Local APK cache: Difference between revisions

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'''This page seems to be a redundant copy, taken out of context from https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/Alpine_Linux_package_management#Local_Cache'''
<!-- NOTE This page ([[Local_APK_cache]]) also gets included at [[Alpine_Linux_package_management#Local_Cache]] to avoid duplication. -->


'''Please check to fully including this, and avoid/remove the redundant duplication [[Local_APK_cache]].'''
=== Overview ===


To have the packages available during boot, apk can keep a cache of installed packages on a local disk. 


----
Added packages can then be automatically (re-)installed from local media into RAM when booting, without requiring, and even before there is a network connection.


Alpine Linux needs to be able to pull packages from local media on boot. (You can't download packages from the net before you have a network connection.)  Using remote repositories presents a problem.  If the config files have been modified for a newer version of a package, and the older package is on local media, all sorts of fun can result.
The cache can be stored on any writable media, or at the same location as the .apkovl file from the [[Alpine_local_backup| local backup utility <code>lbu</code>]].


The solution is a local cache of updated packages.  This cache can be stored on any r/w media, typically the same location as the apkovl.


= Enabling Local Cache =
=== Enabling Local Cache with current releases ===
The cache is enabled by creating a symlink named ''/etc/apk/cache'' that points to the cache directory. Note that ''apk'' will ignore any cache residing on a ''tmpfs'' volume. If you want this for some reason, see section below on tmpfs caches.


To enable local cache run: {{Cmd|setup-apkcache}}
Execute the script {{Cmd|setup-apkcache}} and it will assist in enabling a local cache.


== To enable Local Cache on releases prior v2.3 ==
The script creates a symlink named ''/etc/apk/cache'' that points to the cache directory.
Alpine Linux version prior to v2.3 does not have the ''setup-apkcache'' tool so the symlink needs to be set up manually.


== To manually enable Local Cache on HDD install ==
If you've installed Alpine to your hard drive (as 'sys'), then create a cache dir and then an ''/etc/apk/cache'' symlink pointing to that dir:
{{Cmd|mkdir -p /var/cache/apk
ln -s /var/cache/apk /etc/apk/cache}}


You normally don't need apk cache on HDD 'sys' installs but it might be handy if you re-install from net to have the packages cached.
=== Cache maintenance ===


== To manually enable Local Cache on run-from-RAM installs ==
==== Removing older packages ====
# Create a '''cache''' directory on the device you store your lbu backups (typically, <code>/dev/sda1</code>.)  {{Cmd| mkdir /media/sda1/cache }}
{{Tip|If you get an error that says "mkdir: can't create directory '/media/usbdisk/cache': Read-only file system", then you probably need to remount your disk read-write temporarily.  Try {{Cmd|mount -o remount,rw /media/sda1}} and then don't forget to run {{Cmd|mount -o remount,ro /media/sda1}} when you are done with the following commands}}
# Create a symlink to this directory from <code>/etc/apk/cache</code>.  {{Cmd|ln -s /media/sda1/cache /etc/apk/cache}}
# Run an lbu commit to save the change (<code>/etc/apk/cache</code> is in <code>/etc</code> and is automatically backed up.) {{Cmd|lbu commit}}
# Done.  Now whenever you run an apk command that pulls a new package from a remote repository, the package is stored on your local media.  On startup, Alpine Linux will check the local cache for new packages, and will install them if available.


= Cache maintenance =
When newer packages are added to the cache over time, the older versions of the packages default to remain in the cache directory.   
Over time, newer packages will replace older ones; the cache directory will contain all older versions of packages.   


== Delete old packages ==
The older versions of packages can be removed with the '''clean''' command.  {{cmd|apk cache clean}} Or to see what is deleted include the verbose switch: {{cmd|apk -v cache clean}}
To clean out older versions of packages, run the '''clean''' command.  {{cmd|apk cache clean}} or to see what is deleted {{cmd|apk -v cache clean}}


== Download missing packages ==
==== Download missing packages ====
If you accidentally delete packages from the cache directory, you can make sure they are there with the '''download''' command, {{cmd|apk cache download}}
If you accidentally delete packages from the cache directory, you can make sure they are there with the '''download''' command, {{cmd|apk cache download}}


== Delete and download in one step ==
==== Delete and download in one step ====
You can combine the two steps into one with the '''sync''' command - this cleans out old packages and downloads missing packages. {{cmd|apk cache -v sync}}
You can combine the two steps into one with the '''sync''' command - this cleans out old packages and downloads missing packages. {{cmd|apk cache -v sync}}


== Automatically Cleaning Cache on Reboot ==
==== Automatically Cleaning Cache on Reboot ====
To automatically attempt to validate your cache on reboot, you can add the above command to a {{Path|/etc/local.d/*.stop}} file:
To automatically attempt to validate your cache on reboot, you can add the above command to a {{Path|/etc/local.d/*.stop}} file:


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= Using the Local Cache with tmpfs volumes =
 
 
=== Special Caching Configurations ===
 
==== Enabling Local Cache on HDD installs ====
 
Note that HDD 'sys' installs don't need an apk cache to maintain their state, it allows to serve packages over the network, though, e.g. to get installed by other local machines.
 
Manually create a cache dir and then symlink it to ''/etc/apk/cache'':
{{Cmd|mkdir -p /var/cache/apk
ln -s /var/cache/apk /etc/apk/cache}}
 
==== Local Cache on tmpfs volumes ====
 
In some circumstances it might be useful to have the cache reside on tmpfs, for example if you only wish for it to last as long as the system is up.
In some circumstances it might be useful to have the cache reside on tmpfs, for example if you only wish for it to last as long as the system is up.


