Packer is an open-source software that permits the standardization of our photographs for a number of platforms with a single template. It permits us a easy and declarative automation to create our reference photographs or our golden photographs.
It comes within the type of a single executable accessible on a number of platforms.
| Platforms | Structure |
|---|---|
| MacOs | Amd64 Arm64 |
| Home windows | 386 Amd64 |
| Linux | 386 Amd64 Arm Arm64 |
A small particularity for the Home windows world it will likely be vital so as to add an setting variable to specify the trail of the binary
For the format to make use of it is strongly recommended to make use of the brand new HCL format for Hashicorp Configuration Language. It’s extremely really useful to make use of it, nevertheless the JSON format stays accessible however for the way lengthy.
supply "amazon-ebs" "predominant" {
ami_name = "main-ami"
}
<BLOCK TYPE> "<BLOCK LABEL>" "<BLOCK LABEL>" {
# Block physique
<IDENTIFIER> = <EXPRESSION> # Argument
}
{
"kind": "amazon-ebs",
"access_key": "...",
"secret_key": "..."
}
The benefit of utilizing the HCL language which is supported by packer since model 1.6 is the truth that HCP Packer makes use of the HCl format to be subsequently interpreted by Terraform which makes use of this identical format.
There are a handful of phrases used all through the Packer. Fortunately, there are comparatively few.
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Artifacts are the outcomes of a single construct, and are normally a set of IDs or recordsdata to symbolize a machine picture. Each builder produces a single artifact. For example, within the case of the Amazon EC2 builder, the artifact is a set of AMI IDs (one per area). For the VMware builder, the artifact is a listing of recordsdata comprising the created digital machine.
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Builds are a single activity that finally produces a picture for a single platform.
A number of builds run in parallel. Instance utilization in a sentence: “The Packer construct produced an AMI to run our internet utility.” Or: “Packer is working the builds now for VMware, AWS, and VirtualBox.” -
Builders are parts of Packer which are capable of create a machine picture for a single platform. Builders learn in some configuration and use that to run and generate a machine picture. A builder is invoked as a part of a construct with the intention to create the precise ensuing photographs. Instance builders embody VirtualBox, VMware, and Amazon EC2.
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Information Sources are parts of Packer that fetch information from exterior Packer and make it accessible to make use of throughout the template. Instance of information sources embody Amazon AMI, and Amazon Secrets and techniques Supervisor.
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Publish-processors are parts of Packer that take the results of a builder or one other post-processor and course of that to create a brand new artifact. Examples of post-processors are compress to compress artifacts, add to add artifacts, and many others.
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Provisioners are parts of Packer that set up and configure software program inside a working machine previous to that machine being was a static picture. They carry out the main work of constructing the picture comprise helpful software program. Instance provisioners embody shell scripts, Chef, Puppet,PowerShell, Command Line, Scripts. and many others.
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Templates are both
HCLorJSONrecordsdata which outline a number of builds by configuring the varied parts of Packer. Packer is ready to learn a template and use that info to create a number of machine photographs in parallel.
Create your individual VMware vSphere Template with Packer.
With packer we’ve to separate as a lot as doable our info in a number of recordsdata that can comprise the mandatory info, linked to our personal or public cloud setting.
We may have the next recordsdata:
- vSphere.pkvars.hcl => credential for my personal cloud and settings.
- construct.pkvars.hcl => the default person for all my builds
-
widespread.pkvars.hcl => the default setting to export my artifacts , content material Library , Template, OVA or OVF File
- vSphere.pkvars.hcl
/*
DESCRIPTION:
VMware vSphere variables used for all builds.
- Variables are use by the supply blocks.
*/
// vSphere Credentials
vsphere_endpoint = "SCO-LABO-VCSA"
vsphere_username = "packer_vsphere@area.loc"
vsphere_password = "P@$$w0rd!VMware123!."
vsphere_insecure_connection = false
// vSphere Settings
vsphere_datacenter = "Datacenter"
vsphere_cluster = "SCO_LABO"
vsphere_datastore = "FREENAS1_VOL1"
vsphere_network = "Packer_DHCP"
vsphere_folder = "Packer Pattern"
/*
DESCRIPTION:
Construct account variables used for all builds.
