Here are some commonly asked Network Programmability AWS Certification interview questions regarding the AWS CloudFormation and Terraform on AWS

1. What is AWS CloudFormation and what are some of its benefits?

AWS CloudFormation is a service that helps you model and set up your Amazon Web Services resources so you can spend less time managing those resources and more time focusing on your applications that run in AWS. Some of the benefits of using AWS CloudFormation include versioning of your infrastructure, version-controlled templates, and version-controlled automation.

2. What is Terraform and what are some of its benefits?

Terraform is a popular infrastructure as code (IaC) tool that allows you to describe your infrastructure as code, version it, and automate the provisioning and management of resources across multiple cloud and on-premises environments. Some of the benefits of using Terraform include being cloud-agnostic, having a large and active community, and providing reusable code.

3. How does Terraform differ from AWS CloudFormation?

Both Terraform and AWS CloudFormation allow you to manage your infrastructure as code, but there are some key differences between the two. Terraform is cloud-agnostic and can manage resources across multiple cloud providers, while AWS CloudFormation is specific to AWS. Terraform also has a more comprehensive and flexible module system, while AWS CloudFormation has a more limited and rigid module system.

4. What is Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and why is it important?

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is a method of managing and provisioning infrastructure resources through code instead of manual processes. IaC enables organizations to automate the deployment of their infrastructure, ensure consistency and reproducibility, and make it easier to manage changes and rollbacks.

5. How does Terraform handle dependencies between resources?

Terraform handles dependencies between resources through a built-in dependency graph that it generates based on the relationships defined in your Terraform code. Terraform will automatically determine the correct order to create resources in, based on the dependencies defined in the code.

6. What are some of the benefits of using AWS CloudFormation StackSets?

AWS CloudFormation StackSets allow you to automate the deployment of CloudFormation templates across multiple AWS accounts and regions. Some of the benefits of using StackSets include increased efficiency, easier management of multiple accounts and regions, and improved compliance and security.

7. How do you use Terraform to manage existing infrastructure?

Terraform has the ability to import existing infrastructure into its state file, which allows it to manage that infrastructure as if it was created with Terraform. This allows you to use Terraform to manage and make changes to existing infrastructure, and ensures that Terraform has an accurate view of the current state of your infrastructure.

8. What are some best practices for using Terraform in a production environment?

Some best practices for using Terraform in a production environment include using version control for your Terraform code, using Terraform workspaces to separate environments, using a remote state file to store your Terraform state, and using the terraform plan and terraform apply commands to make changes to your infrastructure. These are just a few sample questions and answers related to network programmability using AWS CloudFormation and Terraform. The actual questions you will encounter on the AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty exam will likely be more specific and in-depth, and may include scenarios or case studies.

9. What is an AWS CloudFormation Stack?

An AWS CloudFormation Stack is a collection of AWS resources that you can manage as a single unit. A Stack is created from a CloudFormation template, and you can update or delete a Stack as a single entity. Each Stack has a unique name and contains the resources that are defined in the CloudFormation template.

10. What is an AWS CloudFormation template and how is it used?

An AWS CloudFormation template is a JSON or YAML-formatted text file that defines the infrastructure for an AWS CloudFormation Stack. The template specifies the AWS resources to be created and the properties for each resource. When you create a Stack, AWS CloudFormation uses the template to deploy and configure the specified resources.

11. What is an AWS CloudFormation custom resource and when would you use it?

An AWS CloudFormation custom resource is a resource type defined in a CloudFormation template that is not natively supported by CloudFormation. Custom resources allow you to perform actions that are not possible with the standard resources provided by CloudFormation. You would use a custom resource when you need to perform an action that is not natively supported by CloudFormation, such as calling an AWS Lambda function.

12. What is an AWS CloudFormation change set and how is it used?

An AWS CloudFormation change set is a summary of changes that will be made to a CloudFormation Stack when a change is executed. Change sets allow you to preview the changes that will be made to a Stack before you actually make those changes. This allows you to see the impact of a change and make any necessary adjustments before the change is executed.

13. What is the difference between an AWS CloudFormation Stack and an AWS CloudFormation change set?

An AWS CloudFormation Stack is a collection of AWS resources that you can manage as a single unit, while a change set is a summary of changes that will be made to a Stack. A Stack is created from a CloudFormation template and can be updated or deleted as a single entity. A change set is used to preview the changes that will be made to a Stack before those changes are actually executed.

14. What is Terraform state and why is it important?

Terraform state is a record of the resources that Terraform has created and manages. The state is stored in a Terraform state file, which is updated each time Terraform makes changes to your infrastructure. The state file is used to keep track of the current state of your infrastructure and to ensure that Terraform can make the correct changes when you run Terraform commands. The state file is an essential part of Terraform’s ability to manage your infrastructure and is a critical component of Terraform’s reliability and consistency.

15. How does Terraform manage resource relationships?

Terraform uses a resource graph to manage relationships between resources. The resource graph is created based on the relationships defined in your Terraform code. Terraform uses the resource graph to determine the correct order in which to create resources and to ensure that resources are created in the correct order based on the relationships between them.

