Alpine Linux
| OS family | Unix-like |
|---|---|
| Working state | Active |
| Source model | Open source |
| Latest release | 2.0.2 / September 2010 |
| Repository | |
| Package manager | APK |
| Official website | http://www.alpinelinux.org |
Alpine Linux is a security-oriented, lightweight Linux distribution based on uClibc and Busybox. It's designed for x86 Routers, Firewalls, VPNs, VoIP and servers. It contains proactive security measures such as PaX and Stack-smashing protection.
History
Originally, Alpine Linux began as a fork of the LEAF project. The members of LEAF wanted to continue making a Linux distribution that could fit on a single floppy disk, whereas the Alpine Linux required some more heavyweight packages such as Squid and Samba. Some other motivators were the desire for 2.6.x kernels, and additional security features. One of the original goals was to create a framework for larger systems. A notable moment in Alpine Linux's history was the first open-source implementation of Cisco's DMVPN, called OpenNHRP.
Features
- It's quick: You can boot it from a USB stick and have a very usable system in less than 10 minutes.
- It's simple: The package management and init system is a breeze to use.
- It's more secure: When The Linux 0-day Vmsplice()_local_root_exploit was causing admins everywhere to upgrade their kernels post-haste, Alpine Linux systems were basically impervious. Yes, the code crashed the application, but the PaX protection prevented system compromise. The value of PaX and SSP has been proven on more than one occasion.
- It's small: The traditional GNU/Linux base system is over 100MB in size (excluding the kernel), while the base system in Alpine Linux is only 4-5MB in size (excluding the kernel).
- It has the Alpine Configuration Framework (ACF): While optional, ACF is a powerful web application used to configure an Alpine Linux device.
- It's great for experimenting: Since the system configuration can be backed up to a single file, you will be able to test configurations before deploying them to production systems.
- It supports Linux-VServer: Similar to FreeBSD Jails, it allows you to run virtual servers.