Hypervisor

Create Alpine Linux VM with VirtualBox

Today a tutorial for creating a Alpine Linux VM with VirtualBox. The only limitation is that VirtualBox is already installed. Furthermore,  all of the steps are performed in the terminal (without VirtualBox-GUI).

Creation of VM

# change directory
$ cd VirtualBox\ VMs/

# download alpine iso
$ curl -o alpine-3.4.3-x86_64.iso http://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.4/releases/x86_64/alpine-3.4.3-x86_64.iso

# checksum sha1 (optional)
$ openssl sha1 alpine-3.4.3-x86_64.iso

# create new directory
$ mkdir AlpineVM

# create storage medium for VM
$ VBoxManage createhd --filename ./AlpineVM/AlpineVM.vdi --size 8192

# list available OS types (just for fun and good to know)
$ VBoxManage list ostypes

# register new alpine VM
$ VBoxManage createvm --name "AlpineVM" --ostype Linux26_64 --register

# configure system settings of alpine VM
$ VBoxManage modifyvm "AlpineVM" --memory 1024 --cpus 1 --acpi on --pae off --hwvirtex on --nestedpaging on --rtcuseutc on --vram 16 --audio none --accelerate3d off --accelerate2dvideo off --usb on

# configure boot settings of VM
$ VBoxManage modifyvm "AlpineVM" --boot1 dvd --boot2 disk --boot3 none --boot4 none

# modify a storage controller (IDE)
$ VBoxManage storagectl "AlpineVM" --name "IDE" --add ide

# modify a storage controller (SATA)
$ VBoxManage storagectl "AlpineVM" --name "SATA" --add sata

# add storage medium to VM
$ VBoxManage storageattach "AlpineVM" --storagectl "SATA" --port 0 --device 0 --type hdd --medium ./AlpineVM/AlpineVM.vdi

# add alpine iso
$ VBoxManage storageattach "AlpineVM" --storagectl "IDE" --port 1 --device 0 --type dvddrive --medium alpine-3.4.3-x86_64.iso

# start alpine VM
$ VBoxManage startvm "AlpineVM"

Basic Alpine installation

# after login as user "root" (passwordless)

# run setup
$ setup-alpine

>>>
keyboard layout: "us"
keyboard variant: "us"
system hostname: "localhost"
initialise interface: "eth0, dhcp, no manual setup"
enter root password
timezone: "UTC"
HTTP/FTP proxy URL: "none"
Detect and add fastest mirror: "f"
SSH server: "openssh"
NTP client: "chrony"
install to disk: "sda"
install type: "sys"
erase & continue: "y"
<<<

# shutdown system
$ poweroff

Note: if you have an answers file you can do…

# download answers file
$ wget http://<uri>/<answers file>

# configuration via answers file
$ alpine-setup -f <path/to/answers file>

Remove medium (ISO)

# remove alpine iso
$ VBoxManage storageattach "AlpineVM" --storagectl "IDE" --port 1 --device 0 --type dvddrive --medium emptydrive

# start VM
$ VBoxManage startvm "AlpineVM"

Update Packages and install VirtualBox additions

# change directory
$ cd /etc

# enable repositories
$ vi apk/repositories

>>>
#/media/cdrom/apks
http://liskamm.alpinelinux.uk/v3.4/main
http://liskamm.alpinelinux.uk/v3.4/community
http://liskamm.alpinelinux.uk/edge/main
http://liskamm.alpinelinux.uk/edge/community
http://liskamm.alpinelinux.uk/edge/testing
<<<

# update and upgrade system
$ apk update && apk upgrade

# install virtualbox additions
$ apk add virtualbox-guest-modules-grsec virtualbox-additions-grsec

# reboot system
$ reboot

Optional steps

# install vim
$ apk add vim

# change directory
$ cd /etc

# modify sshd (manual) 
$ vim ssh/sshd_config

# restart sshd
$ init.d/sshd restart

# modify network interfaces (manual)
$ vim network/interfaces

# restart network
$ init.d/networking restart

Speed up with VBoxManage

If you use Virtualbox, you can speed up your daily workflow with VBoxManage. This guide show some basic commands.

Precondition

VirtualBox installed

Commands

# show version
$ VBoxManage --version

# show help
$ VBoxManage --help

# list all VM's
$ VBoxManage list vms

# list only running VM's
$ VBoxManage list runningvms

# show VM information
$ VBoxManage showvminfo <uuid|vmname>

# start VM (GUI)
$ VBoxManage startvm <uuid|vmname>

# start VM (Headless)
$ VBoxManage startvm <uuid|vmname> --type headless

# pause VM
$ VBoxManage controlvm <uuid|vmname> pause

# resume VM
$ VBoxManage controlvm <uuid|vmname> resume

# shutdown VM
$ VBoxManage controlvm <uuid|vmname> poweroff

There ‘s more! If you are familiar with basic commands, read the help or user manual!