Getting Started¶
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Navigate the UI¶
The Scalr UI is separated into two functional areas that are distinguished by the color of the bookmark bar and menus.
Account (green) - This is the account management area for tasks such as configuring Identity and Access Management, creating Cloud Credentials for Terraform providers, and setting up VCS Providers (git connections) for all the environments. Modules can also be added to the Module Registry to be shared with all environments.
Environment (blue) - This is the working area where workspaces are created to run Terraform. Workspaces can be linked to VCS or created for use with the CLI. VCS Providers and modules that are specific to each environment can also be added here.
The diagram below shows where different objects are configured in Scalr, with some objects configurable in both areas. Anything configured in the account is used or inherited in all the environments.
After signup this screen is displayed.
This is an environment (blue) where VCS provider and/or a workspaces can be created in order to get started.
To switch to the account (green) to manage Cloud Credentials, Identity and Access Management etc click on the switcher in the top right corner and click on the account (green), or click on “Manage Account” from the main menu.
First Steps¶
Before using Scalr to run Terraform there are typically a few quick things that need to be set up.
Cloud Credentials - Add authentication for the cloud Terraform providers which will be injected as environment variables into workspaces.
VCS Providers - Connect Scalr to VCS for automated runs (we support all the most commonly used ones)
Grant Access - Invite users, create teams and grant access through IAM.
Environments - Create environments to host workspaces in logically related groups.
Workspaces - This is where Terraform runs. Connect a workspace linked to VCS for automated runs, or use them as a remote backend for the CLI.
Cloud Credentials¶
Managed in the account.
Cloud credentials can be linked to environments so that the appropriate environment variables are injected into the workspaces for the associated provider. For example, if credentials are added for AWS these variables will be exported in the workspaces.
Multiple sets of credentials are permitted with different ones linked to different environments.
See Cloud Credentials for details of setting up credentials for the major cloud providers.
VCS Providers¶
In the account or any environment VCS provider connections can be created.
See VCS Providers for full details of configuring each type of VCS provider.
Grant Access¶
Managed in the account.
Users and teams are assigned access policies to give them permissions to access environments and workspaces.
Invite additional users
Create teams to enable collaboration
Grant access via access policies.
See Identity and Access Management for full details on granting access to Scalr.
Environments¶
Environments are collections of related workspaces that correspond to functional areas, SDLC stages, projects, or any grouping that is required.
The environment is where policies, credentials, registry modules, registry templates, and VCS providers can be created that will then be available or enforced on every workspace in that environment.
All objects managed in the account can be optionally shared across all environments.
Workspaces within an environment are where Terraform configurations are run to deploy infrastructure, and where state files are stored.
In the account.
Create environments as required.
Grant access policies to enable user and team access.
Link any cloud credentials that are required.
Workspaces¶
Create the workspaces for specific use cases.
Click the relevant link below for full details.