- Variables are handed to and utilized by visitor working system configuration recordsdata (e.g., ks.cfg, autounattend.xml).
- Variables are handed to and utilized by configuration scripts.
*/
// Default Account Credentials
build_username = "3ICSAdmin"
build_password = "3Ics@dmin!."
build_password_encrypted = "$6$jqoxlQyW2ROxsLK4$P3gGp2Bf0FCSLAZTNaE/LZBqSsvVAYZNPNwTehXZbMAhRJdKOjNqqyUWVUTwql9CnhHUlpiluWzHlR2DpUKD4/"
/*
DESCRIPTION:
Widespread variables used for all builds.
- Variables are use by the supply blocks.
*/
// Digital Machine Settings based on your environnement
common_vm_version = 16
common_tools_upgrade_policy = true
common_remove_cdrom = true
// Template and Content material Library Settings
common_template_conversion = true
common_content_library_name = "3ICS_Library"
common_content_library_ovf = true
common_content_library_destroy = true
common_content_library_skip_export = false
// Detachable Media Settings
common_iso_datastore = "FREENAS2_Vol1"
// Boot and Provisioning Settings
common_data_source = "http"
common_http_ip = null
common_http_port_min = 8000
common_http_port_max = 8099
common_ip_wait_timeout = "20m"
common_shutdown_timeout = "15m"
And now one pattern for Home windows Server 2022
/*
DESCRIPTION:
Microsoft Home windows Server 2022 template utilizing the Packer Builder for VMware vSphere (vsphere-iso).
*/
// BLOCK: packer
// The Packer configuration.
packer {
required_version = ">= 1.8.0"
required_plugins {
vsphere = {
model = ">= v1.0.4"
supply = "github.com/hashicorp/vsphere"
}
}
required_plugins {
home windows-replace = {
model = ">= 0.14.1"
supply = "github.com/rgl/windows-update"
}
}
}
// BLOCK: locals
// Defines the native variables.
locals {
build_by = "Constructed by: HashiCorp Packer ${packer.model}"
build_date = formatdate("YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm ZZZ", timestamp())
build_version = formatdate("YY.MM", timestamp())
manifest_date = formatdate("YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm:ss", timestamp())
manifest_path = "${path.cwd}/manifests/"
}
// BLOCK: supply
// Defines the builder configuration blocks.
supply "vsphere-iso" "windows-server-standard-core" {
// vCenter Server Endpoint Settings and Credentials
vcenter_server = var.vsphere_endpoint
username = var.vsphere_username
password = var.vsphere_password
insecure_connection = var.vsphere_insecure_connection
// vSphere Settings
datacenter = var.vsphere_datacenter
cluster = var.vsphere_cluster
datastore = var.vsphere_datastore
folder = var.vsphere_folder
// Digital Machine Settings
guest_os_type = var.vm_guest_os_type
vm_name = "${var.vm_guest_os_family}-${var.vm_guest_os_name}-${var.vm_guest_os_version}-${var.vm_guest_os_edition_standard}-${var.vm_guest_os_experience_core}-v${native.build_version}"
firmware = var.vm_firmware
CPUs = var.vm_cpu_sockets
cpu_cores = var.vm_cpu_cores
CPU_hot_plug = var.vm_cpu_hot_add
RAM = var.vm_mem_size
RAM_hot_plug = var.vm_mem_hot_add
cdrom_type = var.vm_cdrom_type
disk_controller_type = var.vm_disk_controller_type
storage {
disk_size = var.vm_disk_size
disk_thin_provisioned = var.vm_disk_thin_provisioned
}
network_adapters {
community = var.vsphere_network
network_card = var.vm_network_card
}
vm_version = var.common_vm_version
remove_cdrom = var.common_remove_cdrom
tools_upgrade_policy = var.common_tools_upgrade_policy
notes = "Model: v${native.build_version}nConstructed on: ${native.build_date}n${native.build_by}"
// Detachable Media Settings
iso_paths = ["[${var.common_iso_datastore}] ${var.iso_path}/${var.iso_file}", "[] /vmimages/tools-isoimages/${var.vm_guest_os_family}.iso"]
iso_checksum = "${var.iso_checksum_type}:${var.iso_checksum_value}"
cd_files = [
"${path.cwd}/scripts/${var.vm_guest_os_family}/",
"${path.cwd}/certificates/"
]
