Create Alpine Linux PV DomU - Revision history

Sertonix: /* Install the guest */ fix path of initramfs

2025-12-09T22:32:57Z

Install the guest: fix path of initramfs

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:32, 9 December 2025
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	set root=(xen/xvda,msdos1)		set root=(xen/xvda,msdos1)
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-virt root=/dev/xvda3 modules=ext4 console=hvc0		linux /boot/vmlinuz-virt root=/dev/xvda3 modules=ext4 console=hvc0
	initrd /boot/initramfs		initrd /boot/initramfs-virt
	}</nowiki>}}		}</nowiki>}}

Zcrayfish: /* Install the guest */ used pkg and path templates.

2023-08-18T20:02:25Z

Install the guest: used pkg and path templates.

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:02, 18 August 2023
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	After configuring the basic system, you will be asked where would you like to install Alpine. Choose xvda and sys.		After configuring the basic system, you will be asked where would you like to install Alpine. Choose xvda and sys.

	That will create three partitions on your disk. xvda1 for /boot, xvda2 for swap and xvda3 for /		That will create three partitions on your disk. xvda1 for {{path\|/boot}}, xvda2 for swap and xvda3 for {{path\|/}}

	<pre>		<pre>
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	</pre>		</pre>

	When you reboot, the pv bootloader pvgrub, will look to /boot/grub/grub.cfg for its menu, so create that file first.		When you reboot, the pv bootloader pvgrub, will look to {{path\|/boot/grub/grub.cfg}} for its menu, so create that file first.

	Mount the boot partition and create a {{path\|grub/grub.cfg}} file for pvgrub. (Note that grub.cfg is for pvgrub2 which replaced pvgrub1 and its menu.lst beginning in 2013.)		Mount the boot partition and create a {{path\|grub/grub.cfg}} file for pvgrub. (Note that grub.cfg is for pvgrub2 which replaced pvgrub1 and its menu.lst beginning in 2013.)
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	mkdir /mnt/grub</nowiki>}}		mkdir /mnt/grub</nowiki>}}

	Install a basic text editor like nano or vim:<br/>		Install a basic text editor like {{pkg\|nano}} or {{pkg\|vim}}:<br/>
	{{cmd \| apk add nano}}		{{cmd \| apk add nano}}

Zcrayfish: /* Mount the ISO image */ 7zip correction.

2023-08-18T19:59:52Z

Mount the ISO image: 7zip correction.

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:59, 18 August 2023
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	Now you have the kernel in {{path\|/media/cdrom/boot/vmlinuz-virt}} and initramfs in {{path\|/media/cdrom/boot/initramfs-virt}}.		Now you have the kernel in {{path\|/media/cdrom/boot/vmlinuz-virt}} and initramfs in {{path\|/media/cdrom/boot/initramfs-virt}}.

	Alternatively you can use {{path\|uniso}} or {{path\|~~p7zip~~}} to extract the content to a temporary area.		Alternatively you can use {{path\|uniso}} or {{path\|7z}} to extract the content to a temporary area.

	== Create the disk image ==		== Create the disk image ==

Ncopa: /* Adjust the domU config file to boot from fresh install */ fix pvgrub2 loader path and install grub-xenhost

2023-08-18T15:03:53Z

Adjust the domU config file to boot from fresh install: fix pvgrub2 loader path and install grub-xenhost

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:03, 18 August 2023
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	{{cat \| /etc/xen/a1.cfg \|<nowiki># Alpine Linux PV DomU		{{cat \| /etc/xen/a1.cfg \|<nowiki># Alpine Linux PV DomU

	kernel = "/usr/lib/xen/~~boot/pv-~~grub-x86_64.gz"		kernel = "/usr/lib/grub-xen/grub-x86_64-xen.bin"

	# Path to HDD and iso file		# Path to HDD and iso file
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	</nowiki>}}		</nowiki>}}

	~~The name and location of pvgrub in Dom0~~ is ~~distribution-specific, so you may need to change the "kernel=" line, above~~.		Make sure that grub-xenhost is installed.
			{{cmd \| apk add grub-xenhost}}
	~~For example, in Debian 10, it's~~ {{~~path~~\|~~'/usr/lib/grub-xen/~~grub-~~x86_64-xen.bin'~~}}

	Remember to unmount the loopback iso image.		Remember to unmount the loopback iso image.

