Handling files using cloud-init

An early need we all face is to have a file, a license, or a script in place right from the beginning of the instance life. Cloud-init proposes different ways of sending those files over the new instance. We'll see how to send files using plain text and base64 data encodings.

Getting ready

To step through this recipe, you will need:

• Access to a cloud-config enabled infrastructure

How to do it…

The first file we'll write is a MOTD (short for Message Of The Day) with root read-write permissions, read-only for everyone else. This file will have its content declared right from the cloud-config file:

#cloud-config
write_files:
  - path: /etc/motd
    content: |
      This server is configured using cloud-init.
      Welcome.
    owner: root:root
    permissions: '0644'

This machine, when booted, will have /etc/motd in place and display the string at login:

$ ssh ubuntu@server_ip
Welcome to Ubuntu 16.04.1 LTS (GNU/Linux 4.4.0-36-generic x86_64)
[...]
This server is configured...