https://github.com/mw0mwz/raspine

100% GitHub Hosted APK Repo for RasPiOS Kernels and the Raspine Image for Raspberry Pi Hardware
https://github.com/mw0mwz/raspine
alpine alpine-linux raspberry-pi raspios
Last synced: about 2 months ago
JSON representation
100% GitHub Hosted APK Repo for RasPiOS Kernels and the Raspine Image for Raspberry Pi Hardware
Host: GitHub
URL: https://github.com/mw0mwz/raspine
Owner: MW0MWZ
License: gpl-2.0
Created: 2025-09-09T09:04:00.000Z (10 months ago)
Default Branch: main
Last Pushed: 2026-04-14T12:52:31.000Z (3 months ago)
Last Synced: 2026-04-14T13:25:06.867Z (3 months ago)
Topics: alpine, alpine-linux, raspberry-pi, raspios
Language: Shell
Homepage: https://raspine.pistar.uk
Size: 469 MB
Stars: 2
Watchers: 0
Forks: 2
Open Issues: 0
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
Awesome Lists containing this project

README

          # 🏔️ RasPINE - Raspberry Pi + Alpine Linux Hybrid

[![Build Status](https://github.com/MW0MWZ/RasPINE/actions/workflows/master-build.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/MW0MWZ/RasPINE/actions/workflows/master-build.yml)

[![Latest Release](https://img.shields.io/github/v/release/MW0MWZ/RasPINE)](https://github.com/MW0MWZ/RasPINE/releases/latest)

[![Downloads](https://img.shields.io/github/downloads/MW0MWZ/RasPINE/total)](https://github.com/MW0MWZ/RasPINE/releases)

[![Alpine Version](https://img.shields.io/badge/Alpine-v3.23-0D597F)](https://alpinelinux.org)

[![Kernel](https://img.shields.io/badge/dynamic/json?url=https://raspine.pistar.uk/packages.json&query=$.kernel_version&label=Kernel&color=c51a4a)](https://www.raspberrypi.org)

> **The best of both worlds:** Raspberry Pi OS kernel and firmware for perfect hardware compatibility, combined with Alpine Linux userland for minimal footprint and efficiency.

## ✨ Key Features

| Feature | Description |

|---------|-------------|

| 🔧 **Maximum Compatibility** | Uses official Raspberry Pi OS kernel and firmware for perfect hardware support |

| 🪶 **Minimal Footprint** | Alpine Linux userland with musl libc - fits on a 2GB SD card |

| 🔒 **Secure by Default** | SSH enabled with Dropbear, minimal attack surface |

| 📦 **Modern Package Management** | Alpine's apk package manager with vast repository access |

| 🌐 **Network Ready** | DHCP on ethernet, WiFi support with wpa_supplicant |

| 💾 **SD Card Friendly** | /var/log on tmpfs to reduce wear on your SD card |

| ⚙️ **Zero-Touch Configuration** | Configure WiFi, SSH, and system settings before first boot |

| 🔄 **Weekly Updates** | Automated builds with latest Raspberry Pi OS kernels |

## 🚀 Quick Start

### 1️⃣ Download the Latest Image



**[📥 Download Latest Release](https://github.com/MW0MWZ/RasPINE/releases/latest)**

Alternative downloads:

[All Releases](https://github.com/MW0MWZ/RasPINE/releases) | 

[Direct Download](https://github.com/MW0MWZ/RasPINE/releases/latest/download/RasPINE-latest.img.xz) | 

[SHA256 Checksum](https://raspine.pistar.uk/downloads/RasPINE-latest.img.xz.sha256)



### 2️⃣ Write to SD Card

```bash

# Extract the image

xz -d RasPINE-YYYY-MM-DD.img.xz

# Write to SD card (replace /dev/sdX with your SD card device)

sudo dd if=RasPINE-YYYY-MM-DD.img of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress conv=fsync

```

### 3️⃣ (Optional) Configure Before First Boot

RasPINE supports zero-touch configuration! Mount the boot partition after writing the image and create a configuration file:

```bash

# Mount the boot partition (adjust device as needed)

mkdir -p /mnt/boot

mount /dev/sdX1 /mnt/boot

# Copy and edit the configuration template

cp /mnt/boot/raspine-config.txt.sample /mnt/boot/raspine-config.txt

nano /mnt/boot/raspine-config.txt

# Unmount when done

umount /mnt/boot

```

See the [Boot Configuration](#-boot-configuration) section for details on available options.

