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AWS CloudFormation: Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Service
AWS CloudFormation is a service that enables users to define and provision AWS infrastructure as code (IaC). It allows developers and system administrators to create and manage AWS resources in a declarative manner, using JSON or YAML templates. Here's a comprehensive list of AWS CloudFormation features along with their definitions:
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Infrastructure as Code (IaC):
- Definition: Enables the definition of infrastructure using code in the form of templates. This allows for the automated and repeatable provisioning of AWS resources.
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Declarative Template Language:
- Definition: Supports a declarative template language using JSON or YAML. Users define the desired state of their infrastructure, and CloudFormation handles the provisioning details.
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Template Designer:
- Definition: Offers a visual Template Designer tool for creating and editing CloudFormation templates. Provides a graphical interface for designing templates without manual code editing.
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Stack Management:
- Definition: Organizes resources into stacks, which represent a collection of AWS resources created and managed together. Allows users to create, update, and delete stacks as a unit.
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Nested Stacks:
- Definition: Supports nested stacks, allowing users to break down complex templates into smaller, modular components. Simplifies template management and promotes reuse.
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Change Sets:
- Definition: Utilizes change sets to preview and apply changes to stacks. Users can review the expected changes before making modifications to their infrastructure.
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Resource Types:
- Definition: Supports a wide range of AWS resource types, including compute, storage, networking, and more. Users can provision and configure diverse resources using CloudFormation.
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Cross-Stack References:
- Definition: Enables cross-stack references to share information between stacks. This facilitates the creation of modular and interconnected infrastructure components.
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Rollback on Failure:
- Definition: Implements automatic rollback on failure to ensure that the stack returns to its previous state if any resource creation or update fails. Enhances stack reliability.
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Parameterization:
- Definition: Allows users to parameterize templates, enabling the customization of stack configurations. Parameters provide flexibility and support different environments or use cases.
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Outputs:
- Definition: Defines outputs in templates to expose information about created resources. This allows users to retrieve essential details, such as endpoint URLs or resource identifiers.
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Resource Tagging:
- Definition: Supports resource tagging within templates. Users can define tags to categorize and manage resources, helping with organization and resource tracking.
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Intrinsic Functions:
- Definition: Utilizes intrinsic functions such as Fn::Ref and Fn::GetAtt to retrieve resource attributes and values dynamically within templates.
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AWS CloudTrail Integration:
- Definition: Integrates with AWS CloudTrail to log API calls made on CloudFormation stacks. Provides auditing and visibility into changes made to infrastructure.
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AWS CloudFormation StackSets:
- Definition: Offers StackSets for managing stacks across multiple accounts and regions. Allows users to maintain a consistent infrastructure configuration across an organization.
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Drift Detection:
- Definition: Supports drift detection to identify differences between the desired template and the actual deployed stack. Helps maintain alignment with the desired infrastructure state.
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Resource Import:
- Definition: Allows users to import existing resources into CloudFormation stacks. Useful for integrating existing infrastructure into the CloudFormation management framework.
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AWS CloudFormation Drift Detection:
- Definition: Provides drift detection capabilities to identify and view differences between the expected and actual stack resources. Helps maintain compliance with desired configurations.
AWS CloudFormation simplifies infrastructure management by allowing users to define and provision AWS resources in a consistent and automated manner. Its support for IaC principles, parameterization, and extensive resource types make it a fundamental tool for infrastructure provisioning and management.