Ncopa: /* Adjust the domU config file to boot from fresh install */ add instructions for legacy pvgrub

2023-08-18T14:59:49Z

Adjust the domU config file to boot from fresh install: add instructions for legacy pvgrub

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:59, 18 August 2023
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	The next time you boot, you'll be presented with the grub boot menu, and your VM will boot.		The next time you boot, you'll be presented with the grub boot menu, and your VM will boot.

			== Using Legacy pvgrub ==

			To use Legacy pvgrub you need to use a {{path\|/boot/grub/menu.lst}} instead of {{path\|/boot/grub/grub.cfg}}.

			{{cat \| /etc/xen/a1.cfg \|<nowiki>default 0
			timeout 2
			title alpine-xen-pv
			root (hd0,0)
			kernel /boot/vmlinuz-virt root=/dev/xvda3 modules=ext4 console=hvc0
			initrd /boot/initramfs-virt
			</nowiki>}}

			And in {{path\|/etc/xen/a1.cfg}} you need to change the 'kernel' loader to
			{{cat \| /etc/xen/a1.cfg \|<nowiki>...
			kernel = "/usr/lib/xen/boot/pv-grub-x86_64.gz"
			...
			</nowiki>}}

	== See also ==		== See also ==

Ncopa: /* Install the guest */ add console=hvc0 as boot option

2023-08-18T14:53:11Z

Install the guest: add console=hvc0 as boot option

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:53, 18 August 2023
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	{{cat \| /mnt/grub/grub.cfg \|<nowiki>menuentry 'alpine-xen' {		{{cat \| /mnt/grub/grub.cfg \|<nowiki>menuentry 'alpine-xen' {
	set root=(xen/xvda,msdos1)		set root=(xen/xvda,msdos1)
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-virt root=/dev/xvda3 modules=ext4		linux /boot/vmlinuz-virt root=/dev/xvda3 modules=ext4 console=hvc0
	initrd /boot/initramfs		initrd /boot/initramfs
	}</nowiki>}}		}</nowiki>}}

Bt129 at 15:56, 6 August 2021

2021-08-06T15:56:01Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:56, 6 August 2021
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	==Mount the ISO image ==		==Mount the ISO image ==

	Next, mount the iso so we can read the kernel and initramfs:		Next, mount the iso so you can read the kernel and initramfs:

	{{cmd \| mount -t iso9660 -o loop /data/alpine-virt-{{AlpineLatest}}-x86_64.iso /media/cdrom }}		{{cmd \| mount -t iso9660 -o loop /data/alpine-virt-{{AlpineLatest}}-x86_64.iso /media/cdrom }}

	Now we have the kernel in {{path\|/media/cdrom/boot/vmlinuz-virt}} and initramfs in {{path\|/media/cdrom/boot/initramfs-virt}}.		Now you have the kernel in {{path\|/media/cdrom/boot/vmlinuz-virt}} and initramfs in {{path\|/media/cdrom/boot/initramfs-virt}}.

	Alternatively you can use {{path\|uniso}} or {{path\|p7zip}} to extract the content to a ~~temp~~ area.		Alternatively you can use {{path\|uniso}} or {{path\|p7zip}} to extract the content to a temporary area.

