Alpine LXC Creation Script for Proxmox VE

This opinionated bash script automates the creation of Alpine Linux LXC containers on Proxmox with Docker, Tailscale, and development tools pre-installed.

🚀 Features

• Automated Alpine Linux LXC creation with latest template
• Docker & Docker Compose pre-installed and configured
• Tailscale VPN support with kernel configuration
• Oh My Posh with Atomic theme and Nerd Fonts
• Development tools: git, vim, ansible, mosh, etc.
• Custom MOTD with system information
• Email notifications for unattended installations
• Flexible configuration via external config file
• High availability and backup ready

📋 Requirements

• Proxmox VE 7.x or 8.x
• Root access on Proxmox host
• Internet connection for package downloads
• Python3 (for email notifications)
• Sufficient storage and resources

🛠️ Installation

1. Copy the script to your Proxmox host:

wget https://git.gadgetboy.org/Homelab/create-alpine-lxc/raw/branch/main/create-alpine-lxc.sh
chmod +x create-alpine-lxc.sh

2. Review the script then run it once to generate the configuration file:

./create-alpine-lxc.sh

3. Edit the configuration file:

nano create-lxc.conf

4. Run the script again to create your container:

./create-alpine-lxc.sh

⚙️ Configuration Options

Essential Settings

Variable	Description	Default
attended	Interactive (1) or unattended (0) mode	1
hostname	Container hostname	alpine-docker
vmid	Container ID (empty for auto)	""
root_password	Root password	changeme123
tags	Proxmox tags	alpine;docker

Resource Settings

Variable	Description	Default
cpu	Number of CPU cores	2
ram	RAM in MB	2048
swap	Swap in MB	512
disk	Root disk size in GB	32
storage	Storage pool name	local

Network Settings

Variable	Description	Default
bridge	Network bridge	vmbr0
ssh_public_key	SSH public key for root	""

Email Settings (Unattended Mode)

Variable	Description	Default
smtp_enabled	Enable email notifications	0
smtp_server	SMTP server address	smtp.gmail.com
smtp_port	SMTP port	587
smtp_user	SMTP username	""
smtp_password	SMTP password	""

📦 Included Software

System Tools

• Alpine Linux (latest)
• Bash & Bash completion
• Core utilities (curl, wget, git, vim, nano, htop)
• Python 3 & pip

Container & Virtualization

• Docker CE
• Docker Compose
• Container networking support

Network Tools

• Tailscale VPN
• Dropbear SSH server
• OpenSSH client
• Mosh (mobile shell)

Development Tools

• Ansible
• Git
• Oh My Posh (modified Atomic theme)
• JetBrains Mono Nerd Font
• Various text editors

🎨 Features Details

Custom MOTD

The container displays a custom message of the day showing:

• ASCII art hostname
• LAN IP address
• Tailscale hostname and status
• System information

Oh My Posh Theme

The Atomic theme provides:

• Git status integration
• Execution time tracking
• Multiple programming language indicators
• Battery status (if applicable)
• Current time display

Docker Configuration

• Docker daemon auto-starts on boot
• Nesting enabled
• Proper cgroup configuration

Tailscale Support

• Kernel modules configured
• TUN device support
• Ready for tailscale up command

🔧 Post-Installation Steps

1. Enter the container:

   pct enter <VMID>

2. Configure Tailscale:

   tailscale up

3. Test Docker:

   docker run hello-world

4. Check the configuration report:

   cat /opt/<hostname>_*_report.txt

🔒 Security Considerations

• Change the default root password immediately (or in the create-lxc.conf before script execution)
• Configure SSH key authentication
• Consider disabling password authentication
• Set up nominal firewall rules
• Keep the system updated

🐛 Troubleshooting

Container Won't Start

• Check Proxmox logs: journalctl -u pve-container@<VMID>
• Check storage allocation
• Check if VMID is already in use

Network Issues

• Verify bridge configuration
• Check DHCP server availability
• Ensure firewall allows container traffic

Docker Issues

• Verify nesting is enabled in container options
• Check Docker daemon logs: docker logs
• Ensure cgroup configuration is correct

Tailscale Issues

• Check if TUN device exists: ls /dev/net/tun
• Verify kernel module: lsmod | grep tun
• Check Tailscale logs: tailscale status

📝 Advanced Usage

Multiple Storage Pools

Use different storage for different components:

storage="local"      # For root filesystem
template_storage="local" # For templates

High Availability

Configure HA in a Proxmox cluster:

# In create-lxc.conf (uncomment and configure)
ha_enabled=1
ha_group="ha-group-1"

🤝 Contributing

Feel free to submit issues, fork the repository, and create pull requests for any improvements.

📄 MIT License

This script is provided as-is without warranty. Use at your own risk.

Always test in a non-production environment first!

🙏 Acknowledgments

• Proxmox Team
• Alpine Linux maintainers
• Jan De Dobbeleer, creator of Oh My Posh