How To Install and use Packer on Ubuntu 16.04/18.04/20.04

Step 1: Update the repository

First you need to update the current ubuntu repository by following the command.

$ sudo apt-get update

 

Step 2: Add the packer key

Add the packer key by using the command to install packer using apt-get.

$ sudo curl -fsSL https://apt.releases.hashicorp.com/gpg | sudo apt-key add -

  

Step 3: Add the repository

Add the packer repository by following the command.

$ sudo apt-add-repository "deb [arch=amd64] https://apt.releases.hashicorp.com $(lsb_release -cs) main"

Step 4: Install the Packer

Now you need to update the ubuntu repository and install the packer by using the following command.

$ sudo apt-get update

 

$ sudo apt-get install packer -y

 

 

Step 5: Create a json file to build image using Azure 

Its time to create json file to build the azure image, Given code will be create the image of nginx with ubuntu OS, You can change the parameter according to your requirement.

$ sudo vim ubuntuVM.json

Note :- Update the Azure credentials. 

{
    "builders": [{

        "type": "azure-arm",
        "client_id": "xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx",
        "client_secret": "xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx",
        "tenant_id": "xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx",
        "subscription_id": "xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx",

        "managed_image_resource_group_name": "Terrafrom-A",
        "managed_image_name": "v1",

        "os_type": "Linux",
        "image_publisher": "Canonical",
        "image_offer": "UbuntuServer",
        "image_sku": "16.04-LTS",

        "azure_tags": {

            "dept": "Engineering",
            "task": "Image deployment"
        },

        "location": "East US",
        "vm_size": "Standard_DS2_v2"
    }],
    "provisioners": [{
        "execute_command": "chmod +x {{ .Path }}; {{ .Vars }} sudo -E sh '{{ .Path }}'",
        "inline": [
            "apt-get update",
            "apt-get upgrade -y",
            "apt-get -y install nginx",
            "/usr/sbin/waagent -force -deprovision+user && export HISTSIZE=0 && sync"
        ],
        "inline_shebang": "/bin/sh -x",
        "type": "shell"
    }]
}

Save and exit.

Step 6: Command to execute the build process.

Now executive the packer build command to create the Azure image.

$ sudo packer build ubuntuVM.json

You should get output like this.

==> Wait completed after 11 minutes 19 seconds
==> Builds finished. The artifacts of successful builds are:
==> azure-arm: Azure.ResourceManagement.VMImage:
OSType: Linux
ManagedImageResourceGroupName: Terrafrom-A
ManagedImageName: v1
ManagedImageId: /subscriptions/xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxxxx/resourceGroups/Terrafrom-A/providers/Microsoft.Compute/images/v1
ManagedImageLocation: East US

Conclusion

We’ve found in this instructional exercise how to introduce and utilize Packer at its most fundamental level. You can peruse more about working with different stages and how to send numerous machines on various stages simultaneously.