	== Create the disk image ==		== Create the disk image ==
	Now ~~we should~~ create an empty file~~, that will~~ be the hard drive of the DomU (in this example we are using a 3GB disk):		Now you need to create an empty file to be used as the hard drive of the DomU (in this example we are using a 3GB disk):

	{{cmd \| <nowiki>dd if=/dev/zero of=/data/a1.img bs=1M count=3000</nowiki>}}		{{cmd \| <nowiki>dd if=/dev/zero of=/data/a1.img bs=1M count=3000</nowiki>}}

	Alternatively, if a LVM volume group (vg1 ~~say~~) with free space is available on dom0, create a logical volume for ~~alpine~~:		Alternatively, if an LVM volume group (e.g. vg1) with free space is available on dom0, create a logical volume for Alpine:

	{{cmd \| <nowiki>sudo lvcreate -n alpine -L 10g vg1</nowiki>}}		{{cmd \| <nowiki>sudo lvcreate -n alpine -L 10g vg1</nowiki>}}

	== Create a DomU config file that boots the ISO image ==		== Create a DomU config file that boots the ISO image ==
	~~The next step is to~~ create a basic DomU configuration file, so we can launch the pv guest iso (save it where you like, although the most common place is {{path\|/etc/xen/}}).		Next, create a basic DomU configuration file, so you can launch the pv guest iso (save it where you like, although the most common place is {{path\|/etc/xen/}}).

	{{cat \| /etc/xen/a1.cfg \| <nowiki># Alpine Linux PV DomU		{{cat \| /etc/xen/a1.cfg \| <nowiki># Alpine Linux PV DomU
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	== Install the guest ==		== Install the guest ==
	Now that we have ~~all~~ the necessary files, we can start the DomU to proceed with the install:		Now that you have the necessary files, you can start the DomU to proceed with the install:

	{{cmd\|xl create -f /etc/xen/a1.cfg -c}}		{{cmd\|xl create -f /etc/xen/a1.cfg -c}}

	~~Login~~ into the system with user "root" and no password.		Log into the system with user "root" and no password.

	After configuring the basic system, you will be asked where would you like to install Alpine~~, choose~~ xvda and sys.		After configuring the basic system, you will be asked where would you like to install Alpine. Choose xvda and sys.

	~~This~~ will create three partitions on your disk, xvda1 for /boot, xvda2 for swap and xvda3 for /		That will create three partitions on your disk. xvda1 for /boot, xvda2 for swap and xvda3 for /

	<pre>		<pre>
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	</pre>		</pre>

	When you reboot, the pv bootloader, pvgrub, will look to /boot/grub/grub.cfg for its menu, so create that file first.		When you reboot, the pv bootloader pvgrub, will look to /boot/grub/grub.cfg for its menu, so create that file first.

	Mount the boot partition and create a {{path\|grub/grub.cfg}} file for pvgrub. (Note that grub.cfg is for pvgrub2 which replaced pvgrub1 and its menu.lst beginning in 2013.)		Mount the boot partition and create a {{path\|grub/grub.cfg}} file for pvgrub. (Note that grub.cfg is for pvgrub2 which replaced pvgrub1 and its menu.lst beginning in 2013.)
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	{{cmd \| umount /media/cdrom}}		{{cmd \| umount /media/cdrom}}

	~~When~~ you ~~next~~ boot, you ~~will~~ be presented with the grub boot menu, and your VM will boot.		The next time you boot, you'll be presented with the grub boot menu, and your VM will boot.

	== See also ==		== See also ==

Bt129: /* Obtain a copy of Alpine Linux */

2021-08-06T15:46:45Z

Obtain a copy of Alpine Linux

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:46, 6 August 2021
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	== Obtain a copy of Alpine Linux ==		== Obtain a copy of Alpine Linux ==

	To create an Alpine Linux paravirtualized (PV) DomU you ~~will~~ need an Alpine Linux iso.		To create an Alpine Linux paravirtualized (PV) DomU you'll need an Alpine Linux iso.

	Download the latest alpine-virt iso from https://alpinelinux.org/downloads/		Download the latest alpine-virt iso from https://alpinelinux.org/downloads/

	In this example we ~~will~~ use {{path\|/data/}} for ~~our~~ download and ~~for our~~ disk images.		In this example we'll use {{path\|/data/}} for the download and disk images.

