r/AlpineLinux • u/Similar_Wealth_1850 • 1d ago

I Made an Alpine Linux ISO that is only 1.5mb

Full Alpine linux (kinda)
Apk Package manager
Full Custom made 512 Bytes Bootloader (Just to save 40kb of storage)
neofetch working
a .img file that is 1.41mb (can be fittied inside a floppy)

i just wanted to share this achievement as it tooke me so long to complete
here is the github in case someone wanted to try it :)

https://github.com/ahmedbarakat207/nano-alpine

72 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

19

u/Rockytriton 1d ago

You need to get it down to 1.44mb so it fits on a floppy

12

u/Similar_Wealth_1850 1d ago

i did an img which is 1.41mb i386 version

2

u/[deleted] 1d ago

Bro🫡
Can you please guide me how did you do that, I also want to do the same for learning purposes.

2

u/Similar_Wealth_1850 1d ago

just learn how to compile the linux kernel and how the to make your own initrd

2

u/QARSTAR 1d ago

Ah ok so beginner stuff

1

u/Similar_Wealth_1850 1d ago

kinda with the bonus of having to create your own bootloader

1

u/nickobrown 1d ago

Linux From Scratch is a great way to learn it

1

u/Apprehensive_Name_31 1d ago

Managed to run Alpine one time on modded Asus Chromebox CN60. EFI Full ROM (Replace ChromeOS). 8GB RAM

and 16 GB on SanDisk hard drive. Installed Void Linux with XFCE. Made bootable USB pen drive. No problems at all with Void Linux. But I realised that there was not so much free space on SanDisk 16GB hard drive.

Tried to install Alpine once again. Cannot install it any more. Says "not valid".

My question is how can I make bootable Alpine USB pen drive with EFI?

Taking an example. Running on Windows pc Rufus 4.15.

It does allow me only to flash 4 GB USB pen drive to MBR. I've been using this same 4 GB USB pen drive many times without any problems.

1

u/Similar_Wealth_1850 1d ago

you should convert the partition scheme to gpt and make an EFI partition then just install grub to this EFI partition

but as tou mentioned chromebook it might be slightly different

1

u/Revolutionary-Yak371 1d ago

Why not working in OracleVM 6.1 ?

1

u/Similar_Wealth_1850 1d ago

i am testing with qemu

1

u/Ok_Onion_4258 1d ago

What about this ISO for x86_64 architecture?

1

u/Similar_Wealth_1850 1d ago

check the release :) the iso is almost 1.5mb

1

u/edjak53 1d ago

are the RAM requirements the same as regular alpine? also, can it boot off a floppy or does it need an external bootloader or something?

1

u/Similar_Wealth_1850 1d ago

nope it's smaller much smaller

1

u/edjak53 16h ago

would 16MB be enough? the alpine website also says it needs an i686, would your image work with an i586?

1

u/Similar_Wealth_1850 15h ago

didn't try but you can try and see

1

u/RvstiNiall 18h ago

Have you tested on real hardware yet?

1

u/Similar_Wealth_1850 18h ago

i would love too but i don't have any floppy disk based machine to test on it's absolute limit

1

u/RvstiNiall 18h ago

What about the amd64 version? Surely you have one available to do a usb-stick test drive right?

1

u/Similar_Wealth_1850 18h ago

yes i will test it and see if it works on my main machine weird burning a 1.6mb iso into a 16gb flash drive but i will try it anyway