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Automated template creation using Hashicorp Packer

News

(2024/05/07) Added Ubuntu 24.04 LTS template.; validated usage with Packer 1.10.3.

(2023/11/27) Switched all templates to HCL...finally! 😅

(2023/01/16) Added Ubuntu 22.04 LTS template; validated usage with Packer 1.8.5.

(2021/03/17) Added Photon OS 4.0 and Ubuntu 20.04 LTS templates; validated usage with Packer 1.7.0.

(2020/11/10) Added Photon OS 3.0 template; validated usage with Packer 1.6.5.

(2020/10/03) Reorganized the structure of the repository for an easier consumption (manual and through pipelines). I also validated usage with Packer 1.6.4.

(2020/04/27) Added support for Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (Focal Fosssa).

(2020/02/18) I updated my template to leverage the vsphere-iso builder (instead of vmware-iso); The vsphere-iso builder, previously maintained by JetBrains, has been merged with the Packer core in Packer 1.5.2. It will be officially supported by the Packer team at HashiCorp moving forward.

I moved to the vsphere-iso builder for 2 main reasons:

  • This builder uses the vSphere API and does neither require the SSH service running on the ESXi host nor ESXi host modification (GuestIPHack enabled).
  • I can use a distributed port group to connect my template during the creation.

Overview

Note: Ubuntu and Photon OS are the only templates provided in this repository for now. Others coming soon, stay tuned!

Usage

Step 1 - Clone the git repository.

Step 2 - Make a copy (or change) and adapt the cloud definition file to your environment (you will find them in the builds/clouds folder).

Step 3 - Update the buils/common.pkrvars.hcl file with your desired user credentials (or SSH key).

Step 4 - Navigate to the folder that matches the operating system (and version) that you want to build. E.g.: builds/ubuntu/24.04.

Step 4 - From that folder, edit the respective HCL file with your values, e.g. ubuntu-24.04.auto.pkrvars.hcl file or photon-4.0.auto.pkrvars.hcl. For Ubuntu 20.04, 22.04 and 24.04, adapt the user-data cloud-init file with the desired configuration (documentation for reference).

Step 5 - Run packer init . to install the required plugin(s).

Step 6 - Build your template with packer build -force -var-file="../../clouds/infra-z67.pkrvars.hcl" -var-file="../../common.pkrvars.hcl" .. Note: adapt to filenames and location relevant to your environment.

Step 7 - Rinse and repeat for all templates you want to build. \o/

Todo

  • Add support for additional OS (Debian, CentOS, Windows)
  • Zero the disk before export
  • Use the Content Library to store the ISOs
  • Export the result in the Content Library