HashiCorp Packer
Create identical machine images for multiple platforms from a single source configuration.
Overview
Packer is an open-source tool by HashiCorp that automates the creation of any type of machine image. It allows you to define the configuration of your image in a single JSON or HCL file and then build identical images for multiple platforms like Google Compute Engine, AWS, and VMware in parallel. This is a key component of practicing immutable infrastructure.
✨ Key Features
- Automated machine image creation
- Multi-provider, cross-platform support
- Parallel builds
- Integrates with configuration management tools (Ansible, Chef)
- Open-source and extensible
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Platform agnostic, single workflow for all clouds
- Integrates with other IaC and configuration management tools
- Simple, declarative configuration
- Part of the trusted HashiCorp ecosystem
Unique Value: Automate the creation of identical machine images for any platform from a single source configuration.
🎯 Use Cases (4)
✅ Best For
- Using a Packer template to create a custom Google Compute Engine image with specific software pre-installed.
- Integrating Packer into a CI/CD pipeline to automatically build a new machine image on every code change.
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Runtime configuration management (better suited for Ansible or Chef)
- Provisioning infrastructure from images (better suited for Terraform)
🏆 Alternatives
Unlike writing custom scripts for each cloud provider, Packer provides a unified, declarative, and repeatable process. Compared to cloud-native tools, it offers a multi-cloud solution, preventing vendor lock-in for your image building pipeline.
💻 Platforms
✅ Offline Mode Available
🔌 Integrations
🛟 Support Options
- ✓ Email Support
- ✓ Dedicated Support (HCP Packer Plus tier)
🔒 Compliance & Security
💰 Pricing
Free tier: Packer is open-source and free. HCP Packer provides a cloud-based registry.
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