How to install docker on Alpine Linux VM

Introduction

Alpine linux is a lighweight linux distro, making it small, fast and ideal for VM’s when server resources are limited. Especially when talking about running docker containers, a VM is the only way to go since LXC containers are not supported and its hacky to make docker run inside an LXC.

The Docker containers can be administered through the command line or by using a GUI tool.The two most lightweight administration tools are:

• Cockpit, it can run only in systemd distros so it is not an option for Alpine.
• Portainer, comes as a docker container, ideal for Alpine.

Following are the steps required to configure an Alpine system and install Docker.

Create Alpine VM on Proxmox

Download the latest .iso from Virtual category in https://alpinelinux.org/downloads/ .

Upload it to Proxmox VE from gui and create VM.

Typical example settings with one network card on Intel Core2 quad core PC

Configuration Tabs:

• • OS -> Other OS types
  • CD/DVD -> Use disk image (iso)
  • Hard Disk -> Bus/Device IDE 0 , Storage local-lvm, Cache Default (no cache)
  • CPU -> Type Default(kvm64)
  • Memory -> Auto allocate and input the desired range
  • Network -> Bridged mode , Model VirtIO (paravirtualized)

Again these are suggested defaults and depend on the machine and the network plan we have in mind.

Initial Setup

Still in Proxmox GUI , go to the new VM’s console, login as root and type:

setup-alpine

and answer the questions of the wizard,including changing the root password.Alpine setup is possibly the easiest linux setup.Defaults are fine except in the disk creation.After selecting disk (sda) and purpose (sys), at least for this simple use case, type (y) in the warning:erase the above disk and continue ? question.

Alpine will prepare the portion of the hard disk allocated to our VM and will ask to reboot.

After rebooting the vm, from the proxmox console of the Alpine VM create a group and a user so we can ssh to the vm remotely from the terminal of our choice and not be bound to the builtin console of the proxmox GUI anymore:

addgroup -g 150 docker

adduser -G docker dockeras

cat /etc/passwd

We use docker group name on purpose because it will be needed later.

Now add the user in sudoers file to be able to execute all commands:

apk add sudo

visudo

add anywhere this line:

dockeras ALL=(ALL) ALL

Now press ESC and :wq to save and exit the editor. :q! to exit without saving.

Note:If for any reason we need to ssh as root,from proxmox GUI console:

vi /etc/ssh/sshd_config

and replace #permitrootlogin no with permitrootlogin yes .Save and exit the editor.Then restart ssh service:

service sshd restart

ssh [email protected]

Install qemu-guest-agent [optional]

poweroff

sudo apk add qemu-guest-agent

nano /etc/init.d/qemu-guest-agent

command_args="-m ${GA_METHOD:-virtio-serial} -p ${GA_PATH:-/dev/vport1p1} -l /var/log/qemu-ga.log -d"

rc-update add qemu-guest-agent boot

Install Docker Engine

vi /etc/apk/repositories

http://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/latest-stable/community

sudo apk update

apk policy docker

sudo apk add docker

sudo rc-update add docker boot

sudo service docker start

service docker status

docker run --rm hello-world

setup-dns

Conclusion

In this article we described the proccess of creating an Alpine VM, OS preparation , creation of a group and a user to operate our dockers, installation of the Docker daemon and a solution for a common error .

For docker administration consult the follow up article How to install Sonarr Radarr and Jackett with Docker.

Reference:

https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/Tutorials_and_Howtos

Part 2:How to install Sonarr Radarr and Jackett with Docker

Part 3:How to install Sonarr Radarr and Jackett with Docker-Compose