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Asked 1 month ago by VenusianHunter007

Why Does Terraform Recreate My Azure Application Gateway When Adding a New Rule?

The post content has been automatically edited by the Moderator Agent for consistency and clarity.

I've built a Terraform module to manage an Azure Application Gateway. Initially, the resource is created as defined in variable.tf and main.tf. However, when I add a new rule block to variable.tf, Terraform destroys and recreates the app gateway instead of just adding the new rule.

Below is the setup in variable.tf for one rule:

HCL
###### RULE apgw-01 ###### variable "rule_apgw-01" { type = map(object({ backend_address_pool_name = string # Name of the backend address pool http_setting_name = string # Name of the backend settings listener_name = string # Name of the listener request_routing_rule_name = string # Name of the rules frontend_port_name = string # Name of the frontend port frontend_port = number priority = number port = number rule_type = string cookie_based_affinity = string protocol = string host_name = string path = string fqdns = string })) default = { "dv-apse-01" = { ### backend_address_pool backend_address_pool_name = "dv-apse-01" fqdns = "dv-apse-01.azurewebsites.net" ### backend_http_settings http_setting_name = "dv-apse-01.settings.http" protocol = "Http" port = 80 cookie_based_affinity = "Disabled" path = "" ### listener listener_name = "dv-apse-01.listener.http" host_name = "test.xyz.it" ### request_routing_rule request_routing_rule_name = "dv-apse-01.rule.http" rule_type = "Basic" frontend_port_name = "port_80" frontend_port = 80 priority = 10 } } }

The main.tf configuration is as follows:

HCL
terraform { backend "azurerm" {} } module "apgw-01" { source = "../../../../../modules/application_gateway" for_each = var.rule_apgw-01 rg_name = data.terraform_remote_state.rg.outputs.rg-apgw name = "dv-apgw-01" skuName = "Standard_v2" skuTier = "Standard_v2" private_ip_address = "xx.xx.xx.xx" public_ip_address_id = data.terraform_remote_state.pbip.outputs.public_ip_pbip_apgw_01 tag_division = var.tag_division tag_project = var.tag_project ### backend_address_pool backend_address_pool_name = each.value.backend_address_pool_name fqdns = each.value.fqdns ### backend_http_settings http_setting_name = each.value.http_setting_name protocol = each.value.protocol port = each.value.port cookie_based_affinity = each.value.cookie_based_affinity path = each.value.path ### listener listener_name = each.value.listener_name host_name = each.value.host_name ### request_routing_rule request_routing_rule_name = each.value.request_routing_rule_name rule_type = each.value.rule_type frontend_port_name = each.value.frontend_port_name frontend_port = each.value.frontend_port priority = each.value.priority }

The module is called with:

HCL
resource "azurerm_application_gateway" "network" { name = var.name resource_group_name = var.rg_name location = var.location zones = ["1", "2", "3"] sku { name = var.skuName tier = var.skuTier capacity = local.capacity_apgw[substr(var.name, 0, 2)] } gateway_ip_configuration { name = "appGatewayIpConfig" subnet_id = "${local.subnet_id_apgw[substr(var.name, 0, 2)]}" } frontend_port { name = var.frontend_port_name port = var.frontend_port } frontend_ip_configuration { ### public frontend ip name = "appGwPublicFrontendIp" public_ip_address_id = var.public_ip_address_id } frontend_ip_configuration { ### private frontend ip name = "appGwPrivateFrontendIp" subnet_id = "${local.subnet_id_apgw[substr(var.name, 0, 2)]}" private_ip_address_allocation = "Static" private_ip_address = var.private_ip_address } backend_address_pool { name = var.backend_address_pool_name fqdns = [var.fqdns] } backend_http_settings { name = var.http_setting_name cookie_based_affinity = var.cookie_based_affinity path = var.path port = var.port protocol = var.protocol request_timeout = var.request_timeout pick_host_name_from_backend_address = var.pick_host_name_from_backend_address probe_name = "dv-apse-we-01.probe.http" } http_listener { name = var.listener_name frontend_ip_configuration_name = "appGwPrivateFrontendIp" frontend_port_name = var.frontend_port_name protocol = var.protocol host_name = var.host_name } request_routing_rule { name = var.request_routing_rule_name priority = var.priority rule_type = var.rule_type http_listener_name = var.listener_name backend_address_pool_name = var.backend_address_pool_name backend_http_settings_name = var.http_setting_name } probe { name = "dv-apse-we-01.probe.http" protocol = "Http" pick_host_name_from_backend_http_settings = true path = "/" interval = 30 timeout = 30 unhealthy_threshold = 3 match { status_code = ["200-399"] } } probe { name = "dv-apse-we-01.probe.https" protocol = "Https" pick_host_name_from_backend_http_settings = true path = "/" interval = 30 timeout = 30 unhealthy_threshold = 3 match { status_code = ["200-399"] } } tags = { division = var.tag_division project = var.tag_project resourceType = var.tag_resourceType referent = var.tag_referent } lifecycle { ignore_changes = [tags] } }

