• Install Tarraform: https://www.terraform.io/intro/getting-started/install.html

You can use the default terraform.tfvars.example file (just need to add AWS keys and remove the .example from the file name). If you prefere to use cmd arguments, that's up to you.

Go in the backend.tf file and comment the following block of code

terraform {
  backend "s3" {
    bucket         = "remote-state-me-us-east-1"
    encrypt        = true
    key            = "remote-state-me-us-east-1/backend/terraform.tfstate"
    dynamodb_table = "remote-state-me-us-east-1"
    region         = "us-east-1"
  }
}

Initiatialize Terraform project by importing the nessecary provider

terraform init

Check the S3 bucket and DynamoDB table that will be created

terraform plan

Create the S3 bucket and DynamoDB table

terraform apply -auto-approve

Go in the backend.tf file and uncomment the following block of code

terraform {
  backend "s3" {
    bucket         = "remote-state-me-us-east-1"
    encrypt        = true
    key            = "remote-state-me-us-east-1/backend/terraform.tfstate"
    dynamodb_table = "remote-state-me-us-east-1"
    region         = "us-east-1"
  }
}

Modify the various informations. Here is a maping of what is corresponding to what:

• bucket: name of the S3 bucket to push the state to
• encrypt: make sure that the terraform.tfstate file is encrypted on the S3 bucket
• key: path on the S3 bucket where the terraform.tfstate file will be stored (it is up to you to define it, I strongly encourage you to follow a patern)
• dynamodb_table: name of the DynamoDB table used to lock the state during Terraform operations
• region: region where the S3 bucket is

Reinitiatialize the Terraform project to push the local state to the S3 bucket

terraform init

When asked, agree to push your local terraform.tfstate file to the remote S3 bucket.

Go in the backend.tf file and comment the following block of code, it is present in the S3 bucket and in the DynamoDB table ressources, so you will have to comment it in both places

lifecycle {
  prevent_destroy = true
}

Delete previously created DynamoDB table

terraform destroy -force

You will get an error, but the DynamoDB table will have been deleted. Go to your AWS console and manually delete the S3 bucket where you used to store the terraform.tfstate file.

Install autocompletion for terraform:

terraform -install-autocomplete

You have a project? Want to discuss? Contact me at [email protected]