I recently had a peculiar issue while creating a new Packer deployment set with version 1.6.2. I encountered some strange issues where the Windows Server 2019 ISO on my vSphere datastore would randomly not connect. I must admit, I scratched my head a bit on this one. After conducting some research through Google (aka “Google-Fu”), I found an issue that is going to be resolved in the next release of Packer. The problem appears to be related to having characters other than letters or numbers in the datastore name that held my ISO.

To resolve the issue, I simply removed the hyphen (-) character from my datastore name, and everything worked fine! It’s interesting how sometimes the simplest of solutions can be overlooked. This experience reminded me of the importance of double-checking even the most trivial aspects of our work, as they can sometimes make all the difference in resolving issues efficiently.

As a CIO at Sonar and Automation Practice Lead at Xtravirt, I am passionate about IT, automation, programming, and music. As a guitarist in The Waders, I love how technology and creativity can intersect to create something beautiful and functional.

This experience with Packer has reinforced the value of continuous learning and exploration in our field. It’s essential to stay up-to-date with the latest tools and technologies, as they can often help us overcome challenges more efficiently. In addition, it’s crucial to share our experiences and knowledge with others, as this can help create a collaborative and supportive community that benefits everyone involved.

In conclusion, my recent experience with Packer has taught me the importance of paying close attention to even the smallest details and the value of sharing our experiences with others. By doing so, we can continue to improve our craft and provide the best possible solutions for our clients and colleagues.