Azure DevOps Pipelines for IaC

1. Introduction

Azure DevOps Pipelines provide an excellent way to implement Infrastructure as Code (IaC) by automating the deployment of infrastructure using code. This lesson covers the essential concepts and practical steps to create Azure DevOps pipelines for managing infrastructure.

2. Key Concepts

What is Infrastructure as Code (IaC)?

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is the practice of managing and provisioning computing infrastructure through machine-readable definition files, rather than physical hardware configuration or interactive configuration tools.

Azure DevOps Pipelines

Azure DevOps Pipelines allow you to automate the building, testing, and deployment of applications. It supports various languages and platforms, providing a robust CI/CD framework.

3. Getting Started

To get started with Azure DevOps Pipelines for IaC, follow these steps:

Set up your Azure DevOps account and create a new project.

Create a repository to store your infrastructure code (e.g., ARM templates, Bicep files).

Define your pipeline using YAML or the classic editor.

Sample Repository Structure


my-infrastructure-repo/
├── azure-pipelines.yml
└── templates/
    ├── network.json
    └── vm.json

4. Pipeline Definition

Here is an example of a simple Azure DevOps pipeline defined in YAML:


trigger:
- main

pool:
  vmImage: 'ubuntu-latest'

steps:
- task: AzureResourceManagerTemplateDeployment@3
  inputs:
    deploymentScope: 'Resource Group'
    azureResourceManagerTemplate: '$(System.DefaultWorkingDirectory)/templates/network.json'
    deploymentMode: 'Incremental'
    resourceGroupName: 'myResourceGroup'

Note: Make sure to replace placeholders such as resource group and template path with your specific values.

5. Best Practices

Follow these best practices to enhance your IaC pipelines:

Version control all your infrastructure code.

Use parameters and variables to make your templates reusable.

Implement testing for your infrastructure code.

Use environment-specific configurations to avoid hardcoding values.

6. FAQ

What is the difference between ARM templates and Bicep?

ARM templates are JSON-based, while Bicep is a simpler, declarative language that transpiles to ARM templates. Bicep is easier to read and write.

Can I use Azure DevOps with GitHub?

Yes, Azure DevOps can integrate with GitHub repositories, allowing you to trigger pipelines based on changes in your GitHub projects.