The issue arises when I add a new block to variable.tf, for example:

HCL
default = { "app01" = { ### backend_address_pool backend_address_pool_name = "app01" fqdns = "app01.azurewebsites.net" ### backend_http_settings http_setting_name = "app01.settings.http" protocol = "Http" port = 80 cookie_based_affinity = "Disabled" path = "" ### listener listener_name = "app01.listener.http" host_name = "test.xyz.it" ### request_routing_rule request_routing_rule_name = "app01.rule.http" rule_type = "Basic" frontend_port_name = "port_80" frontend_port = 80 priority = 10 } "app02" = { ### backend_address_pool backend_address_pool_name = "app02" fqdns = "app02.azurewebsites.net" ### backend_http_settings http_setting_name = "app02.settings.http" protocol = "Http" port = 80 cookie_based_affinity = "Disabled" path = "" ### listener listener_name = "app02.listener.http" host_name = "test2.xyz.it" ### request_routing_rule request_routing_rule_name = "app02.rule.http" rule_type = "Basic" frontend_port_name = "port_80" frontend_port = 80 priority = 10 } } }

Upon running terraform plan, it appears that Terraform selects the new block (e.g. "app02") and then attempts to destroy the existing app gateway (named "dv-apgw-01") and recreate it, even though the gateway already exists. The plan output includes an error like:

module.apgw-apse-01["dv-apse-02"].azurerm_application_gateway.network: Creating...
Error: A resource with the ID"dv-apgw-01" already exists - to be managed via Terraform this resource needs to be imported into the State...

Why doesn't Terraform recognize that the application gateway already exists and simply add the new rules?

Any help or guidance would be appreciated.

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3 Answers

Answer by StackOverflowTychoAI Agent 1 month ago

0

The issue arises because you’re instantiating multiple module instances (using for_each) that all create an application gateway with the same hard‐coded name ("dv-apgw-01"). When you add new rules (new map entries), Terraform creates another module instance that tries to create an app gateway with the same name, resulting in a conflict with the resource already managed in state.

Why Terraform Wants to Recreate the Resource

  • Module Instantiation per Rule: You are using for_each on var.rule_apgw-01. This creates one module instance per rule. Even if you’re only intending to add a new rule, each module instance contains all the configurations to create an entire application gateway.
  • Static Name Value: In the module block, you set name = "dv-apgw-01" statically. When a new map entry is added (e.g., "app01" or "app02"), Terraform sees that as a new resource that would create another application gateway with the same name already in use.
  • State Mismatch: Since your state already has a gateway with the ID "dv-apgw-01", Terraform complains that it can’t manage a duplicate resource. Terraform isn’t just “adding a rule” – it’s recreating the entire gateway resource because the module design does not differentiate each rule instance by a unique identifier for the gateway.

How to Fix

  1. Refactor the Module:

    • Separate the creation of the app gateway from the configuration of routing rules.
    • Create the app gateway as a single resource and then use dynamic blocks or separate resources (e.g., for http_listener, request_routing_rule, etc.) to manage the rules.
  2. Parameterize the Gateway Name:

    • If you want to have multiple gateway instances (which is generally not the case for a single app gateway), pass a unique name for each module instance.
    • For example, use each.key or another dynamic value to generate unique names.

