Installation: Difference between revisions

From Alpine Linux
(→‎Installation Handbook: complete described handbook, due the modes are in the Alpine_newbie_install_manual page)
Line 35: Line 35:
= Installation Handbook =
= Installation Handbook =


Alpine can be booted or not, just use it. Alpine Linux installation process are so flexible that indeed can just boot up inside other broken Linux. '''You believe that every system needs a DVD disc, or a USB to install it?, but Alpine may not even need it''', so much so that it can even boot from its phone memory. Obviously '''the more exquisite the more complicated method'''.  
Alpine can be booted or not, just use it. Alpine Linux installation process are so minimalist, that indeed can just boot up inside other broken Linux. '''You believe that every system needs a DVD disc, or a USB to install it?, but Alpine may not even need it''', so much so that it can even boot from its phone memory. Obviously '''the more exquisite the more complicated method'''.  


A proper setup of your system are need, but if you deploy all of an ecosystems in your own home and job.. in your only machine... you will need a proper guide to setup your main system (or maybe a parallel system?).
== Overview alpine running system ==


As any Linux installation, Alpine start process by booting from an external device (CD/DVD, USB Drive, etc...).
# As any Linux installation, Alpine start process by booting an "install/running medium" from an external device (CD/DVD, USB Drive, etc...). currently supports Storage drives (such like USB, HDD or SSD) or Optical drives (such like CDROM, DVDROM or BD) as runing medium of the operating system as is.
# One booted Alpine Linux are in use or can be used in any of '''three modes respected the install process''':
## [[Alpine_newbie_install_manual#diskless_mode|diskless mode]]: You'll boot from a "install/runing" read-only medium such as the installation CD/DVD, a [[Create a Bootable USB|USB drive]], or a [[Create a Bootable Compact Flash|Compact Flash card]]. This means here a "none" selected device to store data changes to paths.
## [[Alpine_newbie_install_manual#data_mode|data mode]]: As in diskless mode, however, here a writable partition (usually on a hard disk) used to store the data in {{Path|/var}} directly, rather than copied into a tmpfs, between reboots without install to disk from "install/runing" medium.
## [[Alpine_newbie_install_manual#sys_mode|sys mode]]: a traditional hard-disk install; both the boot system and your modifications are written to the hard disk in a standard Linux hierarchy. Commonly used for desktop or servers deploys, automatically will create three partions on your disk for {{Path|/boot}}, {{Path|/}}, and {{Path|swap}}.
# As Alpine uses Linux kernel, start step of collecting information to initialize a minimum system, the <code>[[setup-alpine]]</code> will copy files. This minimun system started before proceed to property install are a [[Alpine_newbie_install_manual#diskless_mode|diskless mode]] started from the "install/running" medium.
# When selected the "sys" mode, the post installation step provides the way to choose the root password, and eventually boot up the new installed system.


As Alpine uses Linux kernel, start step of collecting information to initialize a minimum system, the <code>[[setup-alpine]]</code> will copy files. This minimun system started before proceed to property install are a [[Alpine_newbie_install_manual#diskless_mode|diskless mode]] started from the orig medium.
== Requirements for Alpine ==


The post installation step provides the way to choose the root password, and eventually boot up the new installed system.
* ''A computer machine'': Alpine supports any kind of computers devices.. phones, laptops, desktops, embebed, rasberrys, arduinos, etc, this means support:
** architectures as: i386, amd64, arm, ppc, x390 and any modern or older.
** minimal memory: of 100Mb of RAM are enought for base system, 1G are enoguth for complete heavy desktops.
** optionall storage: such as hard disk or usb disk, only in the "sys" or "data" mode


=== Overview of run modes for Alpine system ===
== Media source to install and/or run ==


Alpine can be used in any of '''three modes respected the install process''':
Those source "install/runnin" medium are downloaded from https://alpinelinux.org/downloads/; named "images", all the images will need network internet connection present adn available except the iamge named `extended` due comes with minimal need packages but are x86/x64 based only.


== diskless mode ==
To use those media files, must be dumped in a USB or burned into a CD/DVD, are "iso hybrid" that means can be just copied as "cd media.iso /dev/sdb", please check [[Create a Bootable USB|USB drive]], or a [[Create a Bootable Compact Flash|Compact Flash card]] for details.