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* apk update
* apk update


As per usual, if you want to download currently installed packages into the cache, use ''apk cache sync''.
As usual, if you want to download currently installed packages into the cache, use ''apk cache sync''.
 
 
==== Manually Enabling Local Cache (required for releases prior to v2.3) ====
 
# Create a '''cache''' directory on the storage device where you keep the lbu backups (typically, <code>/dev/sda1</code>.)  {{Cmd| mkdir /media/sda1/cache }}
{{Tip|If you get an error that says "mkdir: can't create directory '/media/usbdisk/cache': Read-only file system", then you probably need to remount your disk read-write temporarily.  Try {{Cmd|mount -o remount,rw /media/sda1}} and then don't forget to run {{Cmd|mount -o remount,ro /media/sda1}} when you are done with the following commands}}
# Create a symlink to this directory from <code>/etc/apk/cache</code>.  {{Cmd|ln -s /media/sda1/cache /etc/apk/cache}}
# Run an lbu commit to save the change (<code>/etc/apk/cache</code> is in <code>/etc</code> and is automatically backed up.) {{Cmd|lbu commit}}
{{Tip|If you needed to remount your disk read-write before, run {{Cmd|mount -o remount,ro /media/sda1}} now that you are done with saving the changes}}
 
Now whenever you run an apk command that pulls a new package from a remote repository, the package is stored on your local media.  On startup, Alpine Linux will check the local cache for new packages, and will install them if available.
 
 




[[Category:Package Manager]]




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Click '''Save'''
Click '''Save'''
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[[Category:Package Manager]]

Revision as of 14:49, 12 May 2021


Overview

To have the packages available during boot, apk can keep a cache of installed packages on a local disk.

Added packages can then be automatically (re-)installed from local media into RAM when booting, without requiring, and even before there is a network connection.

The cache can be stored on any writable media, or at the same location as the .apkovl file from the local backup utility lbu.


Enabling Local Cache with current releases

Execute the script

setup-apkcache

and it will assist in enabling a local cache.

The script creates a symlink named /etc/apk/cache that points to the cache directory.


Cache maintenance

Removing older packages

When newer packages are added to the cache over time, the older versions of the packages default to remain in the cache directory.

The older versions of packages can be removed with the clean command.

apk cache clean

Or to see what is deleted include the verbose switch:

apk -v cache clean

Download missing packages

If you accidentally delete packages from the cache directory, you can make sure they are there with the download command,

apk cache download

Delete and download in one step

You can combine the two steps into one with the sync command - this cleans out old packages and downloads missing packages.

apk cache -v sync

Automatically Cleaning Cache on Reboot

To automatically attempt to validate your cache on reboot, you can add the above command to a /etc/local.d/*.stop file:

Contents of /etc/local.d/cache.stop

#!/bin/sh # verify the local cache on shutdown apk cache -v sync # We should always return 0 return 0
Tip: Usually the only time you need to reboot is when things have gone horribly wrong; so this is a "best effort" to cover forgetting to sync the cache; It is much better to run sync immediately after adding or upgrading packages.
Note: Custom shutdown commands were formerly added to a /etc/conf.d/local; but that method is now deprecated.



Special Caching Configurations

Enabling Local Cache on HDD installs

Note that HDD 'sys' installs don't need an apk cache to maintain their state, it allows to serve packages over the network, though, e.g. to get installed by other local machines.

Manually create a cache dir and then symlink it to /etc/apk/cache:

mkdir -p /var/cache/apk ln -s /var/cache/apk /etc/apk/cache

Local Cache on tmpfs volumes

In some circumstances it might be useful to have the cache reside on tmpfs, for example if you only wish for it to last as long as the system is up.

NOTE: apk is coded to ignore tmpfs caches, and this is correct behaviour in most instances. Using tmpfs as a package cache can consume large amounts of system memory if you install a lot of packages, possibly resulting in a crashed system. You can limit this by restricting the size of your cache to a small number (128M in the example below).

To do it, you need to create an image inside which your cache can live. We do this by creating an image file, formatting it with ext2, and mounting it at /etc/apk/cache.

  • apk add e2fsprogs
  • dd if=/dev/zero of=/apkcache.img bs=1M count=128
  • mkfs.ext2 -F /apkcache.img
  • mkdir -p /etc/apk/cache
  • mount -t ext2 /apkcache.img /etc/apk/cache
  • apk update

As usual, if you want to download currently installed packages into the cache, use apk cache sync.


Manually Enabling Local Cache (required for releases prior to v2.3)

  1. Create a cache directory on the storage device where you keep the lbu backups (typically, /dev/sda1.)

    mkdir /media/sda1/cache

Tip: If you get an error that says "mkdir: can't create directory '/media/usbdisk/cache': Read-only file system", then you probably need to remount your disk read-write temporarily. Try

mount -o remount,rw /media/sda1

and then don't forget to run

mount -o remount,ro /media/sda1

when you are done with the following commands
  1. Create a symlink to this directory from /etc/apk/cache.

    ln -s /media/sda1/cache /etc/apk/cache

  2. Run an lbu commit to save the change (/etc/apk/cache is in /etc and is automatically backed up.)

    lbu commit

Tip: If you needed to remount your disk read-write before, run

mount -o remount,ro /media/sda1

now that you are done with saving the changes

Now whenever you run an apk command that pulls a new package from a remote repository, the package is stored on your local media. On startup, Alpine Linux will check the local cache for new packages, and will install them if available.