Requirements: Difference between revisions

From Alpine Linux
(corrected sentences so it sounds like English, removed unnecessary {tables, boldening on text, BIOS enter instructions, arch trivia, text about video games}, corrected lists, removed recommended media for installation,)
(Grammar fixes. Remove claim that Alpine runs on the Game Boy Advance, as there is no image for it, or even a documented port of the kernel. Remove claim that ISA devices are unsupported by the Linux kernel (this is untrue).)
Line 4: Line 4:
== Hardware requirements ==
== Hardware requirements ==


For installation and usage consider that Alpine can run on several kinds of devices, from the popular PC machine to video game consoles like the Game Boy Advance and the 3DS, and as such you must verify below details:
For installation and usage consider that Alpine can run on several kinds of devices, from the popular PC machine to video game consoles like the 3DS, and as such you must verify the details below:


* CPU architecture
* CPU architecture
Line 13: Line 13:
=== Architectures ===
=== Architectures ===


CPU architecture is a instruction set design that defines how a processor is used by software. Widely used across desktops and servers are x86 (mostly i386) and x86_64 (also known as amd64). There are other supported computer architectures that are not "x86", like mainframes, servers, and embedded devices (such as routers like Sonicwall and Cisco ones). Below table represents architectures supported by Alpine:
CPU architecture is an instruction set design that defines how a processor is used by software. Widely used across desktops and servers are x86 (mostly i386) and x86_64 (also known as amd64). There are other supported computer architectures that are not "x86", like mainframes, servers, and embedded devices (such as routers like Sonicwall and Cisco ones). The table below represents architectures supported by Alpine:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 21: Line 21:
| x86_64 || all || Widely spread AMD64 compatible 64-bit x86 instruction set.
| x86_64 || all || Widely spread AMD64 compatible 64-bit x86 instruction set.
|-
|-
| x86 || all || Another widely used instruction set which is 32-bit.
| x86 || all || Another widely used 32-bit instruction set.
| ppc64le || v3.6 || For PowerPC devices with pure little-endian mode, mostly for POWER8 and POWER9
|-
|-
| ppc64le || v3.6 || For the PowerPC devices with pure little-endian mode, mostly for POWER8 and POWER9
| armhf || v3.0 || A 32-bit ARM instruction set with hard-float point extension.
|-
| armhf || v3.0 || ARM instruction set with hard-float point extension.
|-
|-
| armv7 || v3.9 || The 32-bit ARM only execution state of the ARMv7 devices machines.
| armv7 || v3.9 || The 32-bit ARM only execution state of the ARMv7 devices machines.
Line 31: Line 30:
| aarch64 || v3.5 || The 64-bit ARM only execution state of the ARMv8+ device machines.
| aarch64 || v3.5 || The 64-bit ARM only execution state of the ARMv8+ device machines.
|-
|-
| ppc64le || v3.6 || For 64-bit big-endian PowerPC and Power ISA processors like some MAC computers.
| ppc64le || v3.6 || For 64-bit big-endian PowerPC and Power ISA processors like some Mac computers.
|-
|-
| s390x || v3.6 || For the Super powered IBM mainframes, especially IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE servers.
| s390x || v3.6 || For IBM mainframes, especially IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE servers.
|}
|}


Line 63: Line 62:
=== Storage ===
=== Storage ===


Means any external or internal storage device that can be added after or before install to use by the Alpine Linux system. Currently depends of the current linux kernel supported.
This means any external or internal storage device that can be added after or before installation to use by the Alpine Linux system.  


All the PATA and SATA hard disk drives are supported, also any USB or SD card that can be detected by USB BUS by the linux kernel subsystem during install.
PATA and SATA hard disk drives are supported, as well as any USB or SD card that can be detected by the Linux during installation.


=== Peripherals ===
=== Peripherals ===


Means any external or internal device that can be added after or before install to detectd by the Alpine Linux system. Depends on the current version of Linux kernel.
This means any external or internal device that can be added before or after installation and detected by Alpine Linux. The peripherals that are supported depends on the current version of the Linux kernel.
 
ISA devices are not supported since 3.8 because they have been dropped from Linux kernel.


Almost any GPU are supported, but certain features and 3D acceleration might depend on MESA drivers:
Almost any GPU is supported, but certain features and 3D acceleration might depend on MESA drivers:


* Intel: mostly any Intel by one exception, Intel i810/i815 will lack features since it has only 4Mb memory, support for it has been dropped by Mesa and Linux.
* Intel: mostly any Intel by one exception, Intel i810/i815 will lack features since it has only 4Mb memory, support for it has been dropped by Mesa and Linux.
Line 88: Line 85:
Alpine boot images are provided on [https://alpinelinux.org/downloads/ downloads page] or on a [https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/latest-stable/releases/ mirror]
Alpine boot images are provided on [https://alpinelinux.org/downloads/ downloads page] or on a [https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/latest-stable/releases/ mirror]


The images should be verified as in [[Installation]], to ensure file wasn't corrupted during transfer.
The images should be verified as in [[Installation]], to ensure the file wasn't corrupted during transfer.


