Alpine Linux

Notes and observations for setting up and maintaining systems.

With the release of 3.16.0 came a new tool, `setup-desktop`, which prepares the system to be used graphically. I noticed some weirdness the first time I tried, so I'm documenting my efforts to reproduce here in an attempt to aid eventual bug reports.

This was the machine I first attempted this on, and where I noticed some issues. This machine is a 32-bit-only Intel Atom Z520 system, with an InsydeH2O “UEFI Ready BIOS”, with 2GB of RAM. I used the `alpine-3.16.0-extended-x86.iso` image.

From boot, I ran `setup-alpine` as root, selected the `gb-intl` keyboard layout, set the hostname as appropriate, and set the network interface to `wlan0`. I noticed the first issue here; after entering my SSID I was not prompted for the password, and wpa_supplicant was configured to use `key_mgmt=“NONE”`; I had to replace that line with `psk=“my psk”` and re-run `setup-alpine` to continue.

I set the root password, and I left everything else at defaults, but configured the HDD to be used as `sys`. When prompted if I wanted to create an unprivileged user, I created one.

On first boot of the installed system, I logged in as root and immediately ran `setup-desktop`. I selected `xfce` and rebooted once it was complete.

I attempted to log in as the unprivileged user created during setup, but was unable to as the session failed to start. Checking the logs with some difficulty due to the removal of soft scrollback in Kernel 5.9+, I noticed that `/lib/security/pam_elogind.so` was missing - apparently `elogind` was not installed. I ran `apk add elogind` and that issue was resolved, however I still couldn't log in. After some more difficulty, I identified that the session was starting but immediately dying, and no .xsession-errors file was created. I attempted to check my user's home directory, but discovered it didn't exist. I created it and set the ownership appropriately, and then was able to log in and use the system graphically.

Issues observed:

* setup-alpine does not handle encrypted WiFi networks

* setup-alpine does not create the home directory of an unprivileged user

* setup-desktop does not install elogind when using xfce

* The Linux Kernel does not support scrollback any more because apparently troubleshooting why a GUI won't start is for losers.