github.com/aclaygray/packer@v1.3.2/website/source/intro/why.html.md (about) 1 --- 2 layout: intro 3 sidebar_current: intro-why 4 page_title: Why Packer - Introduction 5 description: |- 6 Pre-baked machine images have a lot of advantages, but most have been unable 7 to benefit from them because images have been too tedious to create and 8 manage. There were either no existing tools to automate the creation of 9 machine images or they had too high of a learning curve. The result is that, 10 prior to Packer, creating machine images threatened the agility of operations 11 teams, and therefore aren't used, despite the massive benefits. 12 --- 13 14 # Why Use Packer? 15 16 Pre-baked machine images have a lot of advantages, but most have been unable to 17 benefit from them because images have been too tedious to create and manage. 18 There were either no existing tools to automate the creation of machine images 19 or they had too high of a learning curve. The result is that, prior to Packer, 20 creating machine images threatened the agility of operations teams, and 21 therefore aren't used, despite the massive benefits. 22 23 Packer changes all of this. Packer is easy to use and automates the creation of 24 any type of machine image. It embraces modern configuration management by 25 encouraging you to use a framework such as Chef or Puppet to install and 26 configure the software within your Packer-made images. 27 28 In other words: Packer brings pre-baked images into the modern age, unlocking 29 untapped potential and opening new opportunities. 30 31 ## Advantages of Using Packer 32 33 ***Super fast infrastructure deployment***. Packer images allow you to launch 34 completely provisioned and configured machines in seconds, rather than several 35 minutes or hours. This benefits not only production, but development as well, 36 since development virtual machines can also be launched in seconds, without 37 waiting for a typically much longer provisioning time. 38 39 ***Multi-provider portability***. Because Packer creates identical images for 40 multiple platforms, you can run production in AWS, staging/QA in a private cloud 41 like OpenStack, and development in desktop virtualization solutions such as 42 VMware or VirtualBox. Each environment is running an identical machine image, 43 giving ultimate portability. 44 45 ***Improved stability***. Packer installs and configures all the software for a 46 machine at the time the image is built. If there are bugs in these scripts, 47 they'll be caught early, rather than several minutes after a machine is 48 launched. 49 50 ***Greater testability***. After a machine image is built, that machine image 51 can be quickly launched and smoke tested to verify that things appear to be 52 working. If they are, you can be confident that any other machines launched from 53 that image will function properly. 54 55 Packer makes it extremely easy to take advantage of all these benefits. 56 57 What are you waiting for? Let's get started!