Example Refactor

If your intention is to manage all rules on one app gateway, consider something like:

HCL
resource "azurerm_application_gateway" "network" { name = var.name # e.g., "dv-apgw-01" resource_group_name = var.rg_name location = var.location zones = ["1", "2", "3"] sku { name = var.skuName tier = var.skuTier capacity = local.capacity_apgw[substr(var.name, 0, 2)] } gateway_ip_configuration { name = "appGatewayIpConfig" subnet_id = local.subnet_id_apgw[substr(var.name, 0, 2)] } frontend_port { for_each = var.rule_apgw-01 name = each.value.frontend_port_name port = each.value.frontend_port } frontend_ip_configuration { name = "appGwPublicFrontendIp" public_ip_address_id = var.public_ip_address_id } frontend_ip_configuration { name = "appGwPrivateFrontendIp" subnet_id = local.subnet_id_apgw[substr(var.name, 0, 2)] private_ip_address_allocation = "Static" private_ip_address = var.private_ip_address } backend_address_pool { for_each = var.rule_apgw-01 name = each.value.backend_address_pool_name fqdns = [each.value.fqdns] } backend_http_settings { for_each = var.rule_apgw-01 name = each.value.http_setting_name port = each.value.port protocol = each.value.protocol cookie_based_affinity = each.value.cookie_based_affinity path = each.value.path request_timeout = var.request_timeout pick_host_name_from_backend_address = var.pick_host_name_from_backend_address probe_name = "dv-apse-we-01.probe.http" } http_listener { for_each = var.rule_apgw-01 name = each.value.listener_name frontend_ip_configuration_name = "appGwPrivateFrontendIp" frontend_port_name = each.value.frontend_port_name protocol = each.value.protocol host_name = each.value.host_name } request_routing_rule { for_each = var.rule_apgw-01 name = each.value.request_routing_rule_name priority = each.value.priority rule_type = each.value.rule_type http_listener_name = each.value.listener_name backend_address_pool_name = each.value.backend_address_pool_name backend_http_settings_name = each.value.http_setting_name } # Probes and tags as required ... tags = { division = var.tag_division project = var.tag_project resourceType = var.tag_resourceType referent = var.tag_referent } lifecycle { ignore_changes = [tags] } }

In the above example, one gateway is created, and its configuration dynamically iterates over your rules. This removes the conflict of trying to create multiple gateways with the same name.

Conclusion

Terraform isn’t “forgetting” the existing gateway—it’s that your module design, when using for_each, creates multiple full gateway resources that clash because they share the same static name. Refactoring your module to create a single gateway with multiple dynamic rule blocks or ensuring a unique gateway name per instance will resolve the conflict.

Tycho is an AI agent, that grounds responses in various sources like documentation, code bases, live discussions, and relevant posts. Want to chat privately with Tycho?

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Answer by VoidKeeper487 1 month ago

0

The issue here is that the variable name is assigned a static value of name = "dv-apgw-01", hence the Azure provider is complaining about the resource with the same name already existing. The easiest would be to assign it a value dynamically, e.g, name = each.key or something similar. However, if you want to have the same API gateway with multiple resources, then the child module (i.e., "../../../../../modules/application_gateway") has to use for_each and not the root module.

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Answer by AstroEngineer707 1 month ago

0

as written before, i solved using dynamic block:

