cli: terraform import -ignore-missing-config

This new option allows importing without configuration present.

Configuration is required by default as a confirmation that the provided resource name is correct, but it can be useful to override this in tools that wrap Terraform to do more involved operations.

command/import.go

@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ func (c *ImportCommand) Run(args []string) int {
 	cmdFlags.StringVar(&c.Meta.provider, "provider", "", "provider")
 	cmdFlags.BoolVar(&c.Meta.stateLock, "lock", true, "lock state")
 	cmdFlags.DurationVar(&c.Meta.stateLockTimeout, "lock-timeout", 0, "lock timeout")
+	cmdFlags.BoolVar(&c.Meta.allowMissingConfig, "allow-missing-config", false, "allow missing config")
 	cmdFlags.Usage = func() { c.Ui.Error(c.Help()) }
 	if err := cmdFlags.Parse(args); err != nil {
 		return 1
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@ func (c *ImportCommand) Run(args []string) int {
 			break
 		}
 	}
-	if rc == nil {
+	if !c.Meta.allowMissingConfig && rc == nil {
 		modulePath := addr.WholeModuleAddress().String()
 		if modulePath == "" {
 			modulePath = "the root module"
@@ -182,6 +183,10 @@ func (c *ImportCommand) Run(args []string) int {
 
 	c.Ui.Output(c.Colorize().Color("[reset][green]\n" + importCommandSuccessMsg))
 
+	if c.Meta.allowMissingConfig && rc == nil {
+		c.Ui.Output(c.Colorize().Color("[reset][yellow]\n" + importCommandAllowMissingResourceMsg))
+	}
+
 	return 0
 }
 
@@ -202,53 +207,57 @@ Usage: terraform import [options] ADDR ID
   determine the ID syntax to use. It typically matches directly to the ID
   that the provider uses.
 
-  In the current state of Terraform import, the resource is only imported
-  into your state file. Once it is imported, you must manually write
-  configuration for the new resource or Terraform will mark it for destruction.
-  Future versions of Terraform will expand the functionality of Terraform
-  import.
+  The current implementation of Terraform import can only import resources
+  into the state. It does not generate configuration. A future version of
+  Terraform will also generate configuration.
+
+  Because of this, prior to running terraform import it is necessary to write
+  a resource configuration block for the resource manually, to which the
+  imported object will be attached.
 
   This command will not modify your infrastructure, but it will make
   network requests to inspect parts of your infrastructure relevant to
   the resource being imported.
 
 Options:
 
-  -backup=path        Path to backup the existing state file before
-                      modifying. Defaults to the "-state-out" path with
-                      ".backup" extension. Set to "-" to disable backup.
+  -backup=path            Path to backup the existing state file before
+                          modifying. Defaults to the "-state-out" path with
+                          ".backup" extension. Set to "-" to disable backup.
 
-  -config=path        Path to a directory of Terraform configuration files
-                      to use to configure the provider. Defaults to pwd.
-                      If no config files are present, they must be provided
-                      via the input prompts or env vars.
+  -config=path            Path to a directory of Terraform configuration files
+                          to use to configure the provider. Defaults to pwd.
+                          If no config files are present, they must be provided
+                          via the input prompts or env vars.
 
-  -input=true         Ask for input for variables if not directly set.
+  -allow-missing-config   Allow import when no resource configuration block exists.
 
-  -lock=true          Lock the state file when locking is supported.
+  -input=true             Ask for input for variables if not directly set.
 
-  -lock-timeout=0s    Duration to retry a state lock.
+  -lock=true              Lock the state file when locking is supported.
 
-  -no-color           If specified, output won't contain any color.
+  -lock-timeout=0s        Duration to retry a state lock.
 
-  -provider=provider  Specific provider to use for import. This is used for
-                      specifying aliases, such as "aws.eu". Defaults to the
-                      normal provider prefix of the resource being imported.
+  -no-color               If specified, output won't contain any color.
 
