Install Alpine on Rackspace: Difference between revisions

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{{Draft}}
{{Obsolete|The article needs to be updated to cover a version of alpine with a support level greater than "none".}}
{{Expand|This article is not compatible with posix shell but should be since alpine uses ash by default}}


'''THIS IS A WIP, AND WAS JUST COPIED FROM INSTALLING ALPINE ON EC2'''
== Create a minimal rackspace server ==
Debian 7


512MB, 20GB




== Copy settings from existing server into apkovl ==


The first step is to create Alpine configuration file with basic configuration of the host. We need the new box to start networking and ssh in the beginning so we can reconnect to it after reboot.


Create basic layout for the overlay:
mkdir overlay
cd overlay
mkdir -p etc/ssh etc/network etc/runlevels/{default,boot,sysinit,shutdown} root/.ssh etc/lbu etc/apk


If you want to keep the existing host identity (e.g. SSH key), you can copy them over:


cp -a /etc/{passwd,group,shadow,gshadow,hostname,network/interfaces,ssh} etc/
cp /etc/network/interfaces etc/network
echo "nameserver 8.8.8.8" > etc/resolv.conf


Copy over your ssh authorized_keys and make sure its included in future:
cp -a /root/.ssh/authorized_keys root/.ssh
echo "/root/.ssh" > etc/lbu/include




Edit etc/passwd and change bash to /bin/sh.
sed -i -e '/^root:/s:/bin/bash:/bin/sh:' etc/passwd


{{Note|If you don't do this, nobody (even with physical access) will be able to log into the machine.}}


'''Make sure there is no whitespace at end of lines''' in interfaces file. Busybox ifup is very picky.
sed -i -e 's/ *$//' etc/network/interfaces


The goal here is to have a "1GB" (the smallest possible) EBS 'virtual usb stick' that can boot and run Alpine Linux.  
Create the apk world (/etc/apk/world) with essential packages:
  echo "alpine-base iproute2 openssh bash" > etc/apk/world


= Create an EBS backed Alpine Linux AMI =
(bash is technically not needed, but include it in case you forgot to edit your etc/passwd file correctly)


{{Note|You need to do this process at least once in each availability region.  EBS can't be shared between Ireland and California, for instance.}}
'''Double check the IP configuration and ssh keys.'''


* Create an Amazon instance in the desired availability regionA micro instance is fine - we will need it only long enough to create our EBS usb stick.
Finally, make the essential services start up automatically and create the overlay file:
* Create a new 1GB EBS volume
ln -s /etc/init.d/{hwclock,modules,sysctl,hostname,bootmisc,syslog} etc/runlevels/boot/
* Attach the new volume to the running instance
  ln -s /etc/init.d/{devfs,dmesg,mdev,hwdrivers} etc/runlevels/sysinit/
* The new volume will have a name like /dev/xvdf or such
ln -s /etc/init.d/{networking,sshd} etc/runlevels/default/
* Format the volume as ext4 {{Cmd|mke2fs -t ext4 /dev/xvdf}}  ''Do not partition it - just format the whole volume''
ln -s /etc/init.d/{mount-ro,killprocs,savecache} etc/runlevels/shutdown/
* wget a '''x86_64''' iso and extract it to the new volume. 32bit will not work.  
tar czf ../host.apkovl.tar.gz *
 
Verify the overlay with "tar tzf" to see that it contains everything in proper places, and ensure it is in the / directory
 
tar tzvf ../host.apkovl.tar.gz
cp ../host.apkovl.tar.gz /
 
== Install Alpine cd-rom image to hard disk ==
 
We need to copy over two sets of information: the boot kernel (kernel, initramdisk and boot configuration) and operating system boot data (overlay, apk packages and kernel modules).
 
Download an alpine iso and mount it; for example
  wget https://dl-3.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.2/releases/x86_64/alpine-xen-3.2.2-x86_64.iso
  # We will grab the sha512 sum from another mirror
  wget https://nl.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.2/releases/x86_64/alpine-xen-3.2.2-x86_64.iso.sha512
  sha512sum -c alpine-xen-3.2.2-x86_64.iso.sha512
  mkdir /cdrom
  mount alpine*.iso /cdrom -o loop
 
Copy the contents of cd-rom image to root of current installation, then setup grub:
<pre>
<pre>
wget http://dl-4.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v2.4/releases/x86_64/alpine-2.4.5-x86_64.iso
cp -a /cdrom/* /
mkdir target
mkdir /cache
mkdir source
umount /cdrom
mount /dev/xvdf target
 
mount -o loop alpine-2.4.5-x86_64.iso source
cat - >/boot/grub/grub.cfg <<EOF
cp -av source/boot target
set default="0"
cp -av source/apks target
set timeout="3"
umount source
 
menuentry "Alpine Linux" {
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-grsec root=$(blkid /dev/xvda1 | awk '{ print $2 }' | sed 's/"//g') modules=sd-mod,usb-storage,ext3 quiet
        initrd /boot/initramfs-grsec
}
EOF
</pre>
</pre>
* Create a grub.conf on the new partition.   
 
