System Disk Mode - Revision history

WhyNotHugo: /* See also */

2026-04-20T16:08:53Z

Prabuanand: made minor rewording, added a tip and clarified on the internet access

2026-03-26T06:27:54Z

made minor rewording, added a tip and clarified on the internet access

Prabuanand: fixed wikitag as per Help:Editing page and added wikilink

2026-02-13T18:00:55Z

fixed wikitag as per Help:Editing page and added wikilink

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:00, 13 February 2026
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	==== Check File System Kernel Modules are Loading ====		==== Check File System Kernel Modules are Loading ====

			Run the below command to output the File System Kernel modules, where the file system can be one among the following: '''ext2''', '''ext3''', '''ext4''', '''btrfs''', '''xfs''', '''fat''':

	{{Cmd\|<nowiki># lsmod \| grep <File System></nowiki>}}		{{Cmd\|<nowiki># lsmod \| grep <File System></nowiki>}}
	~~{{Note \|<nowiki>File System = ext2, ext3, ext4, btrfs, xfs, fat</nowiki>\|}}~~

	* Run the ~~Command to Output the File System Kernel Modules~~:		An example output is given below for the above command, with necessary abbreviations explained:

	~~{{Cat \|Console Command and Ouput\|~~<~~nowiki~~>		<Pre>
	alpinepc:~# lsmod \| grep ext4		alpinepc:~# lsmod \| grep ext4

Line 93:		Line 94:
	mbcache 16384 1 ext4		mbcache 16384 1 ext4
	jbd2 200704 1 ext4		jbd2 200704 1 ext4
	</~~nowiki~~>}}		</Pre>
	EXT4 = File System<br>		EXT4 = [[Filesystems\|File System]]<br>
	CRC16 = EXT4 Compression Support<br>		CRC16 = EXT4 Compression Support<br>
	MBCACHE = MetaData Cache<br>		MBCACHE = MetaData Cache<br>

Kenrmayfield: /* Check File System Kernel Modules are Loading */

2026-02-12T23:45:01Z

Check File System Kernel Modules are Loading

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:45, 12 February 2026
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	* Run the Command to Output the File System Kernel Modules:		* Run the Command to Output the File System Kernel Modules:

	{{Cat \|Console Ouput\|<nowiki>		{{Cat \|Console Command and Ouput\|<nowiki>
	alpinepc:~# lsmod \| grep ext4		alpinepc:~# lsmod \| grep ext4

Kenrmayfield at 01:09, 11 February 2026

2026-02-11T01:09:13Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:09, 11 February 2026
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	{{Cmd\|<nowiki># lsmod \| grep <File System></nowiki>}}		{{Cmd\|<nowiki># lsmod \| grep <File System></nowiki>}}
	{{Note \|<nowiki>File System = ~~EXT2~~, ~~EXT3~~, ~~EXT4~~, ~~BTRFS~~, ~~XFS~~, ~~FAT~~</nowiki>\|}}		{{Note \|<nowiki>File System = ext2, ext3, ext4, btrfs, xfs, fat</nowiki>\|}}

	* Run the Command to Output the File System Kernel Modules:		* Run the Command to Output the File System Kernel Modules:

Kenrmayfield at 00:55, 11 February 2026

2026-02-11T00:55:40Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:55, 11 February 2026
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	{{Cmd\|<nowiki># lsmod \| grep <File System></nowiki>}}		{{Cmd\|<nowiki># lsmod \| grep <File System></nowiki>}}
			{{Note \|<nowiki>File System = EXT2, EXT3, EXT4, BTRFS, XFS, FAT</nowiki>\|}}

	* Run the Command to Output the File System Kernel Modules:		* Run the Command to Output the File System Kernel Modules:

Kenrmayfield at 00:38, 11 February 2026

2026-02-11T00:38:19Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:38, 11 February 2026
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	If the fsck Command does Fix the Corruption on the Root File System but the '''Error: Mounting Root Failed''' still persists then the next step would be to ReBuild the '''initramfs''' File System with the '''mkinitfs''' Command then Reboot. You need to '''Mount the Root Partition''' and [[Chroot]] into the Mounted Root Partition before running the mkinitfs Command as shown in the [[Initramfs init\|initramfs]] page.		If the fsck Command does Fix the Corruption on the Root File System but the '''Error: Mounting Root Failed''' still persists then the next step would be to ReBuild the '''initramfs''' File System with the '''mkinitfs''' Command then Reboot. You need to '''Mount the Root Partition''' and [[Chroot]] into the Mounted Root Partition before running the mkinitfs Command as shown in the [[Initramfs init\|initramfs]] page.