=== Booting ===
=== Booting ===


Following table describes supported BIOS types, for more information please check [[Alpine_and_UEFI|Alpine and UEFI]] wiki page.
The following table describes supported BIOS types, for more information please check [[Alpine_and_UEFI|Alpine and UEFI]] wiki page.


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 115: Line 112:
=== Space ===
=== Space ===


A default installation of Alpine requires at least 1GB of free space. You can see various partition configurations and it's sizes on [[Alpine_and_UEFI#Alpine_disk_layout_for_UEFI|Alpine disk layout for UEFI/BIOS at Alpine and UEFI]] wiki page.
A default installation of Alpine requires at least 1GB of free space. You can see various partition configurations and their sizes on [[Alpine_and_UEFI#Alpine_disk_layout_for_UEFI|Alpine disk layout for UEFI/BIOS at Alpine and UEFI]] wiki page.


= See Also =
= See Also =

Revision as of 19:52, 6 September 2022

This page will tell you what requirements you will need to use the Alpine Linux operating system:

Hardware requirements

For installation and usage consider that Alpine can run on several kinds of devices, from the popular PC machine to video game consoles like the 3DS, and as such you must verify the details below:

  • CPU architecture
  • Memory
  • Storage
  • Peripherals

Architectures

CPU architecture is an instruction set design that defines how a processor is used by software. Widely used across desktops and servers are x86 (mostly i386) and x86_64 (also known as amd64). There are other supported computer architectures that are not "x86", like mainframes, servers, and embedded devices (such as routers like Sonicwall and Cisco ones). The table below represents architectures supported by Alpine:

Supported architecture Available since Description
x86_64 all Widely spread AMD64 compatible 64-bit x86 instruction set.
x86 all Another widely used 32-bit instruction set. ppc64le v3.6 For PowerPC devices with pure little-endian mode, mostly for POWER8 and POWER9
armhf v3.0 A 32-bit ARM instruction set with hard-float point extension.
armv7 v3.9 The 32-bit ARM only execution state of the ARMv7 devices machines.
aarch64 v3.5 The 64-bit ARM only execution state of the ARMv8+ device machines.
ppc64le v3.6 For 64-bit big-endian PowerPC and Power ISA processors like some Mac computers.
s390x v3.6 For IBM mainframes, especially IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE servers.

Memory

Below are shown minimum RAM amounts for various installation types and phases:

Target Arch Minimum RAM to start Minimum RAM to install Minimum RAM for GUI desktop Enough for GUI work
x86_64 512 Megs 512 Megs 2 Gigs 8 Gigs
x86_32 128 Megs 256 Megs 1 Gigs 3 Gigs
ppc64le 128 Megs 256 Megs 2 Gigs 8 Gigs
armhf 256 Megs 512 Megs 1 Gigs 6 Gigs
armv7 256 Megs 512 Megs 1 Gigs 6 Gigs
aarch64 256 Megs 512 Megs 2 Gigs 8 Gigs
ppc64le 256 Megs 512 Megs 1 Gigs 6 Gigs
s390x 128 Megs 256 Megs 2 Gigs N/A

Storage

This means any external or internal storage device that can be added after or before installation to use by the Alpine Linux system.

PATA and SATA hard disk drives are supported, as well as any USB or SD card that can be detected by the Linux during installation.

Peripherals

This means any external or internal device that can be added before or after installation and detected by Alpine Linux. The peripherals that are supported depends on the current version of the Linux kernel.

Almost any GPU is supported, but certain features and 3D acceleration might depend on MESA drivers:

  • Intel: mostly any Intel by one exception, Intel i810/i815 will lack features since it has only 4Mb memory, support for it has been dropped by Mesa and Linux.
  • ATI/AMD, only Radeon series with exception of recent last two years, Rage r128/match64 series has limited support.
  • Nvidia: support for Nvidia GPUs is limited since their drivers are proprietary and built for GNU libc. Nouveau drivers are available as free alternative.
  • Matrox: not all features are supported.
  • Sis: limited features are supported, due to limited support from upstream.
  • Via: limited features are supported, due to limited support from upstream.

Software requirements

Media

Alpine boot images are provided on downloads page or on a mirror

The images should be verified as in Installation, to ensure the file wasn't corrupted during transfer.

Booting

The following table describes supported BIOS types, for more information please check Alpine and UEFI wiki page.

Supported Arch Supported BIOS Supported Types
x86_64 Coreboot, Vendor/OEM BIOS, UEFI
x86 Coreboot, Vendor/OEM BIOS, UEFI
ppc64le Coreboot, Vendor/OEM BIOS, UEFI
armhf Uboot, Vendor/OEM BIOS, UEFI
armv7 Uboot, Vendor/OEM BIOS, UEFI
aarch64 Vendor/OEM BIOS, UEFI
s390x Vendor/OEM unknown

Space

A default installation of Alpine requires at least 1GB of free space. You can see various partition configurations and their sizes on Alpine disk layout for UEFI/BIOS at Alpine and UEFI wiki page.

See Also

  1. Installation
  2. Alpine_newbie Install section


Retrieved from "https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/w/index.php?title=Requirements&oldid=22252"