Alpaquita Linux

Fast and secure Linux for Java. With CRaC support

Bellsoft Alpaquita Linux is a full-featured operating system optimized for Java and cloud environment. Quickly deploy infrastructure or cloud services. Enjoy guaranteed support and the highest level of security

Launch apps faster

Launch apps faster

Startup time 45% faster

Save storage

Save storage

the Docker image is 3.58 MB only

Utilize the best solution

Utilize the best solution

Three mallocs and two libcs, CRaC

Why Alpaquita Linux?

The Only Linux Optimised for Java

Alpaquita Linux is the only Linux optimized for Java™, making it a natural choice as a lightweight and secure base layer for containerized Java applications. The BellSoft support team is equipped to address any issues related to Java™ code or Linux, ensuring comprehensive assistance for your development needs.

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Stable LTS Releases

Stable LTS Releases

Alpaquita Linux offers long-term support (LTS) for extended reliability and stability. This ensures that your system receives ongoing updates, security patches, and assistance for a minimum of 4 years.

Coordinated Restore at Checkpoint (CRaC)

Alpaquita Linux supports CRaC technology, a Checkpoint/Restore API. Together with Liberica JDK with CRaC Support it achieves instant startup at peak performance without losing the ability to further optimize performance with JIT compiler.

Liberica JDK with CRaC

Savvy Choice for an Efficient Spring Boot App

Alpaquita Containers can reduce memory consumption by up to 30 %, minimize disk space usage, and lower cloud costs. With Liberica JDK as the default Java runtime in Spring, Alpaquita Сontainers become the natural and optimal choice.

Alpaquita Containers

Smallest Container on the Market

Alpaquita Linux, in combination with Liberica JDK Lite, delivers production-ready containers for Java applications with an impressively compact size of just 77.1 MB. Best for dense cloud deployments and cloud costs reduction.

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24/7/365 Worldwide Support

We provide commercial support and services for Alpaquita Linux and Liberica JDK. Your applications will be in the hands of internationally renowned engineers with specialized expertise in Linux and Java™. We're your partners who understand and speak your language.

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Easy Migration

Easy Migration

Migrating to Alpaquita Linux is a smooth process thanks to full compatibility with Alpine Linux. The added support for glibc ensures straightforward transition from glibc-based Linux systems.

Alpaquita Linux Features

Kernel:
  • Always on Linux LTS (6.1 currently)
  • SecureBoot, signed modules, disabled modules with CVEs
  • Better performance tunables, optimized size (xz)
Userspace based on Alpine