			==== Check File System Kernel Modules are Loading ====

			{{Cmd\|<nowiki># lsmod \| grep <File System></nowiki>}}

			* Run the Command to Output the File System Kernel Modules:

			{{Cat \|Console Ouput\|<nowiki>
			alpinepc:~# lsmod \| grep ext4

			ext4 1155072 2
			crc16 12288 1 ext4
			mbcache 16384 1 ext4
			jbd2 200704 1 ext4
			</nowiki>}}
			EXT4 = File System<br>
			CRC16 = EXT4 Compression Support<br>
			MBCACHE = MetaData Cache<br>
			JBD2 = Journaling<br>

	=== Blinking underscore ===		=== Blinking underscore ===

Kenrmayfield at 23:22, 10 February 2026

2026-02-10T23:22:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:22, 10 February 2026
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	To fix filesystem corruption issues, the command fsck must be run on the root partition. The root partition should be umounted before running fsck. Boot from a [[Rescue disk]] to run the fsck command on the root partition:{{Cmd\|<nowiki># fsck -y /dev/<DEVICE></nowiki>}}		To fix filesystem corruption issues, the command fsck must be run on the root partition. The root partition should be umounted before running fsck. Boot from a [[Rescue disk]] to run the fsck command on the root partition:{{Cmd\|<nowiki># fsck -y /dev/<DEVICE></nowiki>}}

	After running fsck, proceed to ~~reboot~~ the ~~computer~~.		After running fsck, proceed to Reboot the Computer.

	If the fsck ~~command fixes~~ the ~~corruption~~ but the Error:"Mounting Root Failed", still persists then the next step would be to ~~rebuild~~ the ~~initram file system~~. ~~After running fsck, mount~~ the ~~root partition~~ and [[Chroot]] into the ~~mounted root partition~~ before running the mkinitfs ~~command~~ as shown in the [[Initramfs init\|initramfs]] page.		If the fsck Command does Fix the Corruption on the Root File System but the '''Error: Mounting Root Failed''' still persists then the next step would be to ReBuild the '''initramfs''' File System with the '''mkinitfs''' Command then Reboot. You need to '''Mount the Root Partition''' and [[Chroot]] into the Mounted Root Partition before running the mkinitfs Command as shown in the [[Initramfs init\|initramfs]] page.

	=== Blinking underscore ===		=== Blinking underscore ===

Prabuanand: updated based on clarification from reddit user u/kenrmayfield

2026-02-10T14:34:42Z

updated based on clarification from reddit user u/kenrmayfield

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:34, 10 February 2026
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	...</nowiki>}}		...</nowiki>}}

	*If you are using [[Bootloaders#Syslinux\|~~Syslinux~~]], then ensure that {{Codeline\|APPEND ~~root~~}} line in the file {{Path\|/boot/extlinux.conf}} has the appropriate filesystem ~~module~~ <code>ext4</code> as follows: {{Cat\|/boot/extlinux.conf\|<nowiki>...		* If you are using [[Bootloaders#Syslinux\|ExtLinux/SysLinux]], then ensure that {{Codeline\|APPEND}} line in the file {{Path\|/boot/extlinux.conf}} has <code>root=UUID=<UUID ID></code> or <code>root=/dev/sdXY</code> and the same matches the root path in the {{Path\|/etc/fstab}} file. Also ensure that modules has the appropriate filesystem like <code>ext4</code> as follows: {{Cat\|/boot/extlinux.conf\|<nowiki>...
	APPEND root=/dev/sdXY modules=sd-mod,usb-storage,ext4 quiet		APPEND root=/dev/sdXY modules=sd-mod,usb-storage,ext4 quiet
			# root=UUID=<UUID ID> can be used also in the APPEND Line.
	...</nowiki>}}		...</nowiki>}}

