Cloud-init is a commonly used solution that configures the configuration of a new Linux virtual server when it is started for the first time.
You can use cloud-init to configure users, SSH access, install packages and write files, or to configure security. Cloud-init uses 'cloud-config' files for this.
A cloud config file is a .YAML configuration file that allows you to modify the configuration of a Linux server during the installation process: During installation, a program called cloud-init reads the data in the cloud config file and adjusts accordingly the configuration according to your wishes.
A cloud config file uses the .YAML format and is intended to be easy to read (human readable) so that it is easy to modify and easy to understand. A cloud-config file is a YAML file YAML files therefore adhere to some rules:
- Texts are indented with white spaces and new rules to indicate the structure and relationship of arrays and values relative to each other.
- Parts of a list are identified by a dash -
- Blocks of text are indented. To indicate that a block should be read as-is, while retaining the format, use a pipe character | for the block.
In the cloud-config file you indicate which changes you want to make in the configuration of your operating system and cloud-init applies them. More information about creating cloud-config files can be found in this manual.
TransIP supports cloud-init in the ordering process of a VPS: during ordering you get an option to provide a cloud-config file. The installation of your VPS is performed automatically after you have specified a cloud-config file and the configuration of your cloud-config file is applied during the installation.
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