-  -state=PATH         Path to the source state file. Defaults to the configured
-                      backend, or "terraform.tfstate"
+  -provider=provider      Specific provider to use for import. This is used for
+                          specifying aliases, such as "aws.eu". Defaults to the
+                          normal provider prefix of the resource being imported.
 
-  -state-out=PATH     Path to the destination state file to write to. If this
-                      isn't specified, the source state file will be used. This
-                      can be a new or existing path.
+  -state=PATH             Path to the source state file. Defaults to the configured
+                          backend, or "terraform.tfstate"
 
-  -var 'foo=bar'      Set a variable in the Terraform configuration. This
-                      flag can be set multiple times. This is only useful
-                      with the "-config" flag.
+  -state-out=PATH         Path to the destination state file to write to. If this
+                          isn't specified, the source state file will be used. This
+                          can be a new or existing path.
 
-  -var-file=foo       Set variables in the Terraform configuration from
-                      a file. If "terraform.tfvars" or any ".auto.tfvars"
-                      files are present, they will be automatically loaded.
+  -var 'foo=bar'          Set a variable in the Terraform configuration. This
+                          flag can be set multiple times. This is only useful
+                          with the "-config" flag.
+
+  -var-file=foo           Set variables in the Terraform configuration from
+                          a file. If "terraform.tfvars" or any ".auto.tfvars"
+                          files are present, they will be automatically loaded.
 
 
 `
@@ -300,9 +309,13 @@ const importCommandSuccessMsg = `Import successful!
 
 The resources that were imported are shown above. These resources are now in
 your Terraform state and will henceforth be managed by Terraform.
+`
+
+const importCommandAllowMissingResourceMsg = `Import does not generate resource configuration, you must create a resource
+configuration block that matches the current or desired state manually.
 
-Import does not generate configuration, so the next step is to ensure that
-the resource configurations match the current (or desired) state of the
-imported resources. You can use the output from "terraform plan" to verify that
-the configuration is correct and complete.
+If there is no matching resource configuration block for the imported
+resource, Terraform will delete the resource on the next "terraform apply".
+It is recommended that you run "terraform plan" to verify that the
+configuration is correct and complete.
 `

command/import_test.go

@@ -403,6 +403,47 @@ func TestImport_customProvider(t *testing.T) {
 	testStateOutput(t, statePath, testImportCustomProviderStr)
 }
 
+func TestImport_allowMissingResourceConfig(t *testing.T) {
+	defer testChdir(t, testFixturePath("import-missing-resource-config"))()
+
+	statePath := testTempFile(t)
+
+	p := testProvider()
+	ui := new(cli.MockUi)
+	c := &ImportCommand{
+		Meta: Meta{
+			testingOverrides: metaOverridesForProvider(p),
+			Ui:               ui,
+		},
+	}
+
+	p.ImportStateFn = nil
+	p.ImportStateReturn = []*terraform.InstanceState{
+		{
+			ID: "yay",
+			Ephemeral: terraform.EphemeralState{
+				Type: "test_instance",
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	args := []string{
+		"-state", statePath,
+		"-allow-missing-config",
+		"test_instance.foo",
+		"bar",
+	}
+	if code := c.Run(args); code != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %d\n\n%s", code, ui.ErrorWriter.String())
+	}
+
+	if !p.ImportStateCalled {
+		t.Fatal("ImportState should be called")
+	}
+
+	testStateOutput(t, statePath, testImportStr)
+}
+
 func TestImport_missingResourceConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	defer testChdir(t, testFixturePath("import-missing-resource-config"))()
 

command/meta.go

@@ -142,6 +142,9 @@ type Meta struct {
 	errWriter *io.PipeWriter
 	// done chan to wait for the scanner goroutine
 	errScannerDone chan struct{}
+
+	// Used with the import command to allow import of state when no matching config exists.
+	allowMissingConfig bool
 }
 
 type PluginOverrides struct {