Alpine Linux support.

I am using Alpine Linux heavily because it's a very small distribution and very fit for both Container and Virtual Machines Applications, with very small resource occupation. So could you please support Alpine Linux as well?

 

This would be extremely useful. Given that Alpine is the system that Docker itself uses to build its own packages, Parallels / Corel would be very amiss in not implementing top level support for Alpine Linux

 

We too require to run alpine under parallels, i see the previous requests are now 3 years old and cant see it listed as supported anywhere on the parallels site https://kb.parallels.com/en/123550 are there any 3rd part instructions for getting this running as loading the armv7 ISO https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.18/releases/armv7/alpine-virt-3.18.3-armv7.iso is just looping at the BIOS screen

 

• Got alpine working under parallels and also UTM -> https://mac.getutm.app/.
• Tested using Macbook M1, MacOS Sonoma 14.4.1, Parallels 19.3.0, Alpine Standard 3.19.1 ***aarch64***
• ISO's sourced from-> https://alpinelinux.org/downloads/
• The armv7 ISO will not work it loops at BIOS as shown in previous post -> https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.19/releases/armv7/alpine-standard-3.19.1-armv7.iso
• Changed to the aarch64 one which works -> https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.19/releases/aarch64/alpine-standard-3.19.1-aarch64.iso
  • The reason an Alpine ISO with aarch64 works on a MacBook M1 but an armv7 version does not is primarily due to the architecture compatibility. The M1 chip, developed by Apple, is based on the ARM architecture, specifically ARMv8 (64-bit), which is compatible with aarch64 instructions. Aarch64 is the 64-bit execution state in the ARMv8 architecture, providing support for 64-bit data and addressing.
  • On the other hand, armv7 is a 32-bit execution state used in older ARM architectures (ARMv7-A), which was prevalent before the introduction of the 64-bit ARMv8 architecture. While ARMv8 (aarch64) can run 32-bit (armv7) code through its compatibility mode, the reverse is not true; armv7 cannot execute 64-bit code designed for aarch64 because it lacks the necessary hardware support for 64-bit operations and addressing.
  • In the context of the MacBook M1, which uses ARMv8 architecture, it naturally supports aarch64 software, ensuring that operating systems and applications compiled for aarch64 can run efficiently. Attempting to use an armv7 Alpine ISO on an M1 MacBook might fail because the system expects software that fully utilizes its 64-bit capabilities for optimal performance and compatibility. Additionally, the firmware and boot process of the M1 MacBooks are designed with 64-bit operating systems in mind, further complicating the direct use of armv7-based distributions.