Novice Level

Formatting a Packer Template in JSON

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30 minutes

3 Learning Objectives

About this Hands-on Lab

Packer allows us to create templates for generating cross-platform machine images — templates that can be written in JSON. In this lab, we’ll test our JSON skills by fixing and otherwise neatening up an inaccurately written JSON Packer template. Just want to test your JSON reviewing skills? No Packer knowledge is needed to take this lab.

Learning Objectives

Successfully complete this lab by achieving the following learning objectives:

Fix Whitespace

Open the provided template:
```
cd packer
```
```
vim ami-test.json
```

To make viewing the template easier, let’s neaten it up by adjusting the tabs/whitespace:

{
    "variables": {
        "aws_access_key": "",
        "aws_secret_key": "",
        "aws_subnet_id": ""
    }
    "builders": {
        {
            "type": "amazon-ebs",
            "access_key": "{{user `aws_access_key`}}",
            "secret_key": "{{user `aws_secret_key`}}",
            "region": "us-east-1",
            "subnet_id": "{{user `aws_subnet_id`}}",
            "source_ami_filter": {
                "filters": {
                    "virtualization-type": "hvm",
                    "name": "ubuntu/images/*ubuntu-focal-20.04-amd64-server-*",
                    "root-device-type": "ebs"
                },
                "owners": ["099720109477"],
                "most_recent": true
            },
            "security_group_filter": {
                "filters": {
                    "tag:Class": "packer"
                }
            }
            "instance_type": "t2.micro",
            "ssh_username": "ubuntu",
            "ami_name": "ubuntu-ami-test_{{timestamp}}"
        }
    }
    "provisioners": {
        {
            "type": "shell",
            "script": "./init.sh"
        }
    }
}

Adjust Structural Errors

The provided template has builders and provisioners provided as objects when they should be arrays. Switch the brackets for these overall components:

{
    "variables": {
        "aws_access_key": "",
        "aws_secret_key": "",
        "aws_subnet_id": ""
    }
    "builders": [
        {
            "type": "amazon-ebs",
            "access_key": "{{user `aws_access_key`}}",
            "secret_key": "{{user `aws_secret_key`}}",
            "region": "us-east-1",
            "subnet_id": "{{user `aws_subnet_id`}}",
            "source_ami_filter": {
                "filters": {
                    "virtualization-type": "hvm",
                    "name": "ubuntu/images/*ubuntu-focal-20.04-amd64-server-*",
                    "root-device-type": "ebs"
                },
                "owners": ["099720109477"],
                "most_recent": true
            },
            "security_group_filter": {
                "filters": {
                    "tag:Class": "packer"
                }
            }
            "instance_type": "t2.micro",
            "ssh_username": "ubuntu",
            "ami_name": "ubuntu-ami-test_{{timestamp}}"
        }
    ]
    "provisioners": [
        {
            "type": "shell",
            "script": "./init.sh"
        }
    ]
}

Finally, fix any missing commas:

{
    "variables": {
        "aws_access_key": "",
        "aws_secret_key": "",
        "aws_subnet_id": ""
    },
    "builders": [
        {
            "type": "amazon-ebs",
            "access_key": "{{user `aws_access_key`}}",
            "secret_key": "{{user `aws_secret_key`}}",
            "region": "us-east-1",
            "subnet_id": "{{user `aws_subnet_id`}}",
            "source_ami_filter": {
                "filters": {
                    "virtualization-type": "hvm",
                    "name": "ubuntu/images/*ubuntu-focal-20.04-amd64-server-*",
                    "root-device-type": "ebs"
                },
                "owners": ["099720109477"],
                "most_recent": true
            },
            "security_group_filter": {
                "filters": {
                    "tag:Class": "packer"
                }
            },
            "instance_type": "t2.micro",
            "ssh_username": "ubuntu",
            "ami_name": "ubuntu-ami-test_{{timestamp}}"
        }
    ],
    "provisioners": [
        {
            "type": "shell",
            "script": "./init.sh"
        }
    ]
}

Run the Build

Using the credentials on the hands-on lab page, update the variables to use the provided access key, secret key, and subnet ID.
Save and exit the file.
Validate the template:
```
packer validate ami-test.json
```
Run the build:
```
packer build ami-test.json
```

Contact Sales Get Started See Pricing See Pricing

Additional Resources

After a series of issues regarding dev/prod environmental parity, your DevOps team has decided to switch to using Packer for generating machine images. Before you start working on the actual templating, however, you and another member of your team need to take the time to actually learn how to write a Packer template. Your coworker, in particular, is having a hard time working with JSON and would like you to take a look at their template and correct and JSON errors.

When finished, run packer build [something] against the template to ensure it works; you will have to update the var1 and var variables to reflect the information provided on the hands-on lab page.

Hints

Components such as builders and provisioners take arrays as values.
Whitespace doesn't matter, but templates should aim to be human readable.
The vim editor is configured to work with JSON — look for changes in color and highlights to signal errors.

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Offer applies only to: new personal and business paying customers, existing personal and business customers who switch to an annual paid plan, and any additional annual plan licenses purchased by existing business customers. Offer valid for a limited time only, beginning 10:00AM CT on February 19, 2021. Offer may not be combined with other offers. Purchases are subject to applicable Terms of Use or Master Services Agreement.

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Learn from anywhere with unlimited access to certification courses and deep dives on AWS, Azure, GCP, Linux, and so much more.

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Stay up-to-date on all things cloud with weekly and monthly videos about the latest developments in AWS, Azure, GCP, and Kubernetes.

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Learn by doing with guided labs based on real-world scenarios in a secure, risk-free environment. Build new skills in as little as 15 minutes.

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Put your skills to the test

Prepare for your certs with practice exams that mimic the real thing. Plus, get personalized pointers on how to improve your score.

Interactive Diagrams

Study aids on demand

Snag clickable, PDF versions of core concepts to revisit later. Our diagrams make great study aids, help build retention, and can act as handy cheat sheets for a quick refresher down the road.

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For the record

Read along when sound isn’t an option and skip furiously scribbling notes. Our transcripts and captions are also fully searchable, making it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for.

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Formatting a Packer Template in JSON

About this Hands-on Lab

Learning Objectives

Additional Resources

Hints

Plans & Pricing

Choosing is the first step

Business Basic

Business Plus

Learning without limits

Learn faster by doing

Take your teams from novice to guru

Cloud on demand

SSH on demand

Learn by doing

Keep up with the cloud

Put skills to the test

Pop quiz, hot shot

Cloud with friends

Keep ACG in your pocket

Learn off the grid

Achievement unlocked

For the record

Study aids on demand

We’re here to help

One dashboard to rule them all

Manage cloud learning for teams

Know where you stand

Get to the cloud faster

Learn better together

Skills at a glance

Easy organization by teams

Invite 10 to 10,000 or more

Connect all the dots

Get your bits

We’ve got your back

We’ll show you the ropes

Plans & Pricing

Choosing is the first step

Free

Personal Basic

Personal Plus

Learn without limits

Pop quiz, hot shot

Keep up with the cloud

Cloud with friends

Go from novice to guru in your chose specialty

Keep ACG in your pocket

Learn off the grid

Get your hands cloudy

Put your skills to the test

Study aids on demand

For the record

Achievement unlocked

We’re here to help

Cloud on demand

SSH on demand

Learn by doing

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