# Azure Image Builder

Build Azure managed images and Azure Compute Gallery images with Packer.

- Repository: https://github.com/hashicorp/agent-skills (911 stars)
- Category: DevOps
- License: MPL-2.0
- Last updated: 2026-10-28
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add hashicorp/agent-skills --skill azure-image-builder -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add hashicorp/agent-skills --skill azure-image-builder -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add hashicorp/agent-skills --skill azure-image-builder -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add hashicorp/agent-skills --skill azure-image-builder -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add hashicorp/agent-skills`

## Description

Build Azure managed images and Azure Compute Gallery images with Packer. Use when creating custom images for Azure VMs.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Azure Image Builder

Build Azure managed images and Azure Compute Gallery images using Packer's `azure-arm` builder.

**Reference:** [Azure ARM Builder](https://developer.hashicorp.com/packer/integrations/hashicorp/azure/latest/components/builder/arm)

> **Note:** Building Azure images incurs costs (compute, storage, data transfer). Builds typically take 15-45 minutes depending on provisioning and OS.

## Basic Managed Image

```hcl
packer {
  required_plugins {
    azure = {
      source  = "github.com/hashicorp/azure"
      version = "~> 2.0"
    }
  }
}

variable "client_id" {
  type      = string
  sensitive = true
}

variable "client_secret" {
  type      = string
  sensitive = true
}

variable "subscription_id" {
  type = string
}

variable "tenant_id" {
  type = string
}

variable "resource_group" {
  type    = string
  default = "packer-images-rg"
}

locals {
  timestamp = regex_replace(timestamp(), "[- TZ:]", "")
}

source "azure-arm" "ubuntu" {
  client_id       = var.client_id
  client_secret   = var.client_secret
  subscription_id = var.subscription_id
  tenant_id       = var.tenant_id

  managed_image_resource_group_name = var.resource_group
  managed_image_name                = "my-app-${local.timestamp}"

  os_type         = "Linux"
  image_publisher = "Canonical"
  image_offer     = "0001-com-ubuntu-server-jammy"
  image_sku       = "22_04-lts-gen2"

  location = "East US"
  vm_size  = "Standard_B2s"

  azure_tags = {
    Name      = "my-app"
    BuildDate = local.timestamp
  }
}

build {
  sources = ["source.azure-arm.ubuntu"]

  provisioner "shell" {
    inline = [
      "sudo apt-get update",
      "sudo apt-get upgrade -y",
    ]
  }
}
```

## Azure Compute Gallery

```hcl
source "azure-arm" "ubuntu" {
  client_id       = var.client_id
  client_secret   = var.client_secret
  subscription_id = var.subscription_id
  tenant_id       = var.tenant_id

The rest: https://github.com/hashicorp/agent-skills/blob/HEAD/plugins/packer/skills/azure-image-builder/SKILL.md