	==Mount the ISO image ==		==Mount the ISO image ==

Davehill: Update menu.lst to grub.cfg

2020-06-08T17:32:32Z

Update menu.lst to grub.cfg

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:32, 8 June 2020
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	{{cmd \| <nowiki>dd if=/dev/zero of=/data/a1.img bs=1M count=3000</nowiki>}}		{{cmd \| <nowiki>dd if=/dev/zero of=/data/a1.img bs=1M count=3000</nowiki>}}

			Alternatively, if a LVM volume group (vg1 say) with free space is available on dom0, create a logical volume for alpine:

			{{cmd \| <nowiki>sudo lvcreate -n alpine -L 10g vg1</nowiki>}}

	== Create a DomU config file that boots the ISO image ==		== Create a DomU config file that boots the ISO image ==
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	maxvcpus = 1		maxvcpus = 1
	</nowiki>}}		</nowiki>}}

			If using LVM, replace {{path\|/data/a1.img}} with {{path\|/dev/vg1/alpine}} in the disk specification.

	== Install the guest ==		== Install the guest ==
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	Login into the system with user "root" and no password.		Login into the system with user "root" and no password.

	~~We need disable the ext4 64bit feature since pv-grub does not support ext4. Then we proceed with the normal install:~~

	~~{{cmd \|<nowiki>export MKFS_OPTS_BOOT="-O ^64bit"; setup-alpine</nowiki>}}~~

	After configuring the basic system, you will be asked where would you like to install Alpine, choose xvda and sys.		After configuring the basic system, you will be asked where would you like to install Alpine, choose xvda and sys.
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	</pre>		</pre>

	~~Before~~ you reboot, ~~mount~~ the boot partition and create a {{path\|grub/~~menu~~.~~lst~~}} file for ~~pv-~~grub.		When you reboot, the pv bootloader, pvgrub, will look to /boot/grub/grub.cfg for its menu, so create that file first.

			Mount the boot partition and create a {{path\|grub/grub.cfg}} file for pvgrub. (Note that grub.cfg is for pvgrub2 which replaced pvgrub1 and its menu.lst beginning in 2013.)

	{{cmd \|<nowiki>mount /dev/xvda1 /mnt		{{cmd \|<nowiki>mount /dev/xvda1 /mnt
	mkdir /mnt/grub</nowiki>}}		mkdir /mnt/grub</nowiki>}}

	{{cat \| /mnt/grub/~~menu~~.~~lst~~ \|<nowiki>~~default 0~~		Install a basic text editor like nano or vim:<br/>
	~~timeout 5~~		{{cmd \| apk add nano}}

	~~title~~ alpine-xen~~-pv~~		If using nano, enter:<br/>
	root (~~hd0~~,0)		{{cmd \| nano /mnt/grub/grub.cfg}}
	~~kernel~~ /boot/vmlinuz-virt ~~modules=ext4 console=hvc0~~ root=/dev/xvda3
	initrd /boot/initramfs~~-virt~~</nowiki>}}		Then add the following to create a basic grub2 configuration file:
			{{cat \| /mnt/grub/grub.cfg \|<nowiki>menuentry 'alpine-xen' {
			set root=(xen/xvda,msdos1)
			linux /boot/vmlinuz-virt root=/dev/xvda3 modules=ext4
			initrd /boot/initramfs
			}</nowiki>}}

			Finally, Ctrl-S to save, Ctrl-X to exit nano.

	Unmount and power off.		Unmount and power off.
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	== Adjust the domU config file to boot from fresh install ==		== Adjust the domU config file to boot from fresh install ==

	In your Dom0, edit your DomU config file to boot with ~~pv-grub~~.		In your Dom0, edit your DomU config file to boot with pvgrub.

