GCP Deployment Manager Deep Dive

1. Introduction

Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Deployment Manager is an Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tool that allows you to define and manage your cloud resources using configuration files. This lesson provides a comprehensive overview of the core concepts, setup instructions, and best practices for using Deployment Manager effectively.

2. Key Concepts

2.1 What is Infrastructure as Code?

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.

2.2 Deployment Manager Components

Configurations: YAML or JSON files that define resources.
Templates: Reusable definitions for creating resources.
Deployments: A specific instance of a configuration applied to your environment.

2.3 Configurations

Configurations are the core of Deployment Manager. They describe the resources that need to be created, their properties, and how they relate to each other.

Note: Deployment Manager automates the creation and management of resources, allowing for consistent and repeatable deployments.

3. Setup

Enable the Google Cloud Deployment Manager API in your GCP project.
Install the Google Cloud SDK if you haven't already.
Authenticate with your GCP account:

gcloud auth login

Set your project ID:

gcloud config set project PROJECT_ID

4. Creating Configurations

You can create a configuration file using YAML or JSON. Here’s an example of a simple configuration that creates a Compute Engine instance:

resources:
  - name: my-instance
    type: compute.v1.instance
    properties:
      zone: us-central1-a
      machineType: zones/us-central1-a/machineTypes/f1-micro
      disks:
        - deviceName: boot-disk
          type: PERSISTENT
          boot: true
          initializeParams:
            sourceImage: projects/debian-cloud/global/images/family/debian-9
      networkInterfaces:
        - network: global/networks/default
          accessConfigs:
            - name: External NAT
              type: ONE_TO_ONE_NAT

5. Best Practices

Use version control for your configuration files.
Organize your configurations into logical modules.
Test your configurations in a staging environment before production.
Utilize templates for reusable resource definitions.

6. FAQ

What file formats does GCP Deployment Manager support?

Deployment Manager supports both YAML and JSON file formats for configurations.

Can I use Deployment Manager with other GCP services?

Yes, Deployment Manager can manage a wide range of GCP services including Compute Engine, Cloud Storage, and more.

How do I delete a deployment?

You can delete a deployment using the command:

gcloud deployment-manager deployments delete DEPLOYMENT_NAME