github.com/kikitux/packer@v0.10.1-0.20160322154024-6237df566f9f/website/source/intro/hashicorp-ecosystem.html.md (about)

     1  ---
     2  description: Learn how Packer fits in with the rest of the HashiCorp ecosystem of tools
     3  layout: intro
     4  next_title: 'Getting Started: Install Packer'
     5  next_url: '/intro/getting-started/setup.html'
     6  page_title: Packer and the HashiCorp Ecosystem
     7  prev_url: '/intro/platforms.html'
     8  ...
     9  
    10  # Packer and the HashiCorp Ecosystem
    11  
    12  HashiCorp is the creator of the open source projects Vagrant, Packer, Terraform,
    13  Serf, and Consul, and the commercial product Atlas. Packer is just one piece of
    14  the ecosystem HashiCorp has built to make application delivery a versioned,
    15  auditable, repeatable, and collaborative process. To learn more about our
    16  beliefs on the qualities of the modern datacenter and responsible application
    17  delivery, read [The Atlas Mindset: Version Control for
    18  Infrastructure](https://www.hashicorp.com/blog/atlas-mindset.html?utm_source=packer&utm_campaign=HashicorpEcosystem).
    19  
    20  If you are using Packer to build machine images and deployable artifacts, it's
    21  likely that you need a solution for deploying those artifacts. Terraform is our
    22  tool for creating, combining, and modifying infrastructure.
    23  
    24  Below are summaries of HashiCorp's open source projects and a graphic showing
    25  how Atlas connects them to create a full application delivery workflow.
    26  
    27  # HashiCorp Ecosystem
    28  
    29  ![Atlas Workflow](docs/atlas-workflow.png)
    30  
    31  [Atlas](https://atlas.hashicorp.com/?utm_source=packer&utm_campaign=HashicorpEcosystem)
    32  is HashiCorp's only commercial product. It unites Packer, Terraform, and Consul
    33  to make application delivery a versioned, auditable, repeatable, and
    34  collaborative process.
    35  
    36  [Packer](https://www.packer.io/?utm_source=packer&utm_campaign=HashicorpEcosystem)
    37  is a HashiCorp tool for creating machine images and deployable artifacts such as
    38  AMIs, OpenStack images, Docker containers, etc.
    39  
    40  [Terraform](https://www.terraform.io/?utm_source=packer&utm_campaign=HashicorpEcosystem)
    41  is a HashiCorp tool for creating, combining, and modifying infrastructure. In
    42  the Atlas workflow Terraform reads from the artifact registry and provisions
    43  infrastructure.
    44  
    45  [Consul](https://www.consul.io/?utm_source=packer&utm_campaign=HashicorpEcosystem)
    46  is a HashiCorp tool for service discovery, service registry, and health checks.
    47  In the Atlas workflow Consul is configured at the Packer build stage and
    48  identifies the service(s) contained in each artifact. Since Consul is configured
    49  at the build phase with Packer, when the artifact is deployed with Terraform, it
    50  is fully configured with dependencies and service discovery pre-baked. This
    51  greatly reduces the risk of an unhealthy node in production due to configuration
    52  failure at runtime.
    53  
    54  [Serf](https://www.serfdom.io/?utm_source=packer&utm_campaign=HashicorpEcosystem) is
    55  a HashiCorp tool for cluster membership and failure detection. Consul uses
    56  Serf's gossip protocol as the foundation for service discovery.
    57  
    58  [Vagrant](https://www.vagrantup.com/?utm_source=packer&utm_campaign=HashicorpEcosystem)
    59  is a HashiCorp tool for managing development environments that mirror
    60  production. Vagrant environments reduce the friction of developing a project and
    61  reduce the risk of unexpected behavior appearing after deployment. Vagrant boxes
    62  can be built in parallel with production artifacts with Packer to maintain
    63  parity between development and production.