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This page will tell you what requirements you will need to use the Alpine Linux operating system.
This page will tell you what requirements you will need to use the Alpine Linux operating system:
__TOC__


# Hardware requirements
== Hardware requirements ==
** Architectures
** Memory
** Storage
** Peripherals
# Software requirements
** Media
** Booting
** Storage
** Firmware


By example for server gui less any are enough and will run, but more powered task like web browsing will need recent hardware, as of minimum 2012 year.
For installation and usage consider that Alpine can run on several kinds of devices, from personal computers to video game consoles, and as such you must verify the details below:


== Hardware ==
* CPU architecture
 
* Memory
For installation and usage take in consideration Alpine can run in several devices, from the popular PC machine also including video consoles, yo must check:
* Storage
 
* Peripherals
** Architectures
** Memory
** Storage
** Peripherals


=== Architectures ===
=== Architectures ===


'''Means kind of computer, The most popular is the misnamed "intel IBM PC"''' or "i386" which is actually in fact the x86 or x64, there are other computers supporteds that are not "x86" like mainframes also servers, as embebed devices.. inclusivelly routers like Sonicwall and Cisco ones. Here are the supported:
CPU architecture is an instruction set design that defines how a processor is used by software. Widely used across desktops and servers are x86 (mostly i686) and x86_64 (also known as amd64). There are other supported computer architectures that are not "x86", like mainframes, servers, and embedded devices (such as routers like Sonicwall and Cisco ones). The table below represents architectures supported by Alpine:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! Supported Arch !! Supported since !! Meaning of installation and target architecture
! Supported architecture !! Available since !! Description
|-
|-
| x86_64 || all || The popular AMD64 compatible 64-bit x86 based machines, i386 is not recommended for newer/latest hardware.
| x86_64 || all || Widely spread AMD64 compatible 64-bit x86 instruction set.
|-
|-
| x86 || all || The all popular 32 bit intel (i386 pc 32bit) and x86_64 (i686 pc 64bit and amd64)compatible (both)
| x86 || all || [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentium_Pro i686 compatible] (or later) CPUs with at least [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predication_(computer_architecture)#History CMOV] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSE2 SSE2]
|-
|-
| ppc64le || v3.6 || For the PowerPC devices with pure little-endian mode, mostly for POWER8 and POWER9
| [[ppc64le]] || v3.6 || For PowerPC devices with pure little-endian mode, mostly for POWER8 and POWER9
|-
|-
| armhf || v3.0 || The newer ARM hard-float for newer, more powerful 32-bit devices alongside 64-bit. Including video consoles!
| armhf || v3.0 || A 32-bit ARM instruction set with hard-float point extension.
|-
|-
| armv7 || v3.9 || The 32-bit ARM only execution state of the ARMv7 devices machines. Including video consoles!
| armv7 || v3.9 || The 32-bit ARM only execution state of the ARMv7 devices machines.
|-
|-
| aarch64 || v3.5 || The 64-bit ARM only execution state of the ARMv8 device machines.
| aarch64 || v3.5 || The 64-bit ARM only execution state of the ARMv8+ device machines..
|-
|-
| ppc64le || v3.6 || for 64-bit big-endian PowerPC and Power ISA processors like some MAC computers.
| [[s390x]] || v3.6 || For IBM mainframes, especially IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE servers.
|-
|-
| s390x || v3.6 || For the Super powered IBM mainframes, especially IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE servers.
| riscv64 || v3.20 ||
|}
|}


=== Memory ===
=== Memory ===
 
{{Draft|Most of these numbers seem to be guessed, if not outright fabricated for non x86* architectures.}}
'''Means minimum amount of RAM memory. Need of RAM it depends of the meaning of the installation''', any hardware are supported and there is minimum sizes for:
Below are shown minimum RAM amounts for various installation types and phases:


{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|-
! Target Arch !! Minimum RAM to start !! Minimum RAM to install !! Minimum RAM for GUI
! Target Arch !! Minimum RAM to start !! Minimum RAM to install !! Minimum RAM for GUI desktop !! Enough for GUI work
|-
| x86_64 || 512 Megs || 512 Megs || 2 Gigs
|-
|-
| x86_32 || 128 Megs || 256 Megs || 1 Gigs
| x86_64 || 128 Megs || 320 Megs || 512 Megs || 8 Gigs
|-
|-
| ppc64le || 128 Megs || 256 Megs || 2 Gigs
| x86 || 96 Megs || 128 Megs || 320 Megs || 3 Gigs
|-
|-
| armhf || 256 Megs || 512 Megs || 2 Gigs
| ppc64le || 128 Megs || 256 Megs || 2 Gigs || 8 Gigs
|-
|-
| armv7 || 256 Megs || 512 Megs || 2 Gigs
| armhf || 256 Megs || 512 Megs || 1 Gigs || 6 Gigs
|-
|-
| aarch64 || 256 Megs || 512 Megs || 2 Gigs
| armv7 || 256 Megs || 512 Megs || 1 Gigs || 6 Gigs
|-
|-
| ppc64le || 256 Megs || 512 Megs || 2 Gigs
| aarch64 || 256 Megs || 512 Megs || 2 Gigs || 8 Gigs
|-
|-
| s390x || 128 Megs || 256 Megs || 2 Gigs
| s390x || 128 Megs || 256 Megs || 2 Gigs || N/A
|}
|}


=== Storage ===
=== Storage ===


'''Means any external or internal storage device that can be added after or before install to use''' by the Alpine Linux system. Currently depends of the current linux kernel supported.
This means any external or internal storage device that can be added after or before installation to use by the Alpine Linux system.  


