Learning Packer for Windows Server deployment in AWS & Azure

Using Packer to create custom server images using PowerShell, Chef, Puppet and Shell

4.20 (65 reviews)

Udemy

platform

English

language

Other

What you will learn

You will be able to write Packer templates and deploy builds to AWS or Azure.

You learn key Packer concepts.

You’ll learn how to use provisioners to run powershell, agents and transfer files.

Why take this course?

This course takes you through all aspects of Packer, from initial configuration of your chosen cloud. To building and deploying a Windows Server to either AWS, Azure or both. There are lessons on configuration and deployment using Terraform and using the management console.

NOTE: This course uses HCL1 syntax which has now been deprecated in the latest releases of packer. I am not going to update this, but I still think there's value in the content as you'll see how to use it. Google 'Packer HCL' for more information.

The course has been developed to be multi cloud or builder to be more accurate. As packer can work with multiple builders, the course can be followed using AWS, Azure or Both.

The course is a complete walk through of creating a template and developing this into a fully configured build. It covers using a number of provisioners such as PowerShell, Chef and Puppet to configure your server.

This course has been developed to be as practical as possible, most of the lessons are follow along in nature. Overviews of key areas of Packer are provided for reference.

Please be aware this course only covers Windows Server builds. This only covers HCL version 1

Reviews

September 10, 2023

Pretty good Packer course, one of the only ones that covers using Puppet and/or Chef provisioners. Does still use the (now) legacy JSON syntax.

Andrew

January 15, 2023

Didn't understand the "set" command and the tutor's folder in VSC code looked different to what the zip file had in it

Janet

November 27, 2020

Lots of interesting options for doing things. I've used powershell a bit but none of the other provisioners. One nice thing might have been to include the final json after all the lessons were done. I didn't want to type all those commands and worry about syntax.

Valentin

June 8, 2020

The instructor acknowledges that file provisioner is extremely slow. We dont't know whether that is a bug or permanent limitation. I actually took the course because of this issue. It is actually so slow that it defeats whole purpose of packer. But the instructor leaves to us to find workaround solutions.

Szymon

January 1, 2020

Good intro to the packer. Great that the author is showing both cloud providers - AWS and Azure. Ansible provisioner is missing. It would be nice to have an ansible example in the course.

Robert

May 14, 2019

Instructor is very knowledgeable and presentation is good with real-world application. I do question the Skill Level being "All levels" because coming in as absolutely new to Packer I find myself sometimes needing to watch some videos more than once to grasp a concept. No reflection on the instructor; I just think this course isn't good for a beginner.

David

March 5, 2019

Really good course. Nice and clear content, the pace is spot on. Learning loads and really enjoying it.

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