	{{cat \| /etc/xen/a1.cfg \|<nowiki># Alpine Linux PV DomU		{{cat \| /etc/xen/a1.cfg \|<nowiki># Alpine Linux PV DomU
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	maxvcpus = 1		maxvcpus = 1
	</nowiki>}}		</nowiki>}}

			The name and location of pvgrub in Dom0 is distribution-specific, so you may need to change the "kernel=" line, above.

			For example, in Debian 10, it's {{path\|'/usr/lib/grub-xen/grub-x86_64-xen.bin'}}

	Remember to unmount the loopback iso image.		Remember to unmount the loopback iso image.

Ncopa: replace virtgrsec with just virt. we no longer support grsec

2018-08-13T09:39:27Z

replace virtgrsec with just virt. we no longer support grsec

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:39, 13 August 2018
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	To create an Alpine Linux paravirtualized (PV) DomU you will need an Alpine Linux iso.		To create an Alpine Linux paravirtualized (PV) DomU you will need an Alpine Linux iso.

	Download the latest alpine-~~virtgrsec~~ iso from https://alpinelinux.org/downloads/		Download the latest alpine-virt iso from https://alpinelinux.org/downloads/

	In this example we will use {{path\|/data/}} for our download and for our disk images.		In this example we will use {{path\|/data/}} for our download and for our disk images.
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	Next, mount the iso so we can read the kernel and initramfs:		Next, mount the iso so we can read the kernel and initramfs:

	{{cmd \| mount -t iso9660 -o loop /data/alpine-~~virtgrsec~~-{{AlpineLatest}}-x86_64.iso /media/cdrom }}		{{cmd \| mount -t iso9660 -o loop /data/alpine-virt-{{AlpineLatest}}-x86_64.iso /media/cdrom }}

	Now we have the kernel in {{path\|/media/cdrom/boot/vmlinuz-~~virtgrsec~~}} and initramfs in {{path\|/media/cdrom/boot/initramfs-~~virtgrsec~~}}.		Now we have the kernel in {{path\|/media/cdrom/boot/vmlinuz-virt}} and initramfs in {{path\|/media/cdrom/boot/initramfs-virt}}.

	Alternatively you can use {{path\|uniso}} or {{path\|p7zip}} to extract the content to a temp area.		Alternatively you can use {{path\|uniso}} or {{path\|p7zip}} to extract the content to a temp area.
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	# Kernel paths for install		# Kernel paths for install
	kernel = "/media/cdrom/boot/vmlinuz-~~virtgrsec~~"		kernel = "/media/cdrom/boot/vmlinuz-virt"
	ramdisk = "/media/cdrom/boot/initramfs-~~virtgrsec~~"		ramdisk = "/media/cdrom/boot/initramfs-virt"
	extra="modules=loop,squashfs console=hvc0"		extra="modules=loop,squashfs console=hvc0"

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	disk = [		disk = [
	'format=raw, vdev=xvda, access=w, target=/data/a1.img',		'format=raw, vdev=xvda, access=w, target=/data/a1.img',
	'format=raw, vdev=xvdc, access=r, devtype=cdrom, target=/data/alpine-~~virtgrsec~~-</nowiki>{{AlpineLatest}}<nowiki>-x86_64.iso'		'format=raw, vdev=xvdc, access=r, devtype=cdrom, target=/data/alpine-virt-</nowiki>{{AlpineLatest}}<nowiki>-x86_64.iso'
	]		]

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	title alpine-xen-pv		title alpine-xen-pv
	root (hd0,0)		root (hd0,0)
	kernel /boot/vmlinuz-~~virtgrsec~~ modules=ext4 console=hvc0 root=/dev/xvda3		kernel /boot/vmlinuz-virt modules=ext4 console=hvc0 root=/dev/xvda3
	initrd /boot/initramfs-~~virtgrsec~~</nowiki>}}		initrd /boot/initramfs-virt</nowiki>}}

	Unmount and power off.		Unmount and power off.