HashiCorp Packer
Introduction
Course Introduction
Welcome to this comprehensive HashiCorp Packer tutorial! I’m Sanjeev Thiyagarajan, and in this course you’ll learn how to build custom machine images for AWS, Azure, GCP, and more—using Packer’s powerful workflow for immutable infrastructure.
Why Use Packer?
HashiCorp Packer automates the creation of machine images by “baking in” everything your servers need before launch:
- Install required packages and dependencies
- Copy and configure your application’s source code
- Apply system hardening and security settings
The result is a fully configured, immutable image. When you deploy instances from that image, they’re production-ready with zero additional setup.
Prerequisites
Before you begin, ensure you have:
- An active cloud provider account (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Your CLI configured for your target provider
- Basic familiarity with JSON or HCL configuration files
Course Outline
| Module | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| 1. Introduction to Packer | What is Packer?<br>Benefits of immutable machine images |
| 2. Builders | AWS AMI, Azure VM Image, GCP Image |
| 3. Provisioners | Shell scripts, Ansible, Chef, Puppet |
| 4. Post-Processors | AMI registration, Docker export, artifact upload |
| 5. Hands-On Demo | Step-by-step AMI build with AWS |
What You’ll Learn
- How to write Packer templates in HCL or JSON
- Best practices for reusable and maintainable image builds
- Integrating Packer with CI/CD pipelines
- Debugging build failures and optimizing performance
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to produce production-ready AMIs (and other images) that accelerate your deployments and standardize your infrastructure.
Get started with the official Packer documentation and let’s dive in!
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