vcloud_packer_images

Helps you generates an image from an iso ( currently tested using ubuntu 14.04 but should be pretty portable) which we can upload as a skyscape template.

Intended use

General form

Build a new template: ./createimage [-p,-u,-o,-t] [build|upload] <template name>

The createimage script will upload the template to Skyscape or a vCenter compatible provider.

** Required Fields for upload**

• -d distro
• -u username
• -o org
• -c catalog

The upload options will build an ovftool command and the ovftool will in turn prompt you for a password. For the sake of security specifying the password for image uploading is not allowed.

Examples

git clone git@github.com:UKHomeOffice/vcloud_packer_images.git
cd vcloud_packer_images
./createimage -p p4ssw0rd build centos-66-x64 #_for Centos 66_
./createimage -p p4ssw0rd build ubuntu-1404-x64 #_for Ubuntu 14.04_
./createimage -u 123.456.789 -o 1234-456-223a -t centos -c CentOS  upload centos-66-x64
./createimage build #_you will be prompted for options (distro, vm type, password) during the build run

Skyscape translation

To get API details for skyscape you need to login to the (portal)[https://portal.skyscapecloud.com] and click on your username and then (API)[https://portal.skyscapecloud.com/user/api] . This will give you the API details requried to run the createimage tool. Note however that the username as specified by Skyscape is actually your username and the organisation seperated by an @ symbol.

TODO

• Add to the build command so it runs a fix on any json configs before proceeding.
• Figure out how to run this without infecting host system. (If you have vagrant running with something else other than virtualbox, you should be able to vagrant up)
• Double check ruby dependancies are correct.
• Integrate with local or remote vagrant store to upload vagrant images
• Move puppet scripts to a share directory used by all images
• Make the packer build files an ERB template
• Add PACKER_CACHE_DIR env variable to keep centralised iso cache, if not already.

Requirements

The following is what you'll need on a fairly recent debian / ubuntu system.

Ubuntu

• aptitude install unzip qemu libxtst6 libxcursor1 libxinerama1 libxi6 wget ruby -y
• wget -O packer.zip https://dl.bintray.com/mitchellh/packer/packer_0.7.5_linux_amd64.zip && unzip packer.zip && rm packer.zip && cp packer* /usr/local/bin
• wget -O vmware.bundle https://download3.vmware.com/software/wkst/file/VMware-Workstation-Full-11.0.0-2305329.x86_64.bundle && bash vmware.bundle --required --eulas-agreed --console

Mac os X

• Use brew to install the dependencies above i.e. ruby etc.
• Brew's version of packer isn't updated enough and doesn't understand the hardware version for the vmware-iso
• wget -O packer.zip https://dl.bintray.com/mitchellh/packer/packer_0.7.5_darwin_amd64.zip && unzip packer.zip && rm packer.zip && sudo cp packer* /usr/local/bin
• Download VMWARE Fusion for MAC

You'll also need ovftool if it isn't insalled with vmware-workstation / vmware fusion (MAC). Currently, this is only available on the vmware website after you signup. ovftool can be downloaded from: VMWare

You'll need to do some work if you want to run this on another type of host.

Would be nice

• If this feature request ever happens, we'll update the Vagrantfile so this all works within vbox.
• [https://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/4032]