cd_content = {
"autounattend.xml" = templatefile("${abspath(path.root)}/information/autounattend.pkrtpl.hcl", {
build_username = var.build_username
build_password = var.build_password
vm_inst_os_language = var.vm_inst_os_language
vm_inst_os_keyboard = var.vm_inst_os_keyboard
vm_inst_os_image = var.vm_inst_os_image_standard_core
vm_inst_os_kms_key = var.vm_inst_os_kms_key_standard
vm_guest_os_language = var.vm_guest_os_language
vm_guest_os_keyboard = var.vm_guest_os_keyboard
vm_guest_os_timezone = var.vm_guest_os_timezone
})
}
// Boot and Provisioning Settings
http_port_min = var.common_http_port_min
http_port_max = var.common_http_port_max
boot_order = var.vm_boot_order
boot_wait = var.vm_boot_wait
boot_command = var.vm_boot_command
ip_wait_timeout = var.common_ip_wait_timeout
shutdown_command = var.vm_shutdown_command
shutdown_timeout = var.common_shutdown_timeout
// Communicator Settings and Credentials
communicator = "winrm"
winrm_username = var.build_username
winrm_password = var.build_password
winrm_port = var.communicator_port
winrm_timeout = var.communicator_timeout
// Template and Content material Library Settings
convert_to_template = var.common_template_conversion
dynamic "content_library_destination" {
for_each = var.common_content_library_name != null ? [1] : []
content material {
library = var.common_content_library_name
description = "Model: v${native.build_version}nConstructed on: ${native.build_date}n${native.build_by}"
ovf = var.common_content_library_ovf
destroy = var.common_content_library_destroy
skip_import = var.common_content_library_skip_export
}
}
}
// BLOCK: construct
// Defines the builders to run, provisioners, and post-processors.
construct {
sources = [
"source.vsphere-iso.windows-server-standard-core",
]
provisioner "powershell" {
environment_vars = [
"BUILD_USERNAME=${var.build_username}"
]
elevated_user = var.build_username
elevated_password = var.build_password
scripts = formatlist("${path.cwd}/%s", var.scripts)
}
provisioner "powershell" {
elevated_user = var.build_username
elevated_password = var.build_password
inline = var.inline
}
provisioner "windows-update" {
pause_before = "30s"
search_criteria = "IsInstalled=0"
filters = [
"exclude:$_.Title -like '*VMware*'",
"exclude:$_.Title -like '*Preview*'",
"exclude:$_.Title -like '*Defender*'",
"exclude:$_.InstallationBehavior.CanRequestUserInput",
"include:$true"
]
restart_timeout = "120m"
}
put up-processor "manifest" {
output = "${native.manifest_path}${native.manifest_date}.json"
strip_path = true
strip_time = true
custom_data = {
build_username = var.build_username
build_date = native.build_date
build_version = native.build_version
common_data_source = var.common_data_source
common_vm_version = var.common_vm_version
vm_cpu_cores = var.vm_cpu_cores
vm_cpu_sockets = var.vm_cpu_sockets
vm_disk_size = var.vm_disk_size
vm_disk_thin_provisioned = var.vm_disk_thin_provisioned
vm_firmware = var.vm_firmware
vm_guest_os_type = var.vm_guest_os_type
vm_mem_size = var.vm_mem_size
vm_network_card = var.vm_network_card
vsphere_cluster = var.vsphere_cluster
vsphere_datacenter = var.vsphere_datacenter
vsphere_datastore = var.vsphere_datastore
vsphere_endpoint = var.vsphere_endpoint
vsphere_folder = var.vsphere_folder
vsphere_iso_path = "[${var.common_iso_datastore}] ${var.iso_path}/${var.iso_file}"
}
}
}
you’ll discover that within the HCL file above all of the values are variables and are saved in a separate file. you additionally want a file that can describe all of the variables with their varieties.
Lastly it’s now doable to automate the creation of your templates inside your personal or public cloud setting
On the following half I’ll talk about Terraform and VWware Residence Lab 😉.
Thank’s for studying.🤗
Written by Jérôme Bezet-Torres @JM2K69.
