Image Baseline

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Discussion

An Image Baseline is a Baseline that identifies the controlled inputs, definitions, dependencies, configuration, hardening, compliance settings, and build processes used to produce a Machine Image.

The Image Baseline may identify installation media, operating-system version, processor architecture, partitioning, filesystems, packages, provisioning roles, security settings, compliance profiles, source revisions, and build-tool versions.

An Image Baseline defines how an image is reproduced. The resulting Machine Image is an artefact produced from that Baseline rather than the Baseline itself.

Within Crucible, an Image Baseline may serve as a source layer in a Baseline Composition and may support multiple provider-specific image realizations.

Definition

baseline that identifies the controlled inputs, definitions, dependencies, configuration, hardening, compliance settings, and build processes used to produce a machine image

Source

Generalized from machine-image engineering, configuration management, infrastructure automation, and reproducible-build usage and specialized for the Crucible architecture and operational model.

Note

An Image Baseline differs from a Machine Image. The Image Baseline defines the controlled configuration and process, while the Machine Image is a realized build artefact.

Changes to operating-system media, packages, provisioning logic, hardening settings, or compliance settings may require a new Image Baseline.

Example

An Image Baseline identifies the RHEL 9 installation medium, required packages, Packer configuration, Ansible roles, STIG profile, remediation setting, processor architecture, and pinned source revisions used to produce a hardened guest image.

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