Include:Copying Alpine to Flash: Difference between revisions

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#* This step may require changes to the BIOS settings to select booting from CD.  
#* This step may require changes to the BIOS settings to select booting from CD.  
# Login with the username ''root''. No password is needed.
# Login with the username ''root''. No password is needed.
{{Tip|If you're not able to boot from the CD, then another option is to boot from a regular Alpine installation, and [[Burning_ISOs|manually mount the ISO image to {{Path|/media/cdrom}}]].}}


=== Determine the Device Name of the {{{1|Flash Medium}}} ===
=== Determine the Device Name of the {{{1|Flash Medium}}} ===
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#* At the end of this command you should see the name of your {{{1|flash medium}}}, likely starting with "sd". (For example: "sda").
#* At the end of this command you should see the name of your {{{1|flash medium}}}, likely starting with "sd". (For example: "sda").
#* The remainder of this document will assume that your {{{1|flash medium}}} is called /dev/sda
#* The remainder of this document will assume that your {{{1|flash medium}}} is called /dev/sda
 
# Use "fdisk -l" or "blkid" to check the device name by size or label
{{Warning|Be very careful about this. You do not want to mistakenly wipe your hard drive if it's on /dev/sda}}


=== Format {{{1|Flash Medium}}} ===
=== Format {{{1|Flash Medium}}} ===
Run fdisk (replacing sda with your {{{1|flash medium}}} name):
Run fdisk (replacing sdX with your {{{1|flash medium}}} name):
{{Cmd|fdisk /dev/sda}}
{{Cmd|fdisk /dev/sdX}}


# (''Optional'') - Create new partition table with one FAT32 partition
# (''Optional'') - Create new partition table with one FAT32 partition
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#** '''1''' Partition number 1
#** '''1''' Partition number 1
#'''w''' Write your changes to the device
#'''w''' Write your changes to the device
Format the new partition with:
{{Cmd|mkfs.vfat /dev/sdX1}}


=== Add Alpine Linux to the {{{1|Flash Medium}}}  ===
=== Add Alpine Linux to the {{{1|Flash Medium}}}  ===
To boot from your {{{1|flash medium}}} you need to copy the contents of the CDROM to the {{{1|flash medium}}} and make it bootable. Those two operations can be automated with the [[setup-bootable]] tool or can be done manually.
To boot from your {{{1|flash medium}}} you need to copy the contents of the CDROM to the {{{1|flash medium}}} and make it bootable. Those two operations can be automated with the [[setup-bootable]] tool or can be done manually.
See also notes to [http://it-offshore.co.uk/linux/alpine-linux/48-alpine-linux-usb-stick-kvm create an Alpine Linux USB stick from within KVM] with [[setup-bootable]].


{{Note|If the following commands fail due to 'No such file or directory', you may have to remove and reinsert the {{{1|flash medium}}}, or even reboot, to get /dev/sda1 to appear}}
{{Note|If the following commands fail due to 'No such file or directory', you may have to remove and reinsert the {{{1|flash medium}}}, or even reboot, to get /dev/sda1 to appear}}
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==== Automated ====
==== Automated ====
{{Tip|If using Alpine Linux 1.10.4 or newer, you can use this section to complete the install. Otherwise, follow the Manual steps below.}}
{{Tip|If using Alpine Linux 1.10.4 or newer, you can use this section to complete the install. Otherwise, follow the Manual steps below.}}
{{Note|The target partition has to be formatted. Use the <code>mkdosfs</code> command from the Manual steps below if needed.}}
# Run the [[setup-alpine]] script to setup network(Alpine Linux 3.3 not contain syslinux), answer the last three questions as 'none'
## Which disk(s) would you like to use: none
## Enter where to store configs: none
## Enter apk cache directory: none
# Run "apk add syslinux" to install syslinux package
# Run "modprobe vfat" to load vfat kernel module
# Run the [[setup-bootable]] script to add Alpine Linux to the {{{1|flash medium}}} and make it bootable (replacing sda with your {{{1|flash medium}}} name):
# Run the [[setup-bootable]] script to add Alpine Linux to the {{{1|flash medium}}} and make it bootable (replacing sda with your {{{1|flash medium}}} name):
#: {{Cmd|setup-bootable /media/cdrom /dev/sda1}}
#: {{Cmd|setup-bootable /media/cdrom /dev/sda1}}
{{Note|The target partition has to be formatted. Use the <code>mkdosfs</code> command from the Manual steps below if needed.}}
## if "Resource busy" occurs, maybe the old files on /media/sda1, "rm /media/sda1/.alpine-release" and "reboot" to try again.
{{Warning|If you are installing to a USB Stick, the <code>setup-bootable</code> script will not use <code>usbdisk</code> in the {{Path|syslinux.cfg}} file. You should modify it to say <code>usbdisk</code> as [[#Wrong_Device_Name|described below]], or you will face possible problems booting and definite problems with the package cache.}}
{{Note|If you get something like '<code>Failed to mount /dev/sda1 on /media/sda1</code>' when running the above [[setup-bootable]] command, you might want to try running:
{{Cmd|modprobe vfat}}
and then try re-run the [[setup-bootable]] command as described above.}}
{{Warning|If you are installing to a USB Stick, you may need to modify the {{Path|syslinux.cfg}} file to say <code>usbdisk</code> as [[#Wrong_Device_Name|described below]], or you will face possible problems booting and definite problems with the package cache. Recent versions of <code>setup-bootable</code> will specify the alpine_dev using a UUID instead, so it should work properly by default.}}