Prabuanand: added additional steps based on the detailed instructions provided by reddit user u/kenrmayfield here https://redd.it/1qyxwdo

2026-02-10T10:33:26Z

added additional steps based on the detailed instructions provided by reddit user u/kenrmayfield here https://redd.it/1qyxwdo

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:33, 10 February 2026
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	# Verify that the partition name in which Alpine Linux was installed matches the above [[#Mounting on /dev/sdXY sysroot failed\|error]] by issuing the command and also note down the filesystem type of that partition (say TYPE="ext4") : {{Cmd\| blkid}}		# Verify that the partition name in which Alpine Linux was installed matches the above [[#Mounting on /dev/sdXY sysroot failed\|error]] by issuing the command and also note down the filesystem type of that partition (say TYPE="ext4") : {{Cmd\| blkid}}
	# If the expected disk (e.g., /dev/sda, /dev/nvme0n1) itself is missing in the output of {{ic\| blkid}}, check [[#Disks not detected after setup-disk\|Disks not detected after setup-disk]].		# If the expected disk (e.g., /dev/sda, /dev/nvme0n1) itself is missing in the output of {{ic\| blkid}}, check [[#Disks not detected after setup-disk\|Disks not detected after setup-disk]].
	# ~~Ensure~~ that sysroot exists by issuing the command. {{Cmd\|ls -ld /sysroot}}		# Verify that sysroot exists by issuing the command. {{Cmd\|ls -ld /sysroot}}
	# Check if the above error message apears when issuing the command. {{Cmd\|mount /dev/sda8 /sysroot}}		# Check if the above error message apears when issuing the command. {{Cmd\|mount /dev/sda8 /sysroot}}
	# If ~~the~~ error message ~~matched~~ in ~~step 4~~, ~~check~~ whether filesystem modules are loaded by issuing the command. {{Cmd\|<nowiki>lsmod \| grep ext4 </nowiki>}}		# If there is no error message, proceed to check if the issue is caused by a [[#Filesystem corruption\|filesystem corruption]].
			# If the manual mount command fails with "No such file or directory" even though you verified /sysroot exists in Step 3, this confirms the kernel doesn't recognize the filesystem type. Check whether filesystem modules(change ext4 if needed) are loaded by issuing the command. {{Cmd\|<nowiki>lsmod \| grep ext4 </nowiki>}}
	# If there is no output, then it confirms that the above [[#Mounting on /dev/sdXY sysroot failed\|issue]] is caused by [[#Missing filesystem modules in the kernel cmdline\|missing filesystem module]].		# If there is no output, then it confirms that the above [[#Mounting on /dev/sdXY sysroot failed\|issue]] is caused by [[#Missing filesystem modules in the kernel cmdline\|missing filesystem module]].

			==== Disks not detected after setup-disk====

			After running the standard Alpine installation command: {{ic\|setup-disk -m sys /mnt}} and rebooting, the system gives the error mentioned in [[#Mounting on /dev/sdXY sysroot failed\|Mounting on /dev/sdXY sysroot failed]] with the expected disk (e.g., /dev/sda, /dev/nvme0n1) missing to show at the output of {{ic\| blkid}}. This prevents booting into the installed system.

			Issue: As per [https://gitlab.alpinelinux.org/alpine/alpine-conf/-/issues/10615 bug report] this might be caused by BIOS storage controller being set to "RAID On (Intel Rapid Storage Technology)".

			Resolution: Switch the storage mode in BIOS/UEFI: Go to BIOS → Storage or SATA/NVMe Operation. Change setting from:RAID On (Intel Rapid Storage Technology) to: AHCI or AHCI/NVMe.