'''All the PATA and SATA hard disk drives are supported, also any USB or SD''' card that can be detected by USB BUS by the linux kernel subsystem during install.
PATA and SATA hard disk drives are supported, as well as any USB or SD card that can be detected by the Linux during installation.


=== Peripherals ===
=== Peripherals ===


'''Means any external or internal device that can be added after or before install to detectd''' by the Alpine Linux system. Currently depends of the current linux kernel supported.
This means any external or internal device that can be added before or after installation and detected by Alpine Linux. The peripherals that are supported depends on the current version of the Linux kernel.


ISA devices are not supported since 3.8 because kernel drops support.
Almost any GPU is supported, but certain features and 3D acceleration might depend on MESA drivers:
 
* Intel: Most Intel chips since approximately 2001 should work with the exception of PowerVR-based chips (such as GMA 500, GMA 600, GMA 3600, GMA 3650)
* ATI/AMD, only Radeon series with exception of recent last two years, Rage r128/mach64 series are unsupported.
* Nvidia: support for Nvidia GPUs is limited since their drivers are proprietary and built for GNU libc. Nouveau drivers are available as free alternative.
* 3DfX, S3 Savage, SiS, VIA, and Matrox are all completely unsupported since kernel 6.3 <small>(Alpine 3.18 was the most recent version that had even the slimmest chances of these devices working)</small>


== Software requirements ==
== Software requirements ==
** Media
** Booting
** Storage
** Firmware


=== Media ===
=== Media ===


'''Means the files need for dump the install media, and later boot from the target install''' machine, of course downloaded from http://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/latest-stable/releases/ or main Download page.
Alpine boot images are provided on [https://alpinelinux.org/downloads/ downloads page] or on a [https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/latest-stable/releases/ mirror]


{| class="wikitable"
The images should be verified as in [[Installation]], to ensure the file wasn't corrupted during transfer.
|-
! Available for !! ISO (for USB, CD/DVD) !! IMG (for Netboot)  !! TAR (for ROOTFS, in tar.gz)
|-
| x86_64 || YES || YES || none
|-
| x86 || YES || YES || none
|-
| ppc64le || NO || YES || YES
|-
| armhf || NO || YES || YES
|-
| armv7 || NO || YES || YES
|-
| aarch64 ||  YES || YES || YES
|-
| ppc64le || YES || YES || none
|-
| s390x || YES || YES || none
|}


=== Booting ===
=== Booting ===


'''Means support for kind of BIOS setup of machine, and where can be media downloaded will be boot''', please for more info check [[Alpine_and_UEFI|Alpine and UEFI]] wiki page.
The following table describes supported firmware types, for more information please check [[Alpine_and_UEFI|Alpine and UEFI]] wiki page.


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! Supported Arch !! Supported bios !! Supported types !! Media boot recomended
! Supported Arch !! Supported firmware !! Supported Types
|-
|-
| x86_64 || Coreboot, Vendor/OEM || BIOS, UEFI || '''USB''', CD/DVD (ISO)
| x86_64 || Coreboot, Vendor/OEM || BIOS, UEFI
|-
|-
| x86 || Coreboot, Vendor/OEM || BIOS, UEFI || '''USB''', CD/DVD (ISO)
| x86 || Coreboot, Vendor/OEM || BIOS, UEFI
|-
|-
| ppc64le || Coreboot, Vendor/OEM || BIOS, UEFI || '''USB''', CD/DVD (ISO)
| ppc64le || Coreboot, Vendor/OEM || UEFI
|-
|-
| armhf || Uboot, Vendor/OEM || BIOS, UEFI || '''NET''', MINIROOTFS (TAR.GZ)
| armhf || Uboot, Vendor/OEM || UEFI
|-
|-
| armv7 || Uboot, Vendor/OEM || BIOS, UEFI || '''NET''', MINIROOTFS (TAR.GZ)
| armv7 || Uboot, Vendor/OEM || UEFI
|-
|-
| aarch64 || ?Coreboot?, Vendor/OEM || BIOS, ?UEFI? || '''USB''', CD/DVD (ISO)
| aarch64 || Vendor/OEM || UEFI
|-
|-
| ppc64le || ?Coreboot?, Vendor/OEM || BIOS, ?UEFI? || '''NET''', MINIROOTFS (TAR.GZ)
| s390x || Vendor/OEM || unknown
|-
| s390x || Vendor/OEM || BIOS, ?UEFI?|| '''USB''', CD/DVD
|}
|}
=== Space ===
{{Draft|Required storage space should be moved to the hardware section and the partitioning seems a bit out of place here.}}
A default installation of Alpine requires at least 1GB of free space. You can see various partition configurations and their sizes on [[Alpine_and_UEFI#Alpine_disk_layout_for_UEFI|Alpine disk layout for UEFI/BIOS at Alpine and UEFI]] wiki page.


