Packer
A command-line tool that builds identical machine images for several platforms from one template.
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About Packer
Packer takes a single source template and produces matching machine images for different targets, such as Amazon Web Services and Docker. It is commonly used to build golden images that feed an image pipeline, with the same base reproduced across clouds and virtualization platforms.
Work is done through the Packer CLI and template files. HashiCorp also offers HCP Packer, a hosted service for tracking and revoking image versions across an organisation, and Packer pairs with Terraform for provisioning.
Strengths
- One template produces images for many platforms
- Fits golden image pipelines
- Works alongside Terraform
- Extensive tutorials and documentation
Limitations
- Aimed at infrastructure work, not casual desktop VM use
- Organisation-wide image management requires the separate HCP Packer service
Details
- Pricing
- FreeThe Packer CLI is free; the hosted HCP Packer service is a separate offering with a free tier.
- License
- Proprietary
- Developer
- HashiCorp
- Platforms
- Command line
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Best suited for
- Teams that build repeatable VM and cloud images as code
- Categories
- Virtual machines, Developer tools
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
Vagrant
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Foreman
An open-source lifecycle management tool for provisioning, configuring and monitoring physical and virtual servers.
QEMU
The machine emulator and virtualiser that most of the Linux virtualisation stack is built on.
VirtualBox
The free desktop hypervisor most people start with: run Windows, Linux or BSD in a window on the machine you already have.
OpenStack
A set of open-source components for running cloud infrastructure with virtual machines, bare metal and containers.
Tart
A command-line toolset for building, running and managing macOS and Linux virtual machines on Apple Silicon.