{{Warning|In Alpine 3.2 and earlier the Xen ISO image does not include opensshFollow these instructions if you want to be able to remotely ssh into your box.}}
 
Download the base iso and copy the apks
<pre>
<pre>
mkdir -p target/boot/grub
wget https://dl-3.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.2/releases/x86_64/alpine-3.2.2-x86_64.iso
cat - >target/boot/grub/grub.conf <<EOF
# We will grab the sha512 sum from another mirror
default=0
wget https://nl.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.2/releases/x86_64/alpine-3.2.2-x86_64.iso.sha512
timeout=3
sha512sum -c alpine-3.2.2-x86_64.iso.sha512
hiddenmenu
mount alpine-3*.iso /cdrom -o loop
cp -a /cdrom/apks/* /apks
</pre>
 
 
Reboot and check that all came back as expected.
 
== Cleanup ==  
 
Once your server comes back, you are good to go.  However, the old Debian system is still on xvda1; and ipv6 is not enabled.  These optional steps will fix that:


title Alpine Linux
Enable ipv6
root (hd0)
kernel /boot/grsec alpine_dev=xvda1:ext4 modules=loop,squashfs,sd-mod,ext4 console=hvc0 pax_nouderef BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/grsec
initrd /boot/grsec.gz
EOF
</pre>
:* Syslinux automatically adds BOOT_IMAGE to the kernel command line; grub does not, so make sure you specify it in the grub.conf
:* You do not need any other grub files - just boot.conf
* symlink the grub.conf to menu.lst
<pre>
<pre>
ln -sf ./grub.conf target/boot/grub/menu.lst
echo "ipv6" >> /etc/modules
modprobe ipv6
</pre>
</pre>
* Create an amazon.apkovl.tar.gz file to put on the target
** This is probably easiest on a local alpine linux instance.  Make sure the following are configured:
*** eth0 uses dhcp
*** networking is set to autostart
*** sshd is installed and set to autostart
*** Your ssh public key is in /root/.ssh/authorized_keys
*** The root password is set to something
*** lbu include root/.ssh
*** (optional) - Delete the /etc/ssh/*key* files, so they are created on the new box
** {{Cmd|lbu package amazon.apkovl.tar.gz}} {{Warning|If you are packaging on a 32bit box, manually delete etc/apk/arch from the apkovl.tar.gz file}}
** Copy amazon.apkovl.tar.gz to target/
* Unmount target
* '''Do the following from the Amazon web interface'''
** Detach the new volume
** Make note of the volume ID
** Launch NEW instance.  Use defaults, amazon linux, micro; we are going to canibalize it in a bit, so defaults are fine here.
** Once the instance starts, ''stop'' but ''do not terminate'' the instance.
** Under EBS, detach the existing volume, and attach the alpine linux volume as /dev/sda1 (note the 1 at the end)
** Restart the instance
* Log in and make sure it works
* Do any final cleanups necessary, and if necessary lbu ci
** Only make configs that are appropriate for an AMI, we are going to snapshot this instance and create an AMI out of it
* Again from the Amazon web interface
** Delete the 8GB volume that is no longer needed
** ''Stop'' but do not terminate the instance
** Right click the stopped instance and choose 'Create Image (EBS AMI)'
*** Image name should be unique for the image - example AlpineLinux-2.4.5
*** Description can be anything - example 'Base AlpineLinux Installation - no services'
* Done.


You can either reboot or restart networking (and re-log in).




Clear out old stuff:
<pre>
mount /media/UUID* -o remount,rw
cd /media/UUID*
rm -rf $( find -type d -maxdepth 1 | grep -v 'apks' | grep -v 'boot' | grep -v 'lost+found' )
# the above command will take a while
rm *.iso
find -type l -exec rm {} \;
rm $( find boot  -maxdepth 1 -type f | grep -v grsec)
# Now we blank out the disk - this will take a long time
dd if=/dev/zero of=foo
rm foo
sync
</pre>
reboot and you should be good to go.


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

Latest revision as of 09:29, 13 January 2024

This material is obsolete ...

The article needs to be updated to cover a version of alpine with a support level greater than "none". (Discuss)

This material needs expanding ...

This article is not compatible with posix shell but should be since alpine uses ash by default

Create a minimal rackspace server

Debian 7

512MB, 20GB


Copy settings from existing server into apkovl

The first step is to create Alpine configuration file with basic configuration of the host. We need the new box to start networking and ssh in the beginning so we can reconnect to it after reboot.