	==== Missing filesystem modules in the kernel cmdline ====		==== Missing filesystem modules in the kernel cmdline ====
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	*If you are using [[Bootloaders#Syslinux\|Syslinux]], then ensure that {{Codeline\|APPEND root}} line in the file {{Path\|/boot/extlinux.conf}} has the appropriate filesystem module <code>ext4</code> as follows: {{Cat\|/boot/extlinux.conf\|<nowiki>...		*If you are using [[Bootloaders#Syslinux\|Syslinux]], then ensure that {{Codeline\|APPEND root}} line in the file {{Path\|/boot/extlinux.conf}} has the appropriate filesystem module <code>ext4</code> as follows: {{Cat\|/boot/extlinux.conf\|<nowiki>...
	APPEND root=/dev/sdXY modules=sd-~~load~~,usb-storage,ext4 quiet		APPEND root=/dev/sdXY modules=sd-mod,usb-storage,ext4 quiet
	...</nowiki>}}		...</nowiki>}}

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	*For a solution independent of [[Bootloaders\|bootloaders]], ensure that the file {{Path\|/etc/mkinitfs/mkinitfs.conf}} has the necessary filesystem module in it. Refer [[Initramfs init\|Initramfs]] page for more information and recreate initramfs image.		*For a solution independent of [[Bootloaders\|bootloaders]], ensure that the file {{Path\|/etc/mkinitfs/mkinitfs.conf}} has the necessary filesystem module in it. Refer [[Initramfs init\|Initramfs]] page for more information and recreate initramfs image.

	==== ~~Disks not detected after setup-disk~~====		==== Filesystem corruption ====

	~~After~~ running the ~~standard Alpine installation~~ command: {{ic\|~~setup-disk~~ -~~m sys /mnt}} and rebooting, the system gives the error mentioned in [[#Mounting on~~ /dev/~~sdXY sysroot failed\|Mounting on /dev/sdXY sysroot failed]] with the expected disk (e.g.,~~ /~~dev/sda, /dev/nvme0n1) missing to show at the output of {{ic\| blkid~~}}~~. This prevents booting into the installed system.~~		To fix filesystem corruption issues, the command fsck must be run on the root partition. The root partition should be umounted before running fsck. Boot from a [[Rescue disk]] to run the fsck command on the root partition:{{Cmd\|<nowiki># fsck -y /dev/<DEVICE></nowiki>}}

	~~Issue: As per [https://gitlab.alpinelinux.org/alpine/alpine-conf/-/issues/10615 bug report] this might be caused by BIOS storage controller being set~~ to ~~"RAID On (Intel Rapid Storage Technology)"~~.		After running fsck, proceed to reboot the computer.

	~~Resolution~~: ~~Switch~~ the ~~storage mode in BIOS/UEFI: Go~~ to ~~BIOS → Storage or SATA/NVMe Operation~~. ~~Change setting from:RAID On (Intel Rapid Storage Technology) to: AHCI or AHCI/NVMeb~~.		If the fsck command fixes the corruption but the Error:"Mounting Root Failed", still persists then the next step would be to rebuild the initram file system. After running fsck, mount the root partition and [[Chroot]] into the mounted root partition before running the mkinitfs command as shown in the [[Initramfs init\|initramfs]] page.

	=== Blinking underscore ===		=== Blinking underscore ===

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:08, 20 April 2026
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	* [[Installing Alpine Linux in a chroot\|Installing Alpine Linux in a chroot]]		* [[Installing Alpine Linux in a chroot\|Installing Alpine Linux in a chroot]]
	* [https://github.com/itoffshore/alpine-linux-scripts setup-partitions]		* [https://github.com/itoffshore/alpine-linux-scripts setup-partitions]
			* [[Data Disk Mode]]
			* [[Diskless Mode]]

	[[Category:Installation]]		[[Category:Installation]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:27, 26 March 2026
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	System Disk mode is the traditional or classic harddisk installation of Alpine Linux. This ~~installation~~ mode is suitable for ~~most~~ use cases ~~including generic~~ [[Tutorials_and_Howtos#Desktop\|desktop]], [[Setting up the build environment\|development machine]] etc.		System Disk mode is the traditional or classic harddisk installation of Alpine Linux. This mode is suitable for use cases like [[Tutorials_and_Howtos#Desktop\|desktop]], [[Setting up the build environment\|development machine]] etc.

