Practical technology training
Course outline for Packer
Connect the concepts, work through practical problems, and choose a training plan that fits your goals.
About Packer
Packer builds reusable machine images from versioned templates. Create a local image workflow, separate image construction from runtime configuration, and validate the resulting artifact before promoting it to another environment.
Packer Course Objectives
- Write an HCL image-build template.
- Configure builders, provisioners, and variables.
- Verify image contents without embedding credentials.
- Track artifact identity and compatibility.
- Integrate image validation and cleanup into a build workflow.
Pre-requisites
- Basic Linux and shell-scripting experience.
- Familiarity with virtual machines or containers and version control.
- Infrastructure-as-code concepts are useful but not required.
Lab Setup
- Packer CLI, reviewed plugins, Git, and a prepared local container or QEMU build target.
- Synthetic application files, provisioning scripts, and validation checks.
- VM labs require verified virtualization support and sufficient disk space; cloud image building is optional and separately approved.
Detailed Course Outline
Image-Based Deployment
- Base images and immutable artifact concepts
- Build-time versus runtime configuration
- Comparing Packer with configuration management
- Choosing a local builder for the lab
Templates and Plugins
- HCL template structure
- Sources and build blocks
- Required plugins and version constraints
- Initialization, formatting, and validation
Variables and Build Inputs
- Typed variables and validation
- Environment-specific values
- Base-image pinning and package inputs
- Sensitive inputs and log exposure
Builders and Communicators
- Container, virtual-machine, and cloud builder roles
- SSH and other communicator requirements
- Temporary resources and network access
- Builder-specific artifact outputs
Provisioning
- Shell and file provisioners
- Integrating configuration-management tools
- Exit status, reboots, and retries
- Idempotent provisioning and reproducibility limits
Artifact Processing and Validation
- Manifests and artifact identifiers
- Post-processor responsibilities
- Boot/service checks and package verification
- Removing temporary credentials and build files
Integration and Maintenance
- Image builds in CI
- Promotion and image compatibility
- Base-image updates and rebuild policy
- Cleanup, retention, and cost controls
Practical Exercise
- Build a versioned local image from the supplied template
- Validate a sample service and inspect artifact metadata
- Diagnose a failing provisioner and rebuild after correction
- Verify cleanup and document how the image is promoted and consumed
How we train
Online training for Packer
- Instructor-led live cohorts
- Self-paced learning with expert coaches
- 24x7 cloud labs with end-to-end examples
All sessions are 100% hands-on. Labs and activities are derived from real-world work our engineers deliver.
Classroom training
Available for corporate teams in:
- Bengaluru
- Chennai
- Hyderabad
- Mumbai
- Delhi/Gurgaon/NCR
- Pune
Note: Classroom training is for corporate clients only.
Self-paced hands-on sessions are delivered via VirtualCoach.