HashiCorp Packer is an open-source tool that allows you to automate the creation of identical machine images for multiple platforms from a single source configuration.
It’s a valuable skill for developers and operations engineers because it helps streamline the process of building and deploying infrastructure, ensuring consistency and reducing manual errors.
By mastering Packer, you can efficiently create images for various platforms like AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and VMware, saving time and effort in your infrastructure management workflows.
Finding the right HashiCorp Packer course on Udemy can be challenging, with numerous options available, each claiming to be the best.
You’re likely looking for a course that not only covers the fundamentals but also provides hands-on experience and practical examples to help you apply Packer effectively in real-world scenarios.
Based on our research and analysis, Building Automated Machine Images with HashiCorp Packer stands out as the best overall course on Udemy for learning HashiCorp Packer.
It provides a comprehensive introduction to Packer, guiding you from basic installation to advanced topics like building images for different platforms and integrating with other tools.
The course features clear explanations, practical demonstrations, and hands-on exercises, making it an excellent choice for both beginners and those with some prior experience.
While this is our top recommendation, there are other valuable Packer courses on Udemy that might better suit your specific needs or learning style.
So, if you’re eager to explore other options, continue reading to discover our curated list of the best HashiCorp Packer courses available on Udemy.
Building Automated Machine Images with HashiCorp Packer
You start with the basics: you install Packer, learn how it works, and use its command-line tools.
Then you dive into writing Packer “templates” using a language called HCL.
These templates are like recipes that tell Packer how to build your custom server images.
The course then gets into the nitty-gritty of building these images.
You’ll work with “builders” to create images for different platforms, “provisioners” to install and configure software on your images, and “post-processors” to do final customizations.
You’ll learn how to make your templates flexible using “variables,” so you can easily create different image variations.
Finally, you’ll learn advanced techniques for organizing your code, troubleshooting problems, and integrating Packer with other popular tools like Terraform, Ansible, and GitLab CI/CD.
HashiCorp Packer - Build automated machine images
You will begin this course by manually creating an AWS AMI on the CentOS operating system.
This hands-on approach helps you understand the image creation process before you dive into automating it.
You will then install HashiCorp Packer and configure your AWS API Key, allowing you to interact with your AWS account.
A quick demo gets you building with Packer right away, and the course makes sure you know how to clean up your AWS AMI afterward.
You will then explore HashiCorp Packer’s components, potential applications, and terminology.
You will learn how to define and configure machine images, including necessary software and settings, through in-depth lessons on templates, variables, and the HCL format.
These concepts form the building blocks of your automated image creation process.
Through practical demonstrations, you will master the crucial elements of Builders and Provisioners, using tools like Ansible, Shell scripts, and Docker to equip your images with specific configurations and applications.
You will gain a comprehensive understanding of building machine images across different operating systems.
You will learn to build Windows AMIs and verify them using EC2.
You will explore using Vagrant as a provisioner and delve into post-processors like Artifice and Manifest, enabling you to fine-tune your Packer builds for specific deployments.
By the time you finish this course, you will confidently automate your image creation process.
Practical Packer: Learn Hashicorp Packer with a Real Project
You’ll start by discovering the importance of Packer and the concept of “Infrastructure as Code.”
You examine a real-world Packer project and learn how to understand its Packerfile.
This allows you to understand fundamental Packer concepts such as primitives and template blocks.
You then see how these concepts apply to a WordPress project.
The course teaches you how to install Packer, generate an SSH key, and set up an AWS IAM user within the AWS EC2 environment.
You will then create an AMI (Amazon Machine Image) that you can use to host a WordPress website.
The course then points you to supplementary materials and plugins to help you further your Packer knowledge.
You also get ideas for future Packer projects.
The course provides a step-by-step walkthrough of creating a custom AMI.
You discover how to set up your build environment and create an SSH key.
Then, you learn how to build your AMI using Packer.
Finally, you use your newly created AMI to host a Wordpress website.
This course provides a hands-on learning experience that gives you a solid understanding of Packer and prepares you to apply it to your infrastructure projects.
You learn how to use Packer to create and configure AMIs.
Learning Packer for Windows Server deployment in AWS & Azure
This course takes you on a journey to master the art of automating Windows Server deployments in the cloud using Packer.
You begin by setting up your workspace, installing Visual Studio Code, Packer, and Terraform, and configuring your AWS and Azure credentials.
You then dive into Packer’s inner workings, understanding the roles of builders, variables, and communicators, which are like the building blocks of Packer.
This knowledge empowers you to craft custom Windows images for both AWS and Azure, tailored to your exact needs.
The course then guides you through the process of using provisioners to install software, configure settings, and mold your images to your liking.
You’ll work with various provisioners like Windows Restart, PowerShell, and Chef to fine-tune your images.
You will then deploy these custom images to AWS and Azure, mastering the use of both Terraform and the respective cloud consoles.
You’ll even discover the power of parallel builds, which can significantly speed up your workflow.
Beyond the basics, you’ll explore advanced techniques such as post-processing and troubleshooting.
You’ll learn how to tackle common challenges like PowerShell signing issues and leverage the null builder for efficient development.
You’ll gain experience with tools like Chef and Puppet, expanding your configuration management skills.