### 4️⃣ First Boot

Insert the SD card and power on your Raspberry Pi. Connect via SSH or console:

- **Username:** `raspine`

- **Password:** `raspberry` (or your configured password)

> ⚠️ **Security Note:** Change the password immediately after first login using `passwd`

## ⚙️ Boot Configuration

RasPINE includes a powerful boot configuration system that allows you to set up your system before the first boot. This is perfect for headless deployments or when you need to configure multiple devices.

### How It Works

1. On the boot partition, you'll find `raspine-config.txt.sample`

2. Copy this to `raspine-config.txt` and edit with your settings

3. On first boot, RasPINE processes this file and applies your configuration

4. **The config file is automatically deleted after processing for security**

### Configuration Options

#### WiFi Networks

Configure multiple WiFi networks with priority ordering:

```ini

# Primary network (highest priority if not numbered)

wifi_ssid=HomeNetwork

wifi_password=HomePassword

# Additional networks with priority (higher numbers = higher priority)

wifi_ssid_2=WorkNetwork

wifi_password_2=WorkPassword

wifi_ssid_3=MobileHotspot

wifi_password_3=HotspotPassword

# WiFi country code (affects available channels)

wifi_country=GB

# Allow connection to open networks

enable_open_networks=false

```

#### User Security

```ini

# Set password for raspine user

user_password=MySecurePassword

# Enable SSH password authentication (default is key-only)

enable_ssh_password=true

# Add SSH public key for secure access

ssh_key=ssh-rsa AAAAB3NzaC1yc2EAAAA... user@example.com

```

#### System Settings

```ini

# Set hostname

hostname=my-raspine

# Set timezone

timezone=Europe/London

# Set locale

locale=en_GB.UTF-8

```

### Complete Example

```ini

# RasPINE Boot Configuration

# WARNING: This file will be DELETED after processing for security!

# === WIFI CONFIGURATION ===

wifi_ssid=MyHomeNetwork

wifi_password=MyHomePassword

wifi_ssid_2=WorkNetwork

wifi_password_2=WorkPassword

wifi_country=GB

enable_open_networks=false

# === USER SECURITY ===

user_password=MySecurePassword123!

enable_ssh_password=false

ssh_key=ssh-rsa AAAAB3NzaC1yc2EAAAADAQABAAABAQDEx... user@example.com

# === SYSTEM CONFIGURATION ===

hostname=raspine-zero

timezone=Europe/London

locale=en_GB.UTF-8

```

### Security Notes

- The configuration file is **automatically deleted** after processing to protect your passwords

- WiFi passwords and user passwords are never stored in plain text after configuration

- SSH key-only authentication is recommended for production use

- Always keep a backup of your configuration in a secure location

## 🥧 Compatibility

RasPINE is available in two image variants:

### RasPINE (armhf) — All Models

The standard image supports **every Raspberry Pi ever made**, from the original Pi 1 through to the Pi 5. It uses a 32-bit (armhf) userland with a 64-bit (aarch64) kernel on Pi 3 and later models.

| Series | Models |

|--------|--------|

| **Classic** | Pi 1 Model A/B/B+ |

| **Zero** | Pi Zero, Zero W, Zero 2 W |

| **Standard** | Pi 2B, 3A+/B/B+, 4B, 5 |

| **Compute** | CM1, CM3, CM3+, CM4, CM4S, CM5 |

| **Special** | Pi 400, Pi 500 |

### RasPINE-aarch64 — Pi 3 and Later

The aarch64 image is a fully native 64-bit build for newer Pi models. It includes the v8 kernel for Pi 3/4 and the dedicated Pi 5 (2712) kernel.

| Series | Models |

|--------|--------|

| **Zero** | Pi Zero 2 W |

| **Standard** | Pi 3A+/B/B+, 4B, 5 |

| **Compute** | CM3, CM3+, CM4, CM4S, CM5 |

| **Special** | Pi 400, Pi 500 |

## 📡 Network Configuration

### Ethernet

DHCP is enabled by default on `eth0`. No configuration needed.

### WiFi Setup

#### Method 1: Boot Configuration (Recommended)

Use the boot configuration system described above to set up WiFi before first boot.