You'll boot from a read-only medium such as the installation CD, a [[Create a Bootable USB|USB drive]], or a [[Create a Bootable Compact Flash|Compact Flash card]]. {{Tip| To prepare either a USB or Compact Flash card, you can use the <code>[[setup-bootable]]</code> script; see the pages linked above for details.}} When you use Alpine in this mode, you need to use [[Alpine local backup|Alpine Local Backup (lbu)]] to save your modifications between reboots. That requires some writable medium, usually removable. If your boot medium is, for example, a USB drive, you can save modifications there; you don't need a separate partition or drive. See also [[Local APK cache]].
== Botting the media source ==
{{Note| When the <code>[[setup-alpine]]</code> script asks for a disk, say "none". It will then prompt whether you'd like to preserve modifications on any writable medium.}}


== data mode ==
After flash the USB media or burn a CDROM media, put the media source on respective drive bay of the computer and turn on the computer.


As in diskless mode, your OS is run from a read-only medium. However, here a writable partition (usually on a hard disk) is used to store the data in {{Path|/var}}. That partition is accessed directly, rather than copied into a tmpfs; so this is better-suited to uses where large amounts of data need to be preserved between reboots. {{Note| The <code>[[setup-alpine]]</code> script handles installing Alpine in this mode, too, when you supply a writable partition instead of "none", and request mode "data".}} This mode may be used for mailspools, database and log servers, and so on.
Select proper boot media, this depends on each computer device; by example on DELL's computers almost always are the `F12` key, press at the boot screen and when menu shows select the proper media, on the VirtualBox software are same `F12` key too, by hitting that key a boot selection media will be displayed, boot screen depends on each computer.


== sys mode ==
This document makes no sense which media was used after this step, rest of the document are same for all cases.


This is a [[Install to disk|traditional hard-disk install]] (see link for details). <!-- includes [[Installing Alpine on HDD overwriting everything]] --> Both the boot system and your modifications are written to the hard disk in a standard Linux hierarchy. {{Note| The <code>[[setup-alpine]]</code> script handles installing Alpine in this mode, too, when you supply a writable partition instead of "none", and request mode "sys". By default, it will create three partions on your disk for {{Path|/boot}}, {{Path|/}}, and {{Path|swap}}; however you can also [[Setting up disks manually|partition your disk manually]].
{{Note| This document assumes you will whipe out all the hard disk of your computer to complete use Alpine as the only and the main operating system, if you want more detailed cases see the wiki page [[Alpine_newbie_install_manual]].}}
}} This mode may be used for [[Desktops|desktops]], development boxes, and virtual servers.
 
    <!-- [[Native Harddisk Install 1.6]] Obsolete -->
== Configure and run the install process ==
 
More easy than you think, will just run as any other linux, and ask for a login screen, just input "root" and then a console prompt will be show. Here just type and run the following commands to fast install automaticall on ALL the hard disk of your computer device:
 
<pre><nowiki>
export BOOTLOADER=grub
 
setup-alpine -f /root/autofile
</nowiki></pre>
 
A few questions will be made, be care of questions and root password questions in the
process due will be used later and must be mandatory.
* Keyboard map, such like ''us'' and variant of ''us-nodeadkeys'' for Canada or ''es'' and variant of ''es-winkeys'' for spanish speaker users and latinamerican people.
* Hostname: just push enter, it's the human computer name.
* Network options: will as the method to grap the internet connection in wired cases, just enter the suggested values, an network internet connection present are required in most cases.
* DNS options: recommended to use 8.8.8.8 and none for search domain
* Timezone options: just use the default values suggested.
* Proxy options: use "none" if you connect directly to the internet; this are a special filed that permits use the "proxy service" of your network, as to your admins.
* SSH options: use openssh the default that comes with media.
* NTP options: use chrony the default that comes with media.
* Mode: select "sys" to install as described prevously.
* Disk options: the destinartion media to install, as we assumed are only one disk in the computer device, use "sda".
 
After a while, process start and will format the hard disk device, this will make the disk layout as:
 
* `/dev/sda1` como BOOT en 500Mb en `/boot`
* `/dev/sda2` como SWAP en 4Gb
* `/dev/sda3` como ROOT en 200Gb en `/`
 
And then will copy files to your hard disk device, after a while the system will be installed adn can be booted by removing the boot media where was installed.


= Further Documentation =
= Further Documentation =

Revision as of 14:13, 28 January 2020

The following information will assist you with the installation of Alpine Linux.


Installation Quick-Start in 3 Easy Steps

1st

Download one of the latest stable-release ISOs. Then compare the image's checksum to the one in the corresponding checksum file (*.sha256) and verify its GPG signature.


2nd

If you have a CD drive from which you can boot, then burn the ISO onto a blank CD using your favorite CD burning software. Else create a bootable USB drive.


3rd

Boot from the CD or USB drive, login as root with no password, and voilà! Enjoy Alpine Linux!


Now Alpine are complete running from the media source, you can install it by running the setup-alpine command.

Before runs setup-alpine there's many ways and use cases in the Alpine install manual for beginners

Installation Handbook

Alpine can be booted or not, just use it. Alpine Linux installation process are so minimalist, that indeed can just boot up inside other broken Linux. You believe that every system needs a DVD disc, or a USB to install it?, but Alpine may not even need it, so much so that it can even boot from its phone memory. Obviously the more exquisite the more complicated method.

Overview alpine running system

  1. As any Linux installation, Alpine start process by booting an "install/running medium" from an external device (CD/DVD, USB Drive, etc...). currently supports Storage drives (such like USB, HDD or SSD) or Optical drives (such like CDROM, DVDROM or BD) as runing medium of the operating system as is.
  2. One booted Alpine Linux are in use or can be used in any of three modes respected the install process:
    1. diskless mode: You'll boot from a "install/runing" read-only medium such as the installation CD/DVD, a USB drive, or a Compact Flash card. This means here a "none" selected device to store data changes to paths.
    2. data mode: As in diskless mode, however, here a writable partition (usually on a hard disk) used to store the data in /var directly, rather than copied into a tmpfs, between reboots without install to disk from "install/runing" medium.
    3. sys mode: a traditional hard-disk install; both the boot system and your modifications are written to the hard disk in a standard Linux hierarchy. Commonly used for desktop or servers deploys, automatically will create three partions on your disk for /boot, /, and swap.
  3. As Alpine uses Linux kernel, start step of collecting information to initialize a minimum system, the setup-alpine will copy files. This minimun system started before proceed to property install are a diskless mode started from the "install/running" medium.
  4. When selected the "sys" mode, the post installation step provides the way to choose the root password, and eventually boot up the new installed system.

Requirements for Alpine

  • A computer machine: Alpine supports any kind of computers devices.. phones, laptops, desktops, embebed, rasberrys, arduinos, etc, this means support:
    • architectures as: i386, amd64, arm, ppc, x390 and any modern or older.
    • minimal memory: of 100Mb of RAM are enought for base system, 1G are enoguth for complete heavy desktops.
    • optionall storage: such as hard disk or usb disk, only in the "sys" or "data" mode

Media source to install and/or run

Those source "install/runnin" medium are downloaded from https://alpinelinux.org/downloads/; named "images", all the images will need network internet connection present adn available except the iamge named `extended` due comes with minimal need packages but are x86/x64 based only.

To use those media files, must be dumped in a USB or burned into a CD/DVD, are "iso hybrid" that means can be just copied as "cd media.iso /dev/sdb", please check USB drive, or a Compact Flash card for details.

Botting the media source

After flash the USB media or burn a CDROM media, put the media source on respective drive bay of the computer and turn on the computer.

Select proper boot media, this depends on each computer device; by example on DELL's computers almost always are the `F12` key, press at the boot screen and when menu shows select the proper media, on the VirtualBox software are same `F12` key too, by hitting that key a boot selection media will be displayed, boot screen depends on each computer.

This document makes no sense which media was used after this step, rest of the document are same for all cases.

Note: This document assumes you will whipe out all the hard disk of your computer to complete use Alpine as the only and the main operating system, if you want more detailed cases see the wiki page Alpine_newbie_install_manual.

Configure and run the install process

More easy than you think, will just run as any other linux, and ask for a login screen, just input "root" and then a console prompt will be show. Here just type and run the following commands to fast install automaticall on ALL the hard disk of your computer device:

export BOOTLOADER=grub

setup-alpine -f /root/autofile

A few questions will be made, be care of questions and root password questions in the process due will be used later and must be mandatory.

  • Keyboard map, such like us and variant of us-nodeadkeys for Canada or es and variant of es-winkeys for spanish speaker users and latinamerican people.
  • Hostname: just push enter, it's the human computer name.
  • Network options: will as the method to grap the internet connection in wired cases, just enter the suggested values, an network internet connection present are required in most cases.
  • DNS options: recommended to use 8.8.8.8 and none for search domain
  • Timezone options: just use the default values suggested.
  • Proxy options: use "none" if you connect directly to the internet; this are a special filed that permits use the "proxy service" of your network, as to your admins.
  • SSH options: use openssh the default that comes with media.
  • NTP options: use chrony the default that comes with media.
  • Mode: select "sys" to install as described prevously.
  • Disk options: the destinartion media to install, as we assumed are only one disk in the computer device, use "sda".

After a while, process start and will format the hard disk device, this will make the disk layout as:

  • `/dev/sda1` como BOOT en 500Mb en `/boot`
  • `/dev/sda2` como SWAP en 4Gb
  • `/dev/sda3` como ROOT en 200Gb en `/`

And then will copy files to your hard disk device, after a while the system will be installed adn can be booted by removing the boot media where was installed.

Further Documentation

Post-Install

Further Help and Information

See Also

  1. Newbie_Alpine_Ecosystem
  2. Alpine newbie install manual