication
(VM)$ cd standalone
(VM)$ terraform init
(VM)$ terraform plan
(VM)$ terraform apply
(VM)$ cd ../intersight
(VM)$ terraform init
(VM)$ terraform plan
(VM)$ terraform apply

The Git repository directories standalone and intersight are mounted inside the VM (the reason for the cd standalone above) and all of its files are shared between the host laptop and the guest VM.

Note: the above instructions assume you have set up the authentication required for Intersight as instructed above.

If you require proxy settings to connect to the Internet, you'll have to run vagrant up with the --no-provision argument, log into the VM, and manually set the proxy values in order to the manually run the provisioning steps in the Vagrantfile.

Reference Materials

Intersight Managed Mode Config Guide Server Profile Templates Intersight Managed Mode Video Series