Getting Started with Packer and Terraform on Azure!

EPISODE 9
Lot's to cover in this episode covering the basics of Packer and Terraform on Azure. Demonstrates how to setup a Packer HCL project and use it from a Terraform project to provision Virtual Machines using your own custom images!
Build two Virtual Machine images with Packer. One for both Linux and Windows.
Use Terraform to setup a Packer Image repository.
Create reusable Terraform modules for provisioning a simple Linux and Windows Virtual Machines.
Create reusable Terraform module for provisioning a simple network to host your VMs.
Reference your Packer VM Images, deploy your VMs and connect to them using SSH and RDP!
Keep the knowledge flowing!
www.buymeacoff...
Source Code:
github.com/mar...
Azure ARM Packer Builder
developer.hash...
Azure ARM Terraform Provider
registry.terra...
Terraform Resource List:
random_string
azurerm_resource_group
azurerm_virtual_network
azurerm_bastion_host
azurerm_linux_virtual_machine
azurerm_windows_virtual_machine
Azure Resource Naming Conventions
learn.microsof...

[@marsamuk]

How will this work with Azure DevOps? Can we automate all using a pipeline? Trying to understand how the workflow will look like when using terraform and packer with Azure DevOps. Thanks

[@azure-terraformer]

Great question! I cover these scenarios a lot on my channel. Here are a couple episodes you should check out next!
In Episode 13, I show how to create a Terraform pipeline in Azure DevOps. th-cam.com/video/wv81bhcGcMw/w-d-xo.html
In Episode 14, I show how to create a Packer build pipeline in Azure DevOps. th-cam.com/video/v1VjhwQ4KCQ/w-d-xo.html
In the Minecraft series (Episodes 16 - 24) I show how to combine Packer and Terraform together using Azure DevOps to automate both Packer to build images and Terraform to provision an environment in Azure referencing those images. th-cam.com/play/PLsOrrjBMkLaRXWri2EvqLAUKWJI7TH0kH.html

[@mloskot]

Hi again, lately I've been thinking of how to share configuration between Terraform and Packer. For example, I create Azure Compute Gallery (aka SIG) using Terraform code which I parametrise with resource group, gallery name, names of images (definitions). Then, I use Packer to build and publish particular VM image version. Obviously, Packer needs to know the names of resource group, gallery, image (i.e. parameters of shared_image_gallery_destination). I wonder, do you have any solution to share those or read those from Terraform outputs dynamically?

[@azure-terraformer]

Tackling this in an upcoming mailbag video! Sorry for the delay!

[@mloskot]

@@azure-terraformer Thank you!

[@azure-terraformer]

I am here to serve 😊

[@NamronYoutube]

Hey @azure-terraformer I'm trying to follow along this great video you provided. When I let packer create the windows image I get an error because Chocolatey also installs .NET Framework 4.8 , but a reboot is required which can't be performed. How would you mitigate such a behavior in a real life scenario? The rest seems to be working. I'm big fan of your work and the effort you put in.

[@azure-terraformer]

Thanks so much for the kind words! Packer does have an action that allows you to reboot the machine. But it is pretty tricky working with it!

[@NamronYoutube]

@@azure-terraformer okay maybe I find something in the documentation about it. My new years resolution was to do more with terraform this year, so I’m working through your content and time flies by…

[@azure-terraformer]

Happy Terraforming!

[@mloskot]

Cheers! The source code link points to the /008 and not /009 folder

[@azure-terraformer]

Thanks for the help! I’ve updated the link. Appreciate it!