Message-ID: <d6a2c02f79277e9be40b53d460a470872ede1753.camel@riseup.net>
Subject: Install on single partition and without a bootloader
From: Ralf Mardorf <ralf-mardorf@riseup.net>
To: ~alpine/users@lists.alpinelinux.org
Date: Fri, 26 May 2023 16:50:45 +0200
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Hi,

I want to install Alpine Linux on a Linux multi-boot desktop PC, hence
the way to go seems to be

"System Disk Mode

This is a traditional hard-disk install.

If this mode is selected, the setup-alpine script creates three
partitions [...] For custom partitioning, see Setting up disks manually.

To install along side another operating systems, see Dualbooting." -
https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/Installation#Minimal_Hardware_Requirement=
s

What I actually want to do is providing a partition that is already
formatted as ext4 and that should hold everything, including /boot in
the root directory (IOW /, not /root ;), excepted of a swap. A swap is
already available.

I don't want that the setup-script installs a bootloader.

If I click on "Setting up disks manually" the very next thing I need to
do is to click the next link and so on, without getting clear
information. If I click Dualbooting I get a lot of irrelevant
information, too.

I'm used to a user-centric approach. I know what BIOS I'm on, how to
format a SSD, how to setup syslinux or grub (grub without the auto-
crap). What I don't know is, how to use the Alpine Linux installer/setup
script.

There is https://wiki.alpinelinux.org/wiki/Alpine_setup_scripts , but
it's not clear to me. All the hints are too long too read and don't get
to the point.

Would

  BOOTLOADER=3D""

or

  Bootloader=3Dflase

or else be for not installing a bootloader?

I installed iSH [=C2=A0https://github.com/ish-app/ish/ ] on an iPad, it's
based on Alpine Linux.

What I want to get, is something very close to the iPad's iSH Alpine
Linux on my desktop PC.

I want an Alpine install on bare metal, but the plan is to run it most
of the times from within an Arch Linux session, by
"systemd-nspawn --boot".

So let's assume I would have /dev/sda1 ext4 free for Alpine's /
including /boot. /dev/sda2 would provide a Linux swap and I don't want
to install a bootloader at all.

How can I achieve this by using the setup-scripts?

Regards,
Ralf