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Alpine Single Node

(Lab Series)

1 Overview

The lab runs in a Docker container with two QEMU VMs inside.
The VM has three interfaces:
- br1 (191.0.0.0/24): For ssh.
- br2 (192.0.0.0/24): For testing.
- br3 (193.0.0.0/24): For testing.
Each VM has the below disks:
- /dev/sda: Boot and filesystem.
- /dev/sdb: For testing.
- /dev/sdc: For testing.

+------- Host ---------+
| +----- Container -+  |
| |   +- VM ---+    |  |
| |   |        |    |  |
| |   +--------+    |  |
| +-----------------+  |
+----------------------+

2 Setup

2.1 Setup Container

Clone code.

host$ git clone https://github.com/thachmpham/lab.git

Setup container.

host$ cd lab/alpine/1-node
host$ docker compose build
host$ docker compose up --detach

2.2 Create VM

Access to container.

host$ docker exec -it apk bash

Create the VM.

cont$ cd /ws
cont$ ./create_vm.sh

On the VM, create a file named ans with the same content as lab/alpine/1-node/ans.
Install Alpine to the VM.

vm$ setup-alpine -e -f ans

Shutdown the VM.

vm$ poweroff

2.3 Setup SSH

Start the VM.

cont$ ./start_vm.sh

Allow root ssh login with a empty password.

vm$ vi /etc/ssh/sshd_config
# ------------------------------ #
PermitRootLogin yes
PasswordAuthentication yes
PermitEmptyPasswords yes
# ------------------------------ #

vm$ rc-service sshd restart

Check ssh from container to vm.

cont$ ssh vm

3 Setup Repository

Enable community repository.

vm$ vi /etc/apk/repositories
http://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.24/main
http://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.24/community

4 Shortcuts

QEMU keys:

Ctrl + a h: Help Menu
Ctrl + a x: Exit
Ctrl + a c: Switch between VM console and QEMU monitor.

1 Overview

2 Setup

2.1 Setup Container

2.2 Create VM

2.3 Setup SSH

3 Setup Repository

4 Shortcuts

5 References