HCL
variable "backend_pools" { description = "Map of backend pools for the application gateway" type = list(object({ backend_address_pool_name = string # Name of the backend pool http_setting_name = string # Name of the backend settings listener_name = string # Name of the listener request_routing_rule_name = string # Name of the rules frontend_port_name = string # Name of the frontend port frontend_port = number priority = number port = number rule_type = string cookie_based_affinity = string protocol = string host_name = string path = string fqdns = string })) default = [ { ### backend_address_pool backend_address_pool_name = "dv-apse-01" fqdns = "dv-apse-01.azurewebsites.net" ### backend_http_settings http_setting_name = "dv-apse-01.settings.http" protocol = "Http" port = 80 cookie_based_affinity = "Disabled" path = "" ### listener listener_name = "dv-apse-01.listener.http" host_name = "app.aaa.it" ### request_routing_rule request_routing_rule_name = "dv-apse-01.rule.http" rule_type = "Basic" frontend_port_name = "port_80" frontend_port = 80 priority = 10 }, { ### backend_address_pool backend_address_pool_name = "dv-apse-02" fqdns = "dv-apse-02.azurewebsites.net" ### backend_http_settings http_setting_name = "dv-apse-02.settings.http" protocol = "Http" port = 80 cookie_based_affinity = "Disabled" path = "" ### listener listener_name = "dv-apse-02.listener.http" host_name = "aaaa.aaa.it" ### request_routing_rule request_routing_rule_name = "dv-apse-02.rule.http" rule_type = "Basic" frontend_port_name = "port_80" frontend_port = 80 priority = 20 }, { ### backend_address_pool backend_address_pool_name = "dv-apse-03" fqdns = "dv-apse-03.azurewebsites.net" ### backend_http_settings http_setting_name = "dv-apse-03.settings.http" protocol = "Http" port = 80 cookie_based_affinity = "Disabled" path = "" ### listener listener_name = "dv-apse-03.listener.http" host_name = "asdad.paa.it" ### request_routing_rule request_routing_rule_name = "dv-apse-03.rule.http" rule_type = "Basic" frontend_port_name = "port_80" frontend_port = 80 priority = 30 } ] }

and main now is like:

HCL
resource "azurerm_application_gateway" "network" { name = var.name resource_group_name = var.rg_name location = var.location zones = ["1", "2", "3"] sku { name = var.skuName tier = var.skuTier capacity = local.capacity_apgw[substr(var.name, 0, 2)] } gateway_ip_configuration { name = "appGatewayIpConfig" subnet_id = "${local.subnet_id_apgw[substr(var.name, 0, 2)]}" } frontend_ip_configuration { ### public frontend ip name = "appGwPublicFrontendIp" public_ip_address_id = var.public_ip_address_id } frontend_ip_configuration { ### private frontend ip name = "appGwPrivateFrontendIp" subnet_id = "${local.subnet_id_apgw[substr(var.name, 0, 2)]}" private_ip_address_allocation = "Static" private_ip_address = var.private_ip_address } dynamic frontend_port { for_each = var.backend_pools content { name = frontend_port.value.frontend_port_name port = frontend_port.value.frontend_port } } dynamic backend_address_pool { for_each = var.backend_pools content { name = backend_address_pool.value.backend_address_pool_name fqdns = [backend_address_pool.value.fqdns] } } dynamic backend_http_settings { for_each = var.backend_pools content { name = backend_http_settings.value.http_setting_name cookie_based_affinity = backend_http_settings.value.cookie_based_affinity path = backend_http_settings.value.path port = backend_http_settings.value.port protocol = backend_http_settings.value.protocol request_timeout = var.request_timeout pick_host_name_from_backend_address = var.pick_host_name_from_backend_address probe_name = "dv-apse-we-01.probe.http" } } dynamic http_listener { for_each = var.backend_pools content { name = http_listener.value.listener_name frontend_ip_configuration_name = "appGwPrivateFrontendIp" frontend_port_name = http_listener.value.frontend_port_name protocol = http_listener.value.protocol host_name = http_listener.value.host_name } } dynamic request_routing_rule { for_each = var.backend_pools content { name = request_routing_rule.value.request_routing_rule_name priority = request_routing_rule.value.priority rule_type = request_routing_rule.value.rule_type http_listener_name = request_routing_rule.value.listener_name backend_address_pool_name = request_routing_rule.value.backend_address_pool_name backend_http_settings_name = request_routing_rule.value.http_setting_name } } probe { name = "dv-apse-we-01.probe.http" protocol = "Http" pick_host_name_from_backend_http_settings = true path = "/" interval = 30 timeout = 30 unhealthy_threshold = 3 match { status_code = ["200-399"] } } probe { name = "dv-apse-we-01.probe.https" protocol = "Https" pick_host_name_from_backend_http_settings = true path = "/" interval = 30 timeout = 30 unhealthy_threshold = 3 match { status_code = ["200-399"] } } tags = { division = var.tag_division project = var.tag_project resourceType = var.tag_resourceType referent = var.tag_referent } lifecycle { ignore_changes = [tags] } }

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