= See Also =
= See Also =


# [[Installation]]
* [[Installation]]
# [[Alpine_newbie#Install|Alpine_newbie Install section]]


[[Category:Installation]]
[[Category:Installation]]
[[Category:Hardware]]
__FORCETOC__

Latest revision as of 10:22, 7 July 2024

This page will tell you what requirements you will need to use the Alpine Linux operating system:

Hardware requirements

For installation and usage consider that Alpine can run on several kinds of devices, from personal computers to video game consoles, and as such you must verify the details below:

  • CPU architecture
  • Memory
  • Storage
  • Peripherals

Architectures

CPU architecture is an instruction set design that defines how a processor is used by software. Widely used across desktops and servers are x86 (mostly i686) and x86_64 (also known as amd64). There are other supported computer architectures that are not "x86", like mainframes, servers, and embedded devices (such as routers like Sonicwall and Cisco ones). The table below represents architectures supported by Alpine:

Supported architecture Available since Description
x86_64 all Widely spread AMD64 compatible 64-bit x86 instruction set.
x86 all i686 compatible (or later) CPUs with at least CMOV and SSE2
ppc64le v3.6 For PowerPC devices with pure little-endian mode, mostly for POWER8 and POWER9
armhf v3.0 A 32-bit ARM instruction set with hard-float point extension.
armv7 v3.9 The 32-bit ARM only execution state of the ARMv7 devices machines.
aarch64 v3.5 The 64-bit ARM only execution state of the ARMv8+ device machines..
s390x v3.6 For IBM mainframes, especially IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE servers.
riscv64 v3.20

Memory

This material is work-in-progress ...

Most of these numbers seem to be guessed, if not outright fabricated for non x86* architectures.
(Last edited by WhyNotHugo on 7 Jul 2024.)

Below are shown minimum RAM amounts for various installation types and phases:

Target Arch Minimum RAM to start Minimum RAM to install Minimum RAM for GUI desktop Enough for GUI work
x86_64 128 Megs 320 Megs 512 Megs 8 Gigs
x86 96 Megs 128 Megs 320 Megs 3 Gigs
ppc64le 128 Megs 256 Megs 2 Gigs 8 Gigs
armhf 256 Megs 512 Megs 1 Gigs 6 Gigs
armv7 256 Megs 512 Megs 1 Gigs 6 Gigs
aarch64 256 Megs 512 Megs 2 Gigs 8 Gigs
s390x 128 Megs 256 Megs 2 Gigs N/A

Storage

This means any external or internal storage device that can be added after or before installation to use by the Alpine Linux system.

PATA and SATA hard disk drives are supported, as well as any USB or SD card that can be detected by the Linux during installation.

Peripherals

This means any external or internal device that can be added before or after installation and detected by Alpine Linux. The peripherals that are supported depends on the current version of the Linux kernel.

Almost any GPU is supported, but certain features and 3D acceleration might depend on MESA drivers:

  • Intel: Most Intel chips since approximately 2001 should work with the exception of PowerVR-based chips (such as GMA 500, GMA 600, GMA 3600, GMA 3650)
  • ATI/AMD, only Radeon series with exception of recent last two years, Rage r128/mach64 series are unsupported.
  • Nvidia: support for Nvidia GPUs is limited since their drivers are proprietary and built for GNU libc. Nouveau drivers are available as free alternative.
  • 3DfX, S3 Savage, SiS, VIA, and Matrox are all completely unsupported since kernel 6.3 (Alpine 3.18 was the most recent version that had even the slimmest chances of these devices working)

Software requirements

Media

Alpine boot images are provided on downloads page or on a mirror

The images should be verified as in Installation, to ensure the file wasn't corrupted during transfer.

Booting

The following table describes supported firmware types, for more information please check Alpine and UEFI wiki page.

Supported Arch Supported firmware Supported Types
x86_64 Coreboot, Vendor/OEM BIOS, UEFI
x86 Coreboot, Vendor/OEM BIOS, UEFI
ppc64le Coreboot, Vendor/OEM UEFI
armhf Uboot, Vendor/OEM UEFI
armv7 Uboot, Vendor/OEM UEFI
aarch64 Vendor/OEM UEFI
s390x Vendor/OEM unknown

Space

This material is work-in-progress ...

Required storage space should be moved to the hardware section and the partitioning seems a bit out of place here.
(Last edited by WhyNotHugo on 7 Jul 2024.)

A default installation of Alpine requires at least 1GB of free space. You can see various partition configurations and their sizes on Alpine disk layout for UEFI/BIOS at Alpine and UEFI wiki page.

See Also


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