Alpine Linux

Create Bootable Device

The Alpine Linux wiki recommends use of fdisk. For more general advice regarding partitioning, see here.

First and foremost, insert the device and ensure it is not mounted. (If it is, umount /dev/sdXN.) Secondly, ensure that the device is not using a GPT partition table. This would be listed by 'Disklabel type' in fdisk. The correct value is dos, not gpt.

Per the wiki:

• Run fdisk on your device (sdX).

fdisk /dev/sdX

• Create new partition table with one FAT32 partition

  1. d Delete all partitions (this may take a few steps)

  2. n Create a new partition

  3. p A primary partition

  4. 1 Partition number 1

  5. Use defaults for first and last cylinder (just press [Enter] twice).

  6. t Change partition type

  7. c Partition type (Win95 FAT32/LBA)

• Verify that the primary partition is bootable

  1. p Print list of partitions

  2. If there is no '*' next to the first partition, follow the next steps:

  3. a Make the partition bootable (set boot flag)

  4. 1 Partition number 1

• w Write your changes to the device

• Format the new partition with:

mkfs.vfat /dev/sdX1

Note that mkfs.vfat and mkdosfs are the same.

Finally, dd the ISO onto the device.

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