Deploying more than 1 azure vm from base packer image - azure

Question

I have problem deploying more than one azure vms from custom image (aka ami) built using packer.
Here's my packer script to create the base image:
{
"builders": [
{
"type": "azure-arm",
"client_id": "CHANGE_ME",
"client_secret": "CHANGE_ME",
"object_id": "CHANGE_ME",
"subscription_id": "CHANGE_ME",
"tenant_id": "CHANGE_ME",
"resource_group_name": "packerrgvm",
"storage_account": "packerrgvm",
"capture_container_name": "images",
"capture_name_prefix": "packer",
"os_type": "Linux",
"image_publisher": "Canonical",
"image_offer": "UbuntuServer",
"image_sku": "16.04.0-LTS",
"azure_tags": {
"dept": "engineering"
},
"location": "westeurope",
"vm_size": "Standard_A2"
}
],
"provisioners": [
{
"type": "shell",
"inline": ["do sth interesting here"]
},
{
"type": "shell",
"inline": [
"sudo /usr/sbin/waagent -force -deprovision+user && export HISTSIZE=0 && sync"
]
}
]
}
Now, I'm trying to deploy new vm using ARM templates. My template contains imageName, imageUri and vhdUri provided by packer after successfull build. Vnets, network interfaces etc ommited:
{
"apiVersion": "2016-03-30",
"type": "Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines",
"name": "[variables('workerVM').machine.name]",
"location": "[resourceGroup().location]",
"properties": {
"hardwareProfile": {
"vmSize": "[variables('workerVM').machine.size]"
},
"storageProfile": {
"osDisk": {
"osType": "Linux",
"name": "[variables('workerVM').machine.imageName]",
"createOption": "FromImage",
"image": {
"uri": "[variables('workerVM').machine.imageUri]"
},
"vhd": {
"uri": "[variables('workerVM').machine.vhdUri]"
},
"caching": "ReadWrite"
}
},
"osProfile": {
"computerName": "[variables('workerVM').machine.name]",
"adminUsername": "[variables('workerVM').machine.adminUsername]",
"adminPassword": "[variables('workerVM').machine.adminPassword]"
},
"networkProfile": {
"networkInterfaces": [
{
"id": "[resourceId('Microsoft.Network/networkInterfaces', variables('workerVM').network.nicName)]"
}
]
},
"diagnosticsProfile": {
"bootDiagnostics": {
"enabled": false
}
},
"provisioningState": 0
}
}
When I deploy it for the first time, it works. Hovewer, even if I remove my resource group completely and try to deploy the vm once again, I get the following error:
error: The resource operation completed with terminal provisioning state 'Failed'.
error: Blob https://packerrgvm.blob.core.windows.net/vmcontainera1ba96d3-a593-44b9-8c71-1d345ef67a2d/osDisk.a1ba96d3-a593-44b9-8c71-1d345ef67a2d.vhd already exists. Please provide a different blob URI as target for disk 'packer-osDisk.49359f62-5c49-44c1-aed8-4ea1613ab2e9.vhd'.
Is it possible to use custom ami built by packer this way?

Answer 1

how do i create more than 1 vm from single base image built with backer
You could change the value vhdUri variable before re-deploy the ARM template.
"vhd": {
"uri": "[variables('workerVM').machine.vhdUri]"
}
The vhdUri variable in your ARM template could be like this,
"variables": {
"workerVM": {
"machine": {
"vhdUri": "reset this uri"
}
}

Answer 2

In ARM template add below storage resource which uses image uri generated by packer
{
"type": "Microsoft.Compute/images",
"apiVersion": "2016-04-30-preview",
"name": "[variables('imageName')]",
"location": "[resourceGroup().location]",
"properties": {
"storageProfile": {
"osDisk": {
"osType": "Windows",
"osState": "Generalized",
"blobUri": "[parameters('your_image_uri_generated_by_packer')]",
"storageAccountType": "Standard_LRS"
}
}
}
},
And modify storage profile property in Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines to use this resource
"storageProfile": {
"imageReference": {
"id": "[resourceId('Microsoft.Compute/images', variables('imageName'))]"
}
},