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Building a Google Compute-Backed Image with Packer

Packer allows us to use JSON or HCL code to describe and generate machine images, such as Google Compute images. In this lab, we'll explore using Packer with GCP, including credential creation, before writing our build from scratch to save an image of a web instance.

Lab platform
Lab Info
Level
Intermediate
Last updated
Aug 25, 2025
Duration
30m

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Table of Contents
  1. Challenge

    Access the Console, Create Credentials, and Pull Down Files
    1. In the GCP console, navigate to APIs & Services > Credentials.
    2. Click Create Credentials > Service account.
    3. Set the name of the new API service account, and then give it Project Editor permissions.
    4. Press Continue > Done.
    5. Navigate to the Compute Engine dashboard.
    6. Next to the provisioned packer-workstation instance, click SSH to access the instance.
    7. Create a working directory, and add the necessary lab files.
    8. Create the account key.
  2. Challenge

    Create the Template

    Review the provided files, and create a template for our GCP builder following the details provided in the instructions; be sure to work from the packer/booksite directory.

  3. Challenge

    Test the Build

    Validate and test the build.

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