We have a Windows 2022 base image. The packer script to make this image is divided into two parts, a pre part and a post part. The reason we have a post part is some of the tools we install will register on the start of their service (such as crowdstrike) with a Unique ID. What this means is if we use this image as a base image to build additional images from they all share the same Unique Ids which isn’t correct.
This leads us into a situation where when we want to use the base image, we copy the base script (windows_2022_base_ami.pkr.hcl) and insert the customisation code in the middle to create a new script (windows_2022_web_ami.pkr.hcl):
- base pre scripts from windows_2022_base_ami.pkr.hcl
- custom code
- base post scripts from windows_2022_base_ami.pkr.hcl
However this leads to an ugly situation where when the base scripts (windows_2022_base_ami.pkr.hcl) need to get updated, they have to be updated it in all locations that have now made a customisation (windows_2022_web_ami.pkr.hcl).
Is there any way to split a hcl into two part a pre part and a post part, something like:
*base-pre.hcl *custom hcl markup *base-post.hcl
to form a new hcl like windows_2022_somecustom_ami.pkr.hcl
Thanks