Packer

expected time	requirements
60 minutes	A computer with az installed.

Goal: Understand how to create images to spin up instances.

Explanation

So far we’ve used images created by the cloud provider. Typically these images work, but sometimes extra configuration is required, think if these things:

• A hardened image.
• An image with executables pre-installed.
• An image with self-registration capabilities.
• An image of a specific Linux distribution.

In those situations it can be useful to create your own image using Packer.

Howto

Let’s go over the Azure README.md or GCP README.md.

Assignment

• Azure: Clone this repository.
• GCP: Clone this repository.
• Install Packer.
• Follow the steps in the Azure README.md or GCP README.md to build an image.
• Azure Bonus: 16.04-LTS is a bit old. Find a newer sku.
• GPC Bonus: Make the script nicer, add some /etc/motd, packages, services, etc.

Questions

1. Would building images be something for your organization?
2. Conceptually, can I build an Amazon image on Azure or GCP?

Solution

See ubuntu.json

Hints

• Find images using az vm image list --all --publisher Canonical.