16. What is Terraform’s concept of a module and how is it used?

A Terraform module is a self-contained package of Terraform code that can be reused across multiple Terraform configurations. Modules are used to organize Terraform code and to promote code reuse. Modules allow you to encapsulate Terraform code for a specific resource or set of resources, making it easier to manage and reuse that code in other Terraform configurations.

17. What is the difference between Terraform and AWS CloudFormation in terms of resource management?

Terraform and AWS CloudFormation are both used to manage resources in the AWS Cloud. However, Terraform is a cross-cloud infrastructure as code tool, while AWS CloudFormation is specific to the AWS Cloud. Terraform uses a resource graph to manage relationships between resources, while AWS CloudFormation uses a CloudFormation template to define the resources and their relationships. Additionally, Terraform supports a wider range of resource types than AWS CloudFormation, including resources that are not natively supported by AWS CloudFormation.

18. What is the difference between Terraform and Ansible in terms of automation?

Terraform and Ansible are both used for automation, but they serve different purposes. Terraform is used to manage infrastructure as code, while Ansible is used to automate the configuration and deployment of applications. Terraform is used to manage the underlying infrastructure and to create, update, and delete resources, while Ansible is used to automate the deployment and configuration of applications on top of that infrastructure.

19. Can Terraform be used to automate the configuration of applications?

No, Terraform is not designed to automate the configuration of applications. Terraform is used to manage infrastructure as code, and it is not designed to perform application-level automation tasks. For application-level automation, tools like Ansible, Chef, or Puppet are more appropriate.

20. Can Terraform be used to automate the deployment of applications?

Terraform can be used to automate the deployment of applications, but it is not designed specifically for this purpose. Terraform is primarily used to manage infrastructure as code, and while it can be used to automate the deployment of applications, tools like Ansible, Chef, or Puppet are better suited for this task.

21. What is the difference between Terraform and Packer in terms of automation?

Terraform and Packer are both used for automation, but they serve different purposes. Terraform is used to manage infrastructure as code, while Packer is used to create machine images. Terraform is used to manage the underlying infrastructure and to create, update, and delete resources, while Packer is used to automate the creation of machine images that can be used as the foundation for infrastructure.

22. What is the difference between Terraform and Docker in terms of automation?

Terraform and Docker are both used for automation, but they serve different purposes. Terraform is used to manage infrastructure as code, while Docker is used to automate the deployment of applications in containers. Terraform is used to manage the underlying infrastructure and to create, update, and delete resources, while Docker is used to automate the deployment and configuration of applications in containers.

23. Can Terraform be used to automate the deployment of applications in containers?

Terraform can be used to automate the deployment of applications in containers, but it is not designed specifically for this purpose. Terraform is primarily used to manage infrastructure as code, and while it can be used to automate the deployment of applications in containers, tools like Docker or Kubernetes are better suited for this task.

24. How does Terraform handle dependencies between resources?

Terraform handles dependencies between resources using a resource graph. The resource graph is created based on the relationships defined in your Terraform code, and Terraform uses the resource graph to determine the correct order in which to create resources. Terraform ensures that resources are created in the correct order based on the dependencies between them.

25. Can Terraform be used to manage existing infrastructure?

Yes, Terraform can be used to manage existing infrastructure. Terraform can import existing resources into its state file, which allows Terraform to manage those resources as if they were created by Terraform. This allows you to use Terraform to manage the lifecycle of existing infrastructure, including making changes to the configuration and destroying resources.

26. How does Terraform handle updates to existing resources?

Terraform handles updates to existing resources by comparing the current state of the resources with the desired state defined in your Terraform code. If there are differences between the current state and the desired state, Terraform will make the necessary changes to bring the resources into the desired state. This is done in a safe and predictable manner, to minimize the risk of disruption to your infrastructure.

27. What is the difference between Terraform and AWS CloudFormation in terms of resource updates?

The difference between Terraform and AWS CloudFormation in terms of resource updates is primarily related to the way they manage changes to resources. Terraform uses a “planned” approach, where it calculates the necessary changes to bring resources into the desired state, and then makes those changes in a safe and predictable manner. AWS CloudFormation uses a “replace” approach, where it replaces the entire CloudFormation stack if there are changes to the resources. This can lead to a more disruptive update process, and requires careful planning to minimize downtime.

28. Can Terraform be used to manage resources across multiple clouds?

Yes, Terraform can be used to manage resources across multiple clouds, including AWS, Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure, and others. This makes Terraform a powerful tool for managing infrastructure in a multi-cloud environment.

29. What is the difference between Terraform and AWS CloudFormation in terms of multi-cloud support?

AWS CloudFormation is specific to the AWS Cloud, and does not support managing resources in other clouds. Terraform, on the other hand, is a cross-cloud infrastructure as code tool that can be used to manage resources in multiple clouds, including AWS, Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure, and others.

30. Can Terraform be used to manage AWS services that are not natively supported by AWS CloudFormation?

Yes, Terraform can be used to manage AWS services that are not natively supported by AWS CloudFormation. Terraform supports a wider range of resource types than AWS CloudFormation, including resources that are not natively supported by AWS CloudFormation. This makes Terraform a powerful tool for managing AWS services that are not natively supported by AWS CloudFormation.