alpine-wiki/tutorials/alpine-install-from-usb-to-disk-pc-single-boot-nointernet.md

# Alpine Install: from a USB to any computer without internet and only alpine boot

**Overall description:** Alpine Installation from a official iso, 
dumpet to a usb source device media, and installed to a bare metal computer
no matter if include [UEFI](Alpine_and_UEFI.md) and will be the only OS 
installed to boot, the networking configuration will happened AFTER you install 
the operating system, so you can configure it with more detail.

Means you will **install Alpine as the only OS in a PC computer from USB BUT OFFLINE** media.

And.. **after boot up the new operating system, you will put apk files to setup wifi**

> **Warning** This method only works for most modern pc vbeyond 2016 and recents.

## Requirements

-   A usb stick to write the ISO source media file downloaded
-   In the new machine we need support for booting from USB devices
-   In the new machine we need at least 512Mb of RAM, 2Gb prefered.
-   IF you dont have internet but still have network disconected or no cable

## Downloading the source medium to install

In this case, **your PC wil have [UEFI or must be beyond 2016's](Alpine_and_UEFI.md#where-i-will-find-bios-based-devices)** 
you will need **64-bit iso EXTENDED, if you dont use extended version your will need internet networking**, 
the download URL will be:

`http://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.17/releases/x86_64/alpine-extended-3.17.3-x86_64.iso`

> **Warning** you must use extended ISO file, if not you will be forced to have internet.

**How to download usin Graphical browser**: point the web browser to 
that url and the download of the iso file will start. A file with **.iso** 
extension type, will be downloaded commonly into the Download directory.

**How to download usin Command line method**: in unix-like terminal (MAC/Linux) execute:
`cd $HOME;wget -c -t8 --no-check-certificate http://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.17/releases/x86_64/alpine-standard-3.17.3-x86_64.iso`,
and unless the case of GUI, your **.iso** file wil be direclty in your home directory.

> **Warning** The 3.17.0 release ISO has a bug, does not included the need pacakges for offline install.

## Writing the source medium to your USB

Using [balena-etcher-electron](https://www.balena.io/etcher/) to flash the USB 
drive from any system, its easy, simple and available for all OSs.

> ***Warning** this guide assume only one hard drive as `/dev/sda` and only one USB as `/dev/sdb`

* download the `program balena-etcher-electron` (there are portable versions)
* Run the program `balena-etcher-electron` as root in the graphical session
* Click "select image" icon, open the downloaded image file
* Plug the USB drive into the computer, it will automatically show as `sdb`
* After it balena-etcher-electronshows the USB as “sdb”, clickflash
* Wait a while and when finished, close the program
* Take out the USB and place it on the installation target computer in a port

> **Note** this method only works on recent MacOs 10.12+ or recent Linux 4.9+ installations

![](https://venenux.github.io/alpine-espanol/instalar/instalar-desde-usb-a-discoreal-alpinesolo-computadora-00.png)

You can also made it manually, open your terminal program, move to the place 
directory where ISO downloaded are placed and `cp` to the USB device:

> umount /dev/sdb; cp alpine-standard-3.17.0-x86_64.iso /dev/sdb

## Booting the Alpine USB media

When the machine start, you must be sure to choose the right booting drive
(commonly named USB boot drive or USB hard disk), so the disc/iso will boot and after a
while a command line shell will show you:

> **Note** When starting Alpine it will ask for the login, just typing root and pressing enter allows you to start:

![](https://venenux.github.io/alpine-espanol/instalar/instalar-desde-virtualbox-a-discoreal-dualboot-screenshot-01.png)

> **Warning** Tip: If your system is not configured to boot from a USB drive, it must be 
configured in the BIOS/UEFI, **ask/search to your vendor or technical support**, Toshiba 
computers need to hit F1 to choose boot medium, DELL must hit F11 to choose medium for 
example, and so and so

## Installing after boot up

> **Warning** if you do not download the extended ISO it may require internet.!!!

#### runing the setup script

After entering the root environment and gets the console prompt installation media, 
you must perform these commands, that will:

* prepare disk sizes, boot partiton to 500 megs
* perpare swap sices, swap partition to 2  Gigs
* and run setup script to configure and process instalation:

```
export BOOT_SIZE=500

setup-alpine
```

This will start some questions, these are in the following order:

* keyboard and variant, example for Latin is esand afteres-winkeys
* hostname: just hit enter, it's the name of the computer.
* Network options: write `done` cos you dont have internet and has no sense
* DNS Options: dont write anything, leave blank and  write `none` for the domain
* Time zone options: Just use the suggested defaults, just hit enter.
* Proxy Options: Use `none` in this case, please
* NTP Options: Use `chrony` the packet already in the middle.
* Enter mirror number: here due lack of network internet just write "done"
* SSH Options: Use `openssh` the package that already comes in the middle.
* Alow root login: write `yes` cos we will changed later.
* Enter the ssh URL: just write `none` or just hit enter
* Disk Options: Use `sda` as the entire hard drive present will be used.
* Mode: Select `sys` to install the system on disk.

After answering `sys` to the questions about the drive, and since there will only 
be one drive, answering `sda` on which drive to use, this will create and leave 
your hard drive as follows:

* `/dev/sda1` as BOOT in 500Mb in `/boot`
* `/dev/sda2` as SWAP in 4Gb
* `/dev/sda3` as ROOT in 200Gb in `/` (approximately or rest of space available)

In a few minutes everything will be ready to use ofering a console when boot new system.

![](https://venenux.github.io/alpine-espanol/instalar/install-alpine-alpine-setup-3-setup-scripts.png)

## Finishing the installation

After all of the scripts in the setup end, a "reboot" will be offered,
just type "reboot" and press enter, remove the boot media and newly
installed system will be booted.

**You cannot see a graphical window system? take it easy** and get
calmed down.. in Alpine all are made by the right way.. so **if user
need a desktop.. user can install a desktop**

## The wifi setup after install

Please follo the guiude [alpine-tutorial-wifi-routering.md](alpine-tutorial-wifi-routering.md), 
you will need to download the needed packages manually from another device 
and then but it on the installed Alpine computer using USBstorage external device.

## How to use this guide

This guide is for install process, many parts will need you understand minimal 
knowledge of linux.

This guide assumed you have a serial port allowed in the targeted computer, also 
its important you shuold understand the way of the configuration in this guide.

> **Warning**  Some Linux or/and Mac terminals have security cut/paste locks, so 
if you paste, the first line will be preceded by garbage, check always the first char of your paste.

## Licensing clarifications

**CC BY-NC-SA**: the project allows reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material 
in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given 
to the creators involved. If you remix, adapt, or build upon the material, you must license the modified 
material under identical terms,  includes the following elements:

* **BY**  Credit must be given to the creator of each content respectivelly, starting at the first contributor.
* **NC**  Only noncommercial uses of the work are permitted, with exceptions if you fill an issue here!
* **SA**  Adaptations must be shared under the same terms, you must obey this terms and do not change it.

https://codeberg.org/alpine/alpine-wiki/src/branch/main#license

## See also

* [README.md](README.md)
* [alpine-setup-install-script.md](../alpine/alpine-setup-install-script.md)
* [alpine-tutorial-desktop-wayland-try.md](alpine-tutorial-desktop-wayland-try.md)
* [alpine-tutorial-desktop-xfce4-fast-forward.md](alpine-tutorial-desktop-xfce4-fast-forward.md)