HashiCorp Packer
HashiCorp Packer Basics
Custom Images
Streamline your deployments by bundling application code and server configuration into a single, ready-to-deploy image. Tools like HashiCorp Packer automate the image-building process, producing fully configured artifacts for any environment.
Note
Immutable images guarantee consistency, repeatability, and reliability across development, testing, and production.
Why Use Custom Images?
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Consistency | Every environment runs the exact same image. |
| Speed | Pre-baked configurations reduce startup time. |
| Security | Reduce drift by disallowing manual changes to running instances. |
| Automation | Integrate with CI/CD pipelines for hands-off image creation and deployment. |
Image-Building Tools
| Tool | Use Case | Example Command |
|---|---|---|
| HashiCorp Packer | VM and cloud image builds | packer build template.json |
| Docker | Container images | docker build -t myapp:latest . |
| Custom AMI Scripts | AWS EC2 image automation | aws ec2 create-image --instance-id i-123 |
Sample Workflow
- Define your machine configuration in Packer (or a Dockerfile).
- Run the build command to generate an immutable image.
- Push the image to your registry or cloud provider.
- Deploy new instances using the updated image.
while (alive) {
eat();
sleep();
code();
repeat();
}
Warning
Never modify a running image in place. Always build and deploy a new image for updates.
Additional Resources
Watch Video
Watch video content