RNX-Alpine

Note Currently this only works for x86 based ReadyNAS systems!

Creates an ISO image for an automated installer that replaces ReadyNAS OS with Alpine Linux while at the same time

• leaving the data intact
• preserve all SMB shares
• migrating user accounts over to alpine

Warning This is work in progress! Expect errors and problems! Notably your ReadyNAS may refuse to boot after running the code. So be prepared to have to do some restore work.

Prerequisites

• x86 based ReadyNAS running ReadyNAS OS 6.x
• USB drive with at least 2GB of storage space
• working internet connection
• curious and adventurous mindset highly recommended

Quick Start / Usage

If you want to jump right into the fry just grab the latest ISO image from Releases, and burn it on an USB stick. I currently use Balena Etcher but you may prefer other methods.

Next, follow the procedure to boot your ReadyNAS from that stick as outlined in NETGEAR Support: How do I use the USB Recovery Tool on my ReadyNAS OS 6 storage system?.

If all goes well the ReadyNAS will boot from the USB stick, the converter will do its thing and when it's done it will finish the conversion with a reboot. You then have an converted ReadyNAS that

• runs the latest stable Alpine Linux (Extended)
• can be accessed via ssh using root as the username and password as password
• has all the old data located in /data
• has the user's home data from the ReadyNAS located in /home
• has all the previously installed apps in /apps (but disabled!)
• runs all the sharing services previoulsy enabled on the ReadyNAS (samba, nfs, ftp, rsync)

Things to note:

1. Installed apps are disabled

   As noted above, apps previously installed on the ReadyNAS are transferred to the converted system but they are disabled. The reason for this is that Alpine doesn't use systemd but relies on OpenRC instead. To convert between these systems automatically is nearly impossible so it's left as an eductational task for the user.

2. Passwords aren't preserved/transferred

   Because of the differences in user and group manangement it is not easy to transfer password between different Linux distributions, even when doing an in-place switch. Thus, the current approach is:

   • ignore all system accounts from the ReadyNAS

   • for all the "normal accounts"

     • if they exist in Alpine Linux change all the file-/directory ownerships to the ids used by the corresponsing Alpine users/groups

     • if they don't exist create new users/groups with ids as closely matching to the originals as possible. Where this doesn't work change the file/directory ownership to the ids of the newly created users/groups

     • all passwords for newly created users are reset to password. Feel free to come up with a better solution, I'd be grateful.

   Either way, s ince the passwords aren't transferred users must login once using ssh to set an individual password.

3. No web interface (yet?)

   The converted system will only provide the raw services like SMB, ssh, FTP and the like but no web based interface to manage those. Might come later as a Golang tool or whatever. I don't know yet. Basically the converted system is just a Linux box with the needed services enabled but no other amenities.

Building

If you want to tweak the converter you will need to roll your own ISO.

Build requirements

• working Alpine Linux (Extended) system (bare metal or virtual) with
  • at least 2 virtual CPUs (the more the better)
  • at least 2 GB of RAM (the more the better)
  • at least 4 GB hard disk space (the more ... you got it by now, I guess)
  • SSD preferred but not required (it's your time after all)
  • working internet connection
• git installed on the Alpine Linux host

Preparing for the build

As user root

1. Login to your Alpine box as user root

2. clone this repo:

   git clone https://github.com/RustyDust/rnx-alpine

3. run the script to create the build user (optional if you already have one):

   root_user/create_build_user.sh

4. switch to the build user:

   su - build

As the build user

1. check out the repo again (yeah, I know ...)

   git clone https://github.com/RustyDust/rnx-alpine

2. make necessary/intended changes to

   • template/genapkovl.template
   • template/preseed.template

   Note: For debugging have a look at the code sections marked with !!! HINT !!!

3. When done, run the script to generate the ISO

   cd build_user
   ./make_iso.sh

4. Sit back and wait for approx 15 minutes

Submitting patches

All enhancements and improvements to this tool are very welcome! So if you feel you can improve the general working, provide more functionality or fix some bugs (hopefully not) feel free to submit a PR.

Please note

• base your PRs on the develop branch, not "main"
• sign your commits (git commit -s)
• provide some information about what your modifications do