feature request: set Azure Tags on Packer VM

[baidarka]

Description

Feature request: extra parameter on 'build-image.ps1' script so that Azure tags can be passed along to the temporary Packer VM resource.

Although the Packer templates support the parameter 'azure_tags', the build script 'build-image.ps1' does not support that parameter. It is not possible to set Azure tags on the Packer VM when using 'build-image.ps1' or the Azure pipelines in this repo.
(this is an issue, not a bug; apologies, i could not find a matching issue format)

Implemented in PR #10884

Platforms affected

• Azure DevOps
• GitHub Actions - Standard Runners
• GitHub Actions - Larger Runners

Runner images affected

• Ubuntu 20.04
• Ubuntu 22.04
• Ubuntu 24.04
• macOS 12
• macOS 13
• macOS 13 Arm64
• macOS 14
• macOS 14 Arm64
• macOS 15
• macOS 15 Arm64
• Windows Server 2019
• Windows Server 2022

Image version and build link

I need to set Azure tags on the temporary Packer VM that build the image.

Is it regression?

No

Expected behavior

Have a parameter on the build-image.ps1 script to pass on Azure tags to the Packer template file.

Actual behavior

No such parameter.

Repro steps

No such parameter.

[kishorekumar-anchala]

Hi @baidarka ,

We're looking into your issue , thank you !

[baidarka]

PR #10884

[pkoelemij]

This would be a nice addition!

[lakshminarayana02]

Hi
we are validating it.

[lakshminarayana02]

Hi
Packer templates can contain the parameter 'azure_tags to include with many', however the challenge here is how to go about including temporary resource tags without a business case for implementing this and obtaining approval from GitHub.

We request that you give further information or justification to consider it.

[baidarka]

Summary

We would like to take advantage of the 'azure_tags' parameter in the Packer templates, for instance here:

• ubuntu-24.04.pkr.hcl#L19
• windows-2022.pkr.hcl#L24

while using the build-image.ps1 script; about here:
build-image.ps1#L46

Please note that these 'azure_tags' are only applied to the temporary Packer VM in Azure, which is used to build an Azure and/or GitHub runner image and subsequently deleted by Packer.

Question

I am not sure what you mean by: 'Packer templates can contain the parameter 'azure_tags to include with many''?
The Packer templates that we intend to address are

Scenario

As a team we provide, amongst others, VM images for self-hosted runners for our organization.
Our build process starts with building images using https://github.com/actions/runner-images.
This build process uses a temporary Packer VM , in Azure, on which an image is composed and sys-prepped.
(after which a validation process is started and optional customization takes place)
This temporary Packer VM, is currently not tagged in Azure.

Problem

Due to internal policies, we cannot just-spin-up-a-VM, let alone a temporary VM downloading a bunch of tooling (even if this takes place in isolation)
Being able to set a couple of tags on such a temporary VM would enable our security team to keep a better view on what it going on. Also, finance wants to keep a tab on costs (using a cost center tag).

Besides, earlier discussions like #discussioncomment-4591809 within this project may benefit from the proposed PR #10884 .

[baidarka]

Would it be helpful if I provide additional information? If yes, what would you be looking for? Looking forward to your insights!