#### Method 2: Manual Configuration

Edit `/etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf`:

```bash

network={

    ssid="YourNetworkSSID"

    psk="YourNetworkPassword"

}

```

Then enable the wireless interface:

```bash

sudo ifup wlan0

```

## 📦 Package Management

RasPINE uses Alpine's `apk` package manager:

```bash

# Update package index

apk update

# Install packages

apk add nano htop git

# Search for packages

apk search nginx

# Remove packages

apk del package-name

```

### Custom APK Repository

RasPINE includes the custom RasPINE repository with Raspberry Pi OS kernels and firmware:

```bash

# Already configured in the image

https://raspine.pistar.uk/v3.23/community

```

## 🛠️ System Management

### Service Management (OpenRC)

```bash

# List all services

rc-status

# Start/stop/restart services

rc-service dropbear start

rc-service networking restart

# Enable/disable at boot

rc-update add dropbear default

rc-update del dropbear default

```

### System Information

```bash

# Check Alpine version

cat /etc/alpine-release

# Check kernel version

uname -r

# Check disk usage

df -h

# Check memory usage

free -h

```

## 🏗️ Technical Architecture

### Partition Layout

| Partition | Size | Format | Mount Point | Purpose |

|-----------|------|--------|-------------|---------|

| 1 | 256MB | FAT32 | `/boot/firmware` | Boot files, kernel, firmware, config |

| 2 | ~1.7GB | ext4 | `/` | Root filesystem |

### What Comes From Where?

#### From Raspberry Pi OS:

- All kernel images (kernel*.img)

- Device tree blobs and overlays

- Kernel modules (`/usr/lib/modules/*`)

- Firmware blobs (`/usr/lib/firmware/*`)

- Boot configuration files

#### From Alpine Linux:

- Complete userland (musl libc)

- OpenRC init system

- BusyBox utilities

- APK package manager

- Dropbear SSH server

- Network management tools

#### RasPINE Specific:

- Boot configuration processor (`raspine-config`)

- Hybrid integration scripts

- Custom APK repository configuration

## 🐛 Troubleshooting

### Common Issues and Solutions

| Issue | Solution |

|-------|----------|

| **No network** | Check cable/WiFi config, verify with `ip addr show` |

| **WiFi not connecting** | Check country code, verify password, check `wpa_supplicant` logs |

| **SSH refused** | Ensure dropbear is running: `rc-status` |

| **Config not applied** | Config file must be named exactly `raspine-config.txt` |

| **Module errors** | Run `depmod -a` to regenerate module dependencies |

| **Boot issues** | Check `/boot/firmware/config.txt` and `cmdline.txt` |

| **Package not found** | Run `apk update` first |

### Getting Help

Check the [Issues](https://github.com/MW0MWZ/RasPINE/issues) page or create a new issue if you encounter problems.

## 🤝 Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Open an issue or submit a pull request.

```bash

git clone https://github.com/MW0MWZ/RasPINE.git

cd RasPINE

```

## 📄 License

This project combines components from:

- **Raspberry Pi OS** - [Raspberry Pi OS License](https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/linux/kernel/license.md)

- **Alpine Linux** - [Alpine License](https://www.alpinelinux.org/about/)

## 🙏 Acknowledgments

- [Raspberry Pi Foundation](https://www.raspberrypi.org) for kernel and firmware

- [Alpine Linux Team](https://alpinelinux.org) for the minimal userland

- [Pi-Star Team](https://www.pistar.uk) for inspiration and collaboration

- The Amateur Radio community for continuous support

## 📊 Project Stats

![GitHub Stars](https://img.shields.io/github/stars/MW0MWZ/RasPINE?style=social)

![GitHub Forks](https://img.shields.io/github/forks/MW0MWZ/RasPINE?style=social)

![GitHub Watchers](https://img.shields.io/github/watchers/MW0MWZ/RasPINE?style=social)

---



**Built with ❤️ for the Raspberry Pi and Amateur Radio communities**

*Maintained by Andy Taylor (MW0MWZ)*

[Website](https://raspine.pistar.uk) | [Downloads](https://github.com/MW0MWZ/RasPINE/releases)
ecosyste.ms

Data

Tools

Indexes

Applications

Experiments

Awesome

https://github.com/mw0mwz/raspine

Awesome Lists containing this project

README