==== Manual ====
==== Manual ====
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cd /media/cdrom
cd /media/cdrom
cp -a .alpine-release * /media/sda1/
cp -a .alpine-release * /media/sda1/
umount /media/sda1</nowiki>}}
# (''Optional'') Remove any apkovl files that were transfered as part of the copy process.  This should be done if you wish to have a fresh install.  Replace sda with your {{{1|flash medium}}} name)
#: {{Cmd|<nowiki>mount -t vfat /dev/sda1 /media/sda1
rm /media/sda1/*.apkovl.tar.gz
umount /media/sda1</nowiki>}}
umount /media/sda1</nowiki>}}


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  Mounting boot media failed.
  Mounting boot media failed.
  initramfs emergency recovery shell launched. Type 'exit' to continue boot
  initramfs emergency recovery shell launched. Type 'exit' to continue boot
then it is likely that the device name in syslinux.cfg is wrong. You should replace the device name in the syslinux.cfg line:
then it is likely that the device name in {{Path|syslinux.cfg}} is wrong. You should replace the device name in this line:
  append initrd=/boot/grsec.gz alpine_dev='''usbdisk''':vfat modules=loop,cramfs,sd-mod,usb-storage quiet
  append initrd=/boot/grsec.gz alpine_dev='''usbdisk''':vfat modules=loop,cramfs,sd-mod,usb-storage quiet
with the proper device name.
with the proper device name.
* For boot from USB, the device name should be 'usbdisk' (as shown above)
* For boot from USB, the device name should be 'usbdisk' (as shown above)
* For other options, you can run '''cat /proc/partitions''' to see the available disks (i.e. 'sda' or 'sdb')
* For other options, you can run <code>cat /proc/partitions</code> to see the available disks (i.e. 'sda' or 'sdb')


=== Non-FAT32 Filesystems ===
=== Non-FAT32 Filesystems ===
When your {{{1|flash medium}}} is formatted with a filesystem other than FAT32, you might have to specify the necessary filesystem modules in the boot parameters.
When your {{{1|flash medium}}} is formatted with a filesystem other than FAT32, you might have to specify the necessary filesystem modules in the boot parameters.


To do so, mount the {{{1|flash medium}}} and change the syslinux.cfg file line from  
To do so, mount the {{{1|flash medium}}} and change the {{Path|syslinux.cfg}} file line from  
  append initrd=/boot/grsec.gz alpine_dev=usbdisk:vfat modules=loop,cramfs,sd-mod,usb-storage quiet
  append initrd=/boot/grsec.gz alpine_dev=usbdisk:vfat modules=loop,cramfs,sd-mod,usb-storage quiet
to
to
  append initrd=/boot/grsec.gz alpine_dev=usbdisk:vfat modules=loop,cramfs,sd-mod,usb-storage''',ext3''' quiet
  append initrd=/boot/grsec.gz alpine_dev=usbdisk:'''ext3''' modules=loop,cramfs,sd-mod,usb-storage''',ext3''' quiet
in the case of an ext3 formatted partition. A similar procedure might apply to other filesystems (if they are supported by syslinux and the Alpine Linux kernel).
in the case of an ext3 formatted partition. A similar procedure might apply to other filesystems (if they are supported by syslinux and the Alpine Linux kernel).
[[Category:Installation]]

Revision as of 12:50, 16 March 2020

Boot Alpine Linux CD-ROM

  1. Insert the Alpine Linux CD-ROM into a computer.
  2. Boot the computer from the Alpine Linux CD-ROM.
    • This step may require changes to the BIOS settings to select booting from CD.
  3. Login with the username root. No password is needed.
Tip: If you're not able to boot from the CD, then another option is to boot from a regular Alpine installation, and manually mount the ISO image to /media/cdrom.

Determine the Device Name of the Flash Medium

Determine the name your computer uses for your flash medium. The following step is one way to do this.

