> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://notes.kodekloud.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Multiple Providers Part 2Aliases

> Learn to configure multiple AWS providers in OpenTofu using aliases for deploying resources across different regions or accounts without repeating configurations.

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to configure multiple AWS providers in a single OpenTofu setup using provider aliases. This lets you deploy resources—such as EC2 key pairs—to different regions (or accounts) without repeating your configuration.

## 1. Declare Your Resources

First, define two AWS EC2 key pairs named `alpha` and `beta`:

```hcl theme={null}
resource "aws_key_pair" "alpha" {
  key_name   = "alpha"
  public_key = "ssh-rsa AAAAB3NzaC1yc2EAAAAADAQABAAABQD3...alpha@a-server"
}

resource "aws_key_pair" "beta" {
  key_name   = "beta"
  public_key = "ssh-rsa AAAAB3NzaC1yc2EAAAAADAQABAAABQD3...beta@b-server"
}
```

By default, both resources will target the same AWS provider.

## 2. Configure the Default Provider

Specify the default AWS provider region:

```hcl theme={null}
provider "aws" {
  region = "us-east-1"
}
```

At this point, both `aws_key_pair.alpha` and `aws_key_pair.beta` will be created in **us-east-1**.

## 3. Add an Aliased Provider

To deploy `beta` in a different region, add a second provider block with an `alias`:

```hcl theme={null}
provider "aws" {
  region = "us-east-1"
}

provider "aws" {
  alias  = "central"
  region = "ca-central-1"
}
```

* The first block remains the **default** (`us-east-1`).
* The second block is identified by `alias = "central"` and targets **ca-central-1**.

## 4. Assign the Aliased Provider to a Resource

Use the `provider` meta-argument within your resource to select the aliased provider:

```hcl theme={null}
resource "aws_key_pair" "beta" {
  provider   = aws.central
  key_name   = "beta"
  public_key = "ssh-rsa AAAAB3NzaC1yc2EAAAAADAQABAAABQD3...beta@b-server"
}
```

* `alpha` continues to use the **default** AWS provider (`us-east-1`).
* `beta` now uses the **aws.central** provider (`ca-central-1`).

<Callout icon="lightbulb" color="#1CB2FE">
  Provider aliases are ideal for multi-region or multi-account strategies in a single configuration. You can also combine aliases with workspaces or backends for more complex deployments.
</Callout>

## 5. Verify with `tofu show`

After running `tofu apply`, inspect your deployed resources:

```bash theme={null}
$ tofu show
# aws_key_pair.alpha:
resource "aws_key_pair" "alpha" {
  arn         = "arn:aws:ec2:us-east-1::key-pair/alpha"
  fingerprint = "d7:ff:a6:63:18:64:9c:57:a1:ee:ca:a4:ad:c2:81:62"
  id          = "alpha"
  key_name    = "alpha"
  public_key  = "ssh-rsa AAAAB3NzaC1yc2EAAAADAQABAAABgQC3...Ov"
  tags_all    = {}
}

# aws_key_pair.beta:
resource "aws_key_pair" "beta" {
  arn         = "arn:aws:ec2:ca-central-1::key-pair/beta"
  fingerprint = "d7:ff:a6:63:18:64:9c:57:a1:ee:ca:a4:ad:c2:81:62"
  id          = "beta"
  key_name    = "beta"
  public_key  = "ssh-rsa AAAAB3NzaC1yc2EAAAADAQABAAABgQC3...Ov"
  tags_all    = {}
}
```

Here, `alpha` appears in **us-east-1** (default) and `beta` in **ca-central-1** (aliased).

## 6. Resource–Provider Mapping

| Resource             | Provider Block      | Region       |
| -------------------- | ------------------- | ------------ |
| aws\_key\_pair.alpha | aws (default)       | us-east-1    |
| aws\_key\_pair.beta  | aws.central (alias) | ca-central-1 |

<Callout icon="triangle-alert" color="#FF6B6B">
  Make sure your AWS credentials have permissions for each region or profile you target. Missing credentials can cause resource creation failures.
</Callout>

## Links and References

* [OpenTofu Provider Aliases](https://docs.opentofu.io/configuration/providers/#provider-aliases)
* [AWS Regions and Availability Zones](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/using-regions-availability-zones.html)
* [Terraform Providers Documentation](https://www.terraform.io/docs/language/providers/configuration.html)

<CardGroup>
  <Card title="Watch Video" icon="video" cta="Learn more" href="https://learn.kodekloud.com/user/courses/opentofu-a-beginners-guide-to-a-terraform-fork-including-migration-from-terraform/module/c3586b29-e450-4c95-bad9-91bdf332eb24/lesson/8c04d4c3-0f65-454a-95b3-b95dcdc21e6a" />
</CardGroup>