Getting Things Ready with Vagrant and Packer (Automate with Precision)

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Getting Things Ready with Vagrant and Packer (Automate with Precision)

In the fist few posts of these lab notes I made significant strides in setting up my test lab. The journey began with configuring Git and installing VirtualBox—two foundational tools essential for version control and virtual machine management.

Git Setup

Configured Git to streamline version control. With Git, I can now track changes, collaborate with others, and maintain a clean history of modifications. This tool is crucial for keeping my lab setup organised and efficient.

VirtualBox Installation

Installed VirtualBox to manage virtual environments. VirtualBox provides a flexible platform for creating and running virtual machines, allowing testing of various configurations without impacting the primary system.

Onward to Vagrant and Packer

With Git and VirtualBox in place, it’s time to install Vagrant and Packer. These tools will automate and streamline the creation and management of virtual environments.

Installing Vagrant

Vagrant automates the management of virtual machine configurations, facilitating environment consistency and repeatability. It integrates seamlessly with VirtualBox for effective VM management.

  1. Download Vagrant: Go to the Vagrant download page and select the appropriate package for your OS.
  2. Install Vagrant: Run the installer and follow the instructions.
  3. Verify Installation: Run vagrant --version in a terminal to confirm installation.
Installing Packer

Packer automates the creation of machine images, ensuring consistency and repeatability across deployment environments. It integrates with Vagrant for streamlined VM image management.

  1. Download Packer: Visit the Packer download page and download the package for your OS.
  2. Install Packer: Extract the archive and add the executable to your system’s PATH.
  3. Verify Installation: Run packer --version in a terminal to check if Packer is properly installed.
Putting it All Together

  1. Verify Packer Installation

    packer version

  2. Verify Vagrant Installation

    vagrant --version

  3. Check VirtualBox Installation

    vboxmanage --version

    Optionally, open the VirtualBox GUI to ensure it’s running properly.

  4. Create a Git Repository

    Navigate to your chosen directory and initialise a Git repository:

    git init
Conclusion

With Packer, Vagrant, and VirtualBox installations verified, and the Git repository set up, it's time to start considering the OS for my Linux VMs. There are several strong candidates, and the enterprise Linux landscape has changed significantly since I last built a test lab. Once the OS is finalised, I'll also need to determine the IPv6 address space for the lab.

Both decisions are critical as I move forward with configuring the first VM, a RADV router that will be essential for establishing the IPv6 network.

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