A Guide to Automating Deployments with Google Cloud Deployment Manager

Introduction to Google Cloud Deployment Manager

Google Cloud Deployment Manager is an infrastructure management service that enables users to define and manage Google Cloud resources using infrastructure as code (IaC). With Deployment Manager, you can automate resource creation, configure dependencies, and ensure consistent infrastructure deployment across environments. This guide will introduce the core features of Deployment Manager, explain how to create and deploy configurations, and cover best practices for managing infrastructure on Google Cloud.

Why Use Google Cloud Deployment Manager?

Deployment Manager simplifies and automates the deployment process, allowing teams to manage their cloud infrastructure more efficiently. Key benefits of using Deployment Manager include:

• Consistent Deployments: Define resources in reusable templates to ensure consistency across different environments.
• Automated Resource Management: Automatically create, update, and delete resources with a single command.
• Version Control: Manage infrastructure code in source control systems to track changes and manage configurations.
• Scalability: Easily scale resources by defining templates and configurations that adapt to changing needs.

Core Concepts in Google Cloud Deployment Manager

Understanding the main components of Deployment Manager is essential to creating and managing deployments:

1. Configurations

A configuration is a YAML file that specifies the Google Cloud resources you want to deploy, such as Compute Engine instances, Cloud Storage buckets, and BigQuery datasets. The configuration file defines resource properties and references templates as needed.

2. Templates

Templates are reusable files written in Jinja2 or Python that define how resources should be created. By using templates, you can simplify configurations and manage complex deployments with reusable, parameterized code.

3. Schemas

Schemas define the structure of templates, including required parameters and types. Schemas help ensure that configurations using the templates are valid and follow expected formats.

4. Deployments

A deployment is an instance of a configuration applied to your Google Cloud environment. Each deployment contains resources defined in the configuration and allows you to manage the lifecycle of these resources, including updates and deletions.

Getting Started with Google Cloud Deployment Manager

Let’s go through the steps to create and deploy resources using Deployment Manager.

Step 1: Enable Deployment Manager API

In the Google Cloud Console, navigate to APIs & Services and enable the Deployment Manager API for your project. This API is required to deploy and manage resources with Deployment Manager.

Step 2: Create a Configuration File

Create a YAML configuration file that defines the resources you want to deploy. For example, here’s a basic configuration for a Compute Engine instance:

# instance-config.yaml
resources:
- name: my-instance
  type: compute.v1.instance
  properties:
    zone: us-central1-a
    machineType: zones/us-central1-a/machineTypes/n1-standard-1
    disks:
    - deviceName: boot
      type: PERSISTENT
      boot: true
      autoDelete: true
      initializeParams:
        sourceImage: projects/debian-cloud/global/images/family/debian-10
    networkInterfaces:
    - network: global/networks/default

This configuration creates a Compute Engine instance with the specified machine type, zone, and boot disk.

Step 3: Deploy the Configuration

Use the gcloud command to deploy the configuration:

gcloud deployment-manager deployments create my-deployment --config instance-config.yaml

This command creates a deployment named my-deployment based on the resources defined in the instance-config.yaml file.

Step 4: Check Deployment Status

To verify the status of your deployment, run:

gcloud deployment-manager deployments describe my-deployment

This command provides details on the deployment, including resource statuses, configuration settings, and any errors.

Using Templates with Google Cloud Deployment Manager

Templates allow you to simplify configurations by defining reusable resource structures. Here’s an example of using a Jinja2 template for a Compute Engine instance.

Create a Jinja2 Template

Create a Jinja2 template file with parameters for flexibility:

{% raw %}# instance-template.jinja
resources:
- name: {{ env["name"] }}
  type: compute.v1.instance
  properties:
    zone: {{ properties["zone"] }}
    machineType: zones/{{ properties["zone"] }}/machineTypes/{{ properties["machineType"] }}
    disks:
    - deviceName: boot
      type: PERSISTENT
      boot: true
      autoDelete: true
      initializeParams:
        sourceImage: {{ properties["sourceImage"] }}
    networkInterfaces:
    - network: global/networks/default
{% endraw %}

Create a Configuration File with Template Reference

In the configuration file, reference the template and specify values for the parameters:

# instance-config-with-template.yaml
imports:
- path: instance-template.jinja

resources:
- name: my-instance
  type: instance-template.jinja
  properties:
    zone: us-central1-a
    machineType: n1-standard-1
    sourceImage: projects/debian-cloud/global/images/family/debian-10

Deploy the Configuration with Template

Run the following command to deploy the configuration that includes the template:

gcloud deployment-manager deployments create my-deployment-with-template --config instance-config-with-template.yaml

Updating and Deleting Deployments

Deployment Manager allows you to update or delete deployments as needed.

Update a Deployment

To modify an existing deployment, edit the configuration file and apply the changes with:

gcloud deployment-manager deployments update my-deployment --config updated-config.yaml

Delete a Deployment

To delete a deployment and its associated resources, use the following command:

gcloud deployment-manager deployments delete my-deployment

Best Practices for Google Cloud Deployment Manager

Follow these best practices to make the most of Deployment Manager:

1. Use Templates for Reusability

Create reusable templates for common resources to reduce duplication and simplify deployment management across multiple environments.

2. Organize Configurations with Imports

Use imports to organize configurations by separating templates, schemas, and configurations, making it easier to manage and scale deployments.

3. Leverage Version Control

Store configuration and template files in a version control system like Git. This practice allows for easy tracking of changes, collaboration, and rollback to previous versions if needed.

4. Test Deployments in Staging Environments

Deploy new configurations to a staging environment before deploying them to production. Testing helps identify issues early and reduces the risk of impacting production resources.

Conclusion

Google Cloud Deployment Manager is a powerful tool for automating infrastructure management on Google Cloud Platform. By defining resources in configurations and templates, Deployment Manager enables consistent, repeatable, and scalable deployments. By following best practices and leveraging the power of infrastructure as code, you can streamline cloud management, reduce manual work, and improve deployment reliability across your organization.