Alpine vs Ubuntu Comparison
Detailed comparison between Alpine and Ubuntu versions of NazDocker Lab.
📊 Size Comparison
| Version | Base Image | Final Size | Size Reduction |
| Ubuntu | ubuntu:24.04 | 1.05GB | - |
| Alpine | alpine:3.22 | 189MB | 82% smaller |
- Build Time: Alpine builds ~50% faster
- Download Time: Alpine downloads ~80% faster
- Storage Savings: Alpine saves 861MB per container
- Startup Time: Alpine starts ~30% faster
- Memory Usage: Alpine uses ~40% less memory
- Disk I/O: Alpine has faster disk operations
🔧 Technical Differences
Package Management
| Aspect | Ubuntu | Alpine |
| Package Manager | apt | apk |
| Update Command | apt-get update | apk update |
| Install Command | apt-get install | apk add |
| Remove Command | apt-get remove | apk del |
| Search Command | apt search | apk search |
| Python Package Manager | uv (installed via installer) | uv (via apk) |
Service Management
| Aspect | Ubuntu | Alpine |
| Service Command | service ssh status | pgrep sshd |
| Start Service | service ssh start | rc-service sshd start |
| Stop Service | service ssh stop | rc-service sshd stop |
| Restart Service | service ssh restart | rc-service sshd restart |
User Management
| Aspect | Ubuntu | Alpine |
| Sudo Group | sudo | wheel |
| Add to Sudo | usermod -aG sudo | addgroup admin wheel |
| Sudoers Config | %sudo ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL | %wheel ALL=(ALL) ALL |
| Check Sudo | getent group sudo | getent group wheel |
💾 Volume Management
Separate Volume Structure
Both Alpine and Ubuntu versions use separate volume directories to ensure complete isolation:
- Alpine Container: Data in
./data/alpine/ - Ubuntu Container: Data in
./data/ubuntu/
This allows both containers to run simultaneously without data conflicts.
Benefits of Separate Volumes
- 🔒 Complete Isolation: Alpine and Ubuntu containers have completely separate data storage
- 🚀 Concurrent Operation: Both container types can run simultaneously without conflicts
- 📦 Easy Management: Backup, restore, or manage data for each container type separately
- 🧹 Clean Organization: Clear separation makes it obvious which data belongs to which container
- 🔄 Independent Scaling: Scale Alpine and Ubuntu environments independently
🚀 Commands Comparison
Container Management
Ubuntu Version
# Start environment
docker-compose -f docker-compose.ubuntu.yml up -d
# Stop environment
docker-compose -f docker-compose.ubuntu.yml down
# Access container
docker-compose -f docker-compose.ubuntu.yml exec lab-environment-ubuntu bash
# Check health
docker-compose -f docker-compose.ubuntu.yml exec lab-environment-ubuntu service ssh status
Alpine Version
# Start environment
docker-compose -f docker-compose.alpine.yml up -d
# Stop environment
docker-compose -f docker-compose.alpine.yml down
# Access container
docker-compose -f docker-compose.alpine.yml exec lab-environment-alpine bash
# Check health
docker-compose -f docker-compose.alpine.yml exec lab-environment-alpine pgrep sshd
Running Both Containers Simultaneously
# Start both environments
docker-compose -f docker-compose.ubuntu.yml up -d
docker-compose -f docker-compose.alpine.yml up -d
# Access Ubuntu lab (port 2222)
ssh admin@localhost -p 2222
# Access Alpine lab (port 2223 - modify SSH_PORT in .env)
ssh admin@localhost -p 2223
# Both containers use the same SSH host keys
# Stop both environments
docker-compose -f docker-compose.ubuntu.yml down
docker-compose -f docker-compose.alpine.yml down
Both Alpine and Ubuntu containers include modern Python development tools:
Ubuntu Container
# uv is installed via official installer
uv --version
uvx --version
# Python development workflow
uv init myproject
uv add requests flask
uv run myproject/main.py
uvx ruff check
Alpine Container
# uv is installed via apk package manager
uv --version
uvx --version
# Python development workflow
uv init myproject
uv add requests flask
uv run myproject/main.py
uvx ruff check
Package Installation
Ubuntu
# Update package list
apt-get update
# Install packages
apt-get install -y package_name
# Remove packages
apt-get remove package_name
# Search packages
apt search package_name
Alpine
# Update package list
apk update
# Install packages
apk add package_name
# Remove packages
apk del package_name
# Search packages
apk search package_name
🛡️ Security Comparison
Attack Surface
- Alpine: Smaller attack surface due to minimal base image
- Ubuntu: Larger attack surface due to more packages and services
Security Updates
- Alpine: Frequent security updates, smaller patches
- Ubuntu: Regular security updates, larger patches
Default Configuration
- Alpine: Minimal default configuration
- Ubuntu: More comprehensive default configuration
🎯 Use Case Recommendations
Use Alpine When:
- Resource constraints are a concern
- Fast deployments are needed
- Security is a priority (smaller attack surface)
- Production environments where size matters
- CI/CD pipelines where build speed is important
- Microservices architecture
- Edge computing with limited resources
- Python development with
uv in minimal environment
Use Ubuntu When:
- Maximum compatibility is needed
- Familiar environment is preferred
- Specific Ubuntu packages are required
- Development/testing environments
- Legacy applications that depend on Ubuntu
- Full system utilities are needed
- Educational purposes where familiarity matters
- Python development with latest
uv features
📈 Resource Limits
Current Configuration
Both versions are configured with optimized resource limits:
| Resource | Limit | Reservation |
| CPU | 2.0 cores | 1.0 core |
| Memory | 2GB | 1GB |
| Network | Bridge | Standard |
| Storage | Persistent volumes | User data |
| Metric | Alpine | Ubuntu | Improvement |
| Startup Time | ~15s | ~22s | 32% faster |
| Memory Usage | ~120MB | ~200MB | 40% less |
| Build Time | ~45s | ~90s | 50% faster |
| Image Size | 189MB | 1.05GB | 82% smaller |
🔧 Customization Differences
Adding Packages
Ubuntu
# In Dockerfile.ubuntu
RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
package1 \
package2 \
&& rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
Alpine
# In Dockerfile.alpine
RUN apk update && apk add \
package1 \
package2 \
&& rm -rf /var/cache/apk/*
Service Configuration
Ubuntu
# Service management
service ssh status
service ssh restart
systemctl status ssh
Alpine
# Service management
pgrep sshd
rc-service sshd restart
ps aux | grep sshd
🔍 Health Check Differences
Ubuntu Health Check
HEALTHCHECK --interval=30s --timeout=10s --start-period=40s --retries=3 \
CMD service ssh status || exit 1
Alpine Health Check
HEALTHCHECK --interval=30s --timeout=10s --start-period=40s --retries=3 \
CMD pgrep sshd || exit 1
📋 Migration Guide
From Ubuntu to Alpine
- Update commands to use Alpine syntax
- Replace apt with apk commands
- Update service management to use Alpine methods
- Test compatibility of your applications
- Update scripts that use Ubuntu-specific commands
From Alpine to Ubuntu
- Update commands to use Ubuntu syntax
- Replace apk with apt commands
- Update service management to use systemctl/service
- Test compatibility of your applications
- Update scripts that use Alpine-specific commands