# Data Sources

### Overview

Data sources allow Terraform to query and use information about existing infrastructure that isn't managed by your current Terraform configuration. Use data sources to:

* Reference servers created outside of Terraform
* Look up information about existing resources
* Share data between separate Terraform configurations

### Available Data Sources

| Data Source                                             | Description                       |
| ------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------- |
| [teraswitch\_metal](/integrations/terraform/metal-1.md) | Query existing bare metal servers |

### When to Use Data Sources

#### Referencing Existing Infrastructure

Query servers that were created manually or by another team:

```hcl
data "teraswitch_metal" "legacy_db" {
  id = 12345
}

output "legacy_db_ip" {
  value = data.teraswitch_metal.legacy_db.ip_addresses
}
```

#### Cross-Configuration References

When infrastructure is split across multiple Terraform configurations, use data sources to reference resources managed elsewhere:

```hcl
# In networking configuration
output "network_id" {
  value = teraswitch_network.shared.id
}

# In application configuration
data "teraswitch_metal" "shared_server" {
  id = var.shared_server_id
}
```

#### Migration to Terraform

When gradually migrating existing infrastructure to Terraform management:

1. Use data sources to reference existing resources
2. Plan your migration incrementally
3. Import resources when ready to manage them with Terraform

{% hint style="info" %}
Data sources are read-only. To manage a resource with Terraform, use the corresponding resource type and import if needed.
{% endhint %}


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