	If an entire hard disk(s) is available for Alpine Linux, [[Installation#setup-alpine_based_System_Disk_Install\|setup-alpine based install]] is the recommended way to install Alpine Linux. ~~For all other use cases, follow the [[Alpine_setup_scripts#setup-disk\|<code>setup-disk</code>]] based Installation given below.~~		{{Tip\|If an entire hard disk(s) is available for Alpine Linux, [[Installation#setup-alpine_based_System_Disk_Install\|setup-alpine based install]] is the recommended way to install Alpine Linux.}}

	== setup-disk based Installation ==		== setup-disk based Installation ==
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	To perform a traditional hard-disk installation of Alpine Linux, after completing the base configuration, proceed to create, format and mount your partitions with MOUNTPOINT {{Path\|'''/mnt'''}} as root and run the command {{Codeline\|'''<Code>setup-disk -m sys /mnt</Code>'''}}.		To perform a traditional hard-disk installation of Alpine Linux, after completing the base configuration, proceed to create, format and mount your partitions with MOUNTPOINT {{Path\|'''/mnt'''}} as root and run the command {{Codeline\|'''<Code>setup-disk -m sys /mnt</Code>'''}}.

	# Follow the [[Installation#General_course_of_action\|Installation guide]] to complete the [[Installation#Base_configuration\|base configuration]], if not already done~~. A working [[Configure_Networking#Connectivity_testing\|Internet access]] is mandatory to complete this installation~~.		The [[Alpine_setup_scripts#setup-disk\|<code>setup-disk</code>]] script performs a traditional hard disk install of your running system and can be customized using [[Alpine_setup_scripts#Environment_Variables\|environment variables]]. A working [[Configure_Networking#Connectivity_testing\|internet access]] configured in step 1 below is mandatory to complete this installation, if '''Extended image''' is not used. The detailed steps are given below:

			# Follow the [[Installation#General_course_of_action\|Installation guide]] to complete the [[Installation#Base_configuration\|base configuration]], if not already done.
	# If necessary formatted partition(s) are unavailable, manually [[Setting up disks manually#Creating_partitions\|create]] them first and [[Setting up disks manually#Formatting_partitions\|format]] them including swap partition(if used). If you're using legacy BIOS mode, use DOS i.e MBR partition table and ensure that proper partition is bootable for [[Bootloaders#Syslinux\|extlinux]].		# If necessary formatted partition(s) are unavailable, manually [[Setting up disks manually#Creating_partitions\|create]] them first and [[Setting up disks manually#Formatting_partitions\|format]] them including swap partition(if used). If you're using legacy BIOS mode, use DOS i.e MBR partition table and ensure that proper partition is bootable for [[Bootloaders#Syslinux\|extlinux]].
	# Mount the '''/ (root)''' partition on a mount point i.e say {{Path\|/mnt}} as follows: {{Cmd\|# mount /dev/sdXY /mnt}}		# Mount the '''/ (root)''' partition on a mount point i.e say {{Path\|/mnt}} as follows: {{Cmd\|# mount /dev/sdXY /mnt}}
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	# If [[Swap\|swap]] partition is available, you can also enable it now: {{Cmd\|# swapon /dev/sdXY }}		# If [[Swap\|swap]] partition is available, you can also enable it now: {{Cmd\|# swapon /dev/sdXY }}
	# Install Alpine Linux using the following command: {{Cmd\|# setup-disk -m sys /mnt}}		# Install Alpine Linux using the following command: {{Cmd\|# setup-disk -m sys /mnt}}
	# ~~<code>setup-disk</code> will perform a traditional hard disk install of your running system,~~ detects your file system layout and generates {{Path\|/etc/fstab}} and installs a [[Bootloaders\|bootloader]] based on the ~~<Code>BOOTLOADER</Code>~~ [[Alpine_setup_scripts#Environment_Variables\|environment variable]].		# The above command detects your file system layout and generates {{Path\|/etc/fstab}} and installs a [[Bootloaders\|bootloader]] based on the optional [[Alpine_setup_scripts#Environment_Variables\|environment variable]] <Code>BOOTLOADER</Code> and completes the installation by transferring your running system's configuration to the hard disk.
	# At the end of Installation, you can [[Installation#Reboot\|reboot]] to boot into the newly installed Alpine Linux and [[Installation#Post-Installation\|configure]] further.		# At the end of Installation, you can [[Installation#Reboot\|reboot]] to boot into the newly installed Alpine Linux and [[Installation#Post-Installation\|configure]] further.