Create basic layout for the overlay:

mkdir overlay
cd overlay
mkdir -p etc/ssh etc/network etc/runlevels/{default,boot,sysinit,shutdown} root/.ssh etc/lbu etc/apk

If you want to keep the existing host identity (e.g. SSH key), you can copy them over:

cp -a /etc/{passwd,group,shadow,gshadow,hostname,network/interfaces,ssh} etc/
cp /etc/network/interfaces etc/network
echo "nameserver 8.8.8.8" > etc/resolv.conf

Copy over your ssh authorized_keys and make sure its included in future:

cp -a /root/.ssh/authorized_keys root/.ssh
echo "/root/.ssh" > etc/lbu/include


Edit etc/passwd and change bash to /bin/sh.

sed -i -e '/^root:/s:/bin/bash:/bin/sh:' etc/passwd
Note: If you don't do this, nobody (even with physical access) will be able to log into the machine.

Make sure there is no whitespace at end of lines in interfaces file. Busybox ifup is very picky.

sed -i -e 's/ *$//' etc/network/interfaces

Create the apk world (/etc/apk/world) with essential packages:

echo "alpine-base iproute2 openssh bash" > etc/apk/world

(bash is technically not needed, but include it in case you forgot to edit your etc/passwd file correctly)

Double check the IP configuration and ssh keys.

Finally, make the essential services start up automatically and create the overlay file:

ln -s /etc/init.d/{hwclock,modules,sysctl,hostname,bootmisc,syslog} etc/runlevels/boot/
ln -s /etc/init.d/{devfs,dmesg,mdev,hwdrivers} etc/runlevels/sysinit/
ln -s /etc/init.d/{networking,sshd} etc/runlevels/default/
ln -s /etc/init.d/{mount-ro,killprocs,savecache} etc/runlevels/shutdown/
tar czf ../host.apkovl.tar.gz *

Verify the overlay with "tar tzf" to see that it contains everything in proper places, and ensure it is in the / directory

tar tzvf ../host.apkovl.tar.gz
cp ../host.apkovl.tar.gz /

Install Alpine cd-rom image to hard disk

We need to copy over two sets of information: the boot kernel (kernel, initramdisk and boot configuration) and operating system boot data (overlay, apk packages and kernel modules).

Download an alpine iso and mount it; for example

 wget https://dl-3.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.2/releases/x86_64/alpine-xen-3.2.2-x86_64.iso
 # We will grab the sha512 sum from another mirror
 wget https://nl.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.2/releases/x86_64/alpine-xen-3.2.2-x86_64.iso.sha512
 sha512sum -c alpine-xen-3.2.2-x86_64.iso.sha512 
 mkdir /cdrom
 mount alpine*.iso /cdrom -o loop

Copy the contents of cd-rom image to root of current installation, then setup grub:

cp -a /cdrom/* /
mkdir /cache
umount /cdrom

cat - >/boot/grub/grub.cfg <<EOF 
set default="0"
set timeout="3"

menuentry "Alpine Linux" {
	insmod gzio
	insmod part_msdos
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
	linux /boot/vmlinuz-grsec root=$(blkid /dev/xvda1 | awk '{ print $2 }' | sed 's/"//g') modules=sd-mod,usb-storage,ext3 quiet
        initrd /boot/initramfs-grsec
}
EOF
Warning: In Alpine 3.2 and earlier the Xen ISO image does not include openssh. Follow these instructions if you want to be able to remotely ssh into your box.


Download the base iso and copy the apks

wget https://dl-3.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.2/releases/x86_64/alpine-3.2.2-x86_64.iso
# We will grab the sha512 sum from another mirror
wget https://nl.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.2/releases/x86_64/alpine-3.2.2-x86_64.iso.sha512
sha512sum -c alpine-3.2.2-x86_64.iso.sha512 
mount alpine-3*.iso /cdrom -o loop
cp -a /cdrom/apks/* /apks


Reboot and check that all came back as expected.

Cleanup

Once your server comes back, you are good to go. However, the old Debian system is still on xvda1; and ipv6 is not enabled. These optional steps will fix that:

Enable ipv6

echo "ipv6" >> /etc/modules
modprobe ipv6

You can either reboot or restart networking (and re-log in).


Clear out old stuff:

mount /media/UUID* -o remount,rw
cd /media/UUID*
rm -rf $( find -type d -maxdepth 1 | grep -v 'apks' | grep -v 'boot' | grep -v 'lost+found' )
# the above command will take a while
rm *.iso
find -type l -exec rm {} \;
rm $( find boot  -maxdepth 1 -type f | grep -v grsec)
# Now we blank out the disk - this will take a long time
dd if=/dev/zero of=foo
rm foo
sync

reboot and you should be good to go.