[Module 1] Terraform Geo-blocking Error in Iraq - Invalid provider registry

[tahanawfal]

Course

data-engineering-zoomcamp

Question

If you are accessing Terraform from a restricted region (e.g., Iraq), you may be unable to reach the registry, resulting in initialization errors.

Error Message:

│ Error: Invalid provider registry host
│
│ The host "registry.terraform.io" given in provider source address "registry.terraform.io/hashicorp/google" does not offer a Terraform provider registry. 
╵
│ Error: Failed to query available provider packages
│
│ Could not retrieve the list of available versions for provider hashicorp/google: could not connect to registry.terraform.io: failed to request discovery      
│ document: Get "https://registry.terraform.io/.well-known/terraform.json": proxyconnect tcp: dial tcp: lookup http: no such host

Answer

This error occurs because the connection to registry.terraform.io is blocked.

• Important: Using a VPN browser extension is often not sufficient. Extensions typically only proxy traffic within the web browser, leaving your terminal/VS Code connection blocked.
• Fix: Install and activate a system-wide VPN software (e.g., Proton VPN, which is free and open source). This ensures that traffic from your terminal (where terraform init runs) is correctly routed through the VPN.
• Once the system-wide VPN is active, run terraform init again.

Checklist

• I have searched existing FAQs and this question is not already answered
• The answer provides accurate, helpful information
• I have included any relevant code examples or links

[github-actions]

✅ FAQ UPDATE proposal created in PR #125

Please review and approve the changes.