Use cases

Create identical machine images for multiple platforms from a single source configuration. By codifying commonly used base images as golden images, they can be standardized, secured, and updated using automation.

Automate updates for base images and downstream builds. Track image metadata, including parent/child ancestry relationships, to identify out-of-date builds. Extend image management to provisioning workflows with Terraform integration. Identify the correct version of images for downstream consumers to use by assigning image iterations to custom channels.

Codify security hardening and compliance baselines to ensure golden images are consistent. Using channels in the Packer image registry, the approved version of every image is discoverable and vulnerable images can be revoked to prevent their use.

Use the HCP provider for Terraform to query the Packer registry for approved images instead of hard-coding them. Ensure revoked images are not used by integrating with Terraform Run Tasks and use continuous validation rules to alert when images are updated and need to be re-deployed.