WhyNotHugo: /* See Also */ System Disk Mode

2026-04-20T16:08:23Z

Prabuanand: created new page and moved content from Setting_up_disks_manually page

2024-11-04T06:19:43Z

created new page and moved content from Setting_up_disks_manually page

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In Data Disk mode also the operating system runs from system RAM, thus it enjoys the same accelerated operation speed as [[Diskless Mode|diskless]] mode. However, swap storage and the entire {{Path|/var}} directory tree get mounted from a persistent storage device (two newly created partitions). The directory {{Path|/var}} holds e.g. all log files, mailspools, databases, etc., as well as <code>[[Alpine_local_backup|lbu]]</code> backup commits and the package cache. This mode is useful for having RAM accelerated servers with variable amounts of user-data that exceed the available RAM size. It enables the entire current system state (not just the boot state) to survive a system crash in accordance with the particular filesystem guarantees.

== Installation ==
{{Seealso|Diskless Mode}}
Following the [[Installation#Installation_Step_Details|Installation steps]] to complete the [[Installation#Base_configuration|base configuration]] completes the pre-setup of [[Diskless_Mode|"diskless"]] Alpine Linux system. In data disk mode, the boot device may also remain the initial (and possibly read-only) installation media, or be copied to a partition (e.g. /dev/sdXY) with <code>[[Alpine_setup_scripts#setup-bootable|setup-bootable]]</code>. Refer [[Create_a_Bootable_Device|Creating a bootable device]] for creating a bootable medium to boot the Data Disk Mode Installation.

As per Bug: [https://gitlab.alpinelinux.org/alpine/alpine-conf/-/issues/10474 #10474], <Code>setup-alpine</Code> script will create the data partition and mount it as /var, but '''setup-alpine's "data" disk mode can not yet configure lbu config storage settings automatically'''. The '''current workaround''', is to select "none" at the 'where to store configs' prompt (as the new data partition is not listed anyway) and configure lbu manually after <code>[[Alpine_setup_scripts#setup-alpine|setup-alpine]]</code> exits, and before rebooting:

# Identify the created data partition, e.g. <code>/dev/sd''XY''</code>, and its filesystemtype, e.g. using <code>''lsblk''</code>
# Manually edit the lbu backups location in <code>/etc/lbu/lbu.conf</code> and configure <code>LBU_MEDIA=sd''XY''</code> (according to the previous findings).
# Save the configuration on that partition for the next boot with <code>lbu commit</code>.
# If (a new) partition fails to get mounted, execute: <code>mkdir /media/''sdXY'' ; echo "/dev/sd''XY'' /media/sd''XY'' ''fstype'' noauto,rw 0 0" >> /etc/fstab</code>, and try <code>lbu commit</code> again.

== See Also ==
* [[Alpine_local_backup|Alpine Local backup Utility - ''lbu''']]
* [[Alpine_Package_Keeper#Local_Cache|Local package cache]]
* [[Manually editing a existing apkovl]]
* [[Back Up a Flash Memory Installation]]
* [[Upgrading_Alpine#Upgrading_Alpine_Linux_on_other_removable_media_(such_as_CF/USB)|Upgrading Diskless to New Alpine Linux Release]]
* [[PXE boot#Specifying an apkovl|Diskless PXE Boot]]
* [[How to make a custom ISO image with mkimage]]
* [[QEMU#Live_mode|QEMU Diskless example]]
* [[Alpine local backup#Include special files.2Ffolders to the apkovl|Include special files section]] - To include custom files outside of <code>/etc</code> in .apkovl file.

[[Category:Diskless]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:08, 20 April 2026
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	* [[QEMU#Live_mode\|QEMU Diskless example]]		* [[QEMU#Live_mode\|QEMU Diskless example]]
	* [[Alpine local backup#Include special files.2Ffolders to the apkovl\|Include special files section]] - To include custom files outside of <code>/etc</code> in .apkovl file.		* [[Alpine local backup#Include special files.2Ffolders to the apkovl\|Include special files section]] - To include custom files outside of <code>/etc</code> in .apkovl file.
			* [[System Disk Mode]]

	[[Category:Diskless]]		[[Category:Diskless]]

Data Disk Mode - Revision history

WhyNotHugo: /* See Also */ System Disk Mode

Prabuanand: created new page and moved content from Setting_up_disks_manually page