New Training: Automate OS Image Builds in AWS with Hashicorp Packer

In this 6-video skill, CBT Nuggets trainer Trevor Sullivan uses Packer, an open-source tool developed by Hashicorp that empowers you to perform automated operating system image builds in the cloud. Watch this new AWS training.

Watch the full course: AWS Cloud Automation

This training includes:

• 6 videos

• 52 minutes of training

You’ll learn these topics in this skill:

• Why Use Hashicorp Packer for OS Image Builds?

• Install Hashicorp Packer on Your System

• Create Hashicorp Packer Template with AWS Builder

• Add Provisioner Script to Packer Template

• Copy Local Resources to Remote Instance

• Integrate Ansible with Hashicorp Packer and AWS

What is a Packer Template?

A Packer template is a file that Packer uses to determine its behavior when creating machine images. A template consists of a set of declarations and commands that Packer will process.

The Packer template also informs Packer what builders, provisioners and post-processors to use, how to configure each of these and in what order it should perform this configuration. To help you customize your builds, Packer templates further offer both flexible variable injection tools and built-in functions.

The original format for writing Packer templates was JSON. But since version 1.7.0, Packer has been transitioning to a new template configuration format that is called HCL2 (Second-Generation HashiCorp Configuration Language). This is the same configuration format that is used by HashiCorp's other products, such as Terraform, and is considered more flexible, modular and concise than the JSON template format.

While Packer will continue to support the JSON format, it is important to note that in the future many new features will only be supported in HCL2.