  1. After inserting the flash medium, run the command:
    • dmesg

    • At the end of this command you should see the name of your flash medium, likely starting with "sd". (For example: "sda").
    • The remainder of this document will assume that your flash medium is called /dev/sda
  2. Use "fdisk -l" or "blkid" to check the device name by size or label

Format Flash Medium

Run fdisk (replacing sdX with your flash medium name):

fdisk /dev/sdX

  1. (Optional) - Create new partition table with one FAT32 partition
    • d Delete all partitions (this may take a few steps)
    • n Create a new partition
    • p A primary partition
    • 1 Partition number 1
      • Use defaults for first and last cylinder (just press [Enter] twice).
    • t Change partition type
    • c Partition type (Win95 FAT32/LBA)
  2. Verify that the primary partition is bootable
    • p Print list of partitions
    • If there is no '*' next to the first partition, follow the next steps:
      • a Make the partition bootable (set boot flag)
      • 1 Partition number 1
  3. w Write your changes to the device

Format the new partition with:

mkfs.vfat /dev/sdX1

Add Alpine Linux to the Flash Medium

To boot from your flash medium you need to copy the contents of the CDROM to the flash medium and make it bootable. Those two operations can be automated with the setup-bootable tool or can be done manually.

See also notes to create an Alpine Linux USB stick from within KVM with setup-bootable.

Note: If the following commands fail due to 'No such file or directory', you may have to remove and reinsert the flash medium, or even reboot, to get /dev/sda1 to appear

Automated

Tip: If using Alpine Linux 1.10.4 or newer, you can use this section to complete the install. Otherwise, follow the Manual steps below.
Note: The target partition has to be formatted. Use the mkdosfs command from the Manual steps below if needed.
  1. Run the setup-alpine script to setup network(Alpine Linux 3.3 not contain syslinux), answer the last three questions as 'none'
    1. Which disk(s) would you like to use: none
    2. Enter where to store configs: none
    3. Enter apk cache directory: none
  2. Run "apk add syslinux" to install syslinux package
  3. Run "modprobe vfat" to load vfat kernel module
  4. Run the setup-bootable script to add Alpine Linux to the flash medium and make it bootable (replacing sda with your flash medium name):

    setup-bootable /media/cdrom /dev/sda1

    1. if "Resource busy" occurs, maybe the old files on /media/sda1, "rm /media/sda1/.alpine-release" and "reboot" to try again.
Note: If you get something like 'Failed to mount /dev/sda1 on /media/sda1' when running the above setup-bootable command, you might want to try running:

modprobe vfat

and then try re-run the setup-bootable command as described above.
Warning: If you are installing to a USB Stick, you may need to modify the syslinux.cfg file to say usbdisk as described below, or you will face possible problems booting and definite problems with the package cache. Recent versions of setup-bootable will specify the alpine_dev using a UUID instead, so it should work properly by default.


Manual

  1. (Optional) - If you created a new partition above, format the flash medium with a FAT32 filesystem (replacing sda with your flash medium name):

    apk add dosfstools
    mkdosfs -F32 /dev/sda1

  2. Install syslinux and MBR (replacing sda with your flash medium name):

    apk add syslinux
    dd if=/usr/share/syslinux/mbr.bin of=/dev/sda
    syslinux /dev/sda1

  3. Copy the files to the flash medium (replacing sda with your flash medium name):

    mkdir -p /media/sda1 mount -t vfat /dev/sda1 /media/sda1 cd /media/cdrom cp -a .alpine-release * /media/sda1/ umount /media/sda1

  4. (Optional) Remove any apkovl files that were transfered as part of the copy process. This should be done if you wish to have a fresh install. Replace sda with your flash medium name)

    mount -t vfat /dev/sda1 /media/sda1 rm /media/sda1/*.apkovl.tar.gz umount /media/sda1

Troubleshooting

Wrong Device Name

If you cannot boot from the flash medium and you see something like:

Mounting boot media failed.
initramfs emergency recovery shell launched. Type 'exit' to continue boot

then it is likely that the device name in syslinux.cfg is wrong. You should replace the device name in this line:

append initrd=/boot/grsec.gz alpine_dev=usbdisk:vfat modules=loop,cramfs,sd-mod,usb-storage quiet

with the proper device name.

  • For boot from USB, the device name should be 'usbdisk' (as shown above)
  • For other options, you can run cat /proc/partitions to see the available disks (i.e. 'sda' or 'sdb')

Non-FAT32 Filesystems

When your flash medium is formatted with a filesystem other than FAT32, you might have to specify the necessary filesystem modules in the boot parameters.

To do so, mount the flash medium and change the syslinux.cfg file line from

append initrd=/boot/grsec.gz alpine_dev=usbdisk:vfat modules=loop,cramfs,sd-mod,usb-storage quiet

to

append initrd=/boot/grsec.gz alpine_dev=usbdisk:ext3 modules=loop,cramfs,sd-mod,usb-storage,ext3 quiet

in the case of an ext3 formatted partition. A similar procedure might apply to other filesystems (if they are supported by syslinux and the Alpine Linux kernel).