How to enable APK caching

Enabling Package Caching

Note: This document applies to Alpine 1.9 and later versions only

Package caching is useful when the need arises to upgrade packages on read-only media. Package caching allows you to store newer packages in a location on writable media, which Alpine checks for when loading packages on start-up.

This can be enabled either from the console or through the ACF.

Tip: For package upgrades, it is useful to point Alpine Package Manager to repositories on the internet, to easily obtain package upgrades when they become available.

Edit the /etc/apk/repositories file using any editor of your choice (nano for instance).

Contents of /etc/apk/repositories

http://dl-3.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.20/main http://dl-3.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.20/community

In the above file, to upgrade Alpine Linux from version 3.20 to 3.21, simply replace the number 3.20 by 3.21 in all the places:

Contents of /etc/apk/repositories

http://dl-3.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.21/main http://dl-3.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.21/community

Enable caching from the console

Substitute 'sda1' in the example below for the actual device you will use to store the caching directory.

First upgrade apk-tools:

apk add –u apk-tools

Now enable package caching:

mkdir –p /media/sda1/cache
ln –s /media/sda1/cache /etc/apk/cache

From the ACF

Browse to System > Packages > Cache

Edit Cache Settings:

Tick Enable Cache

Specify the Cache Directory, for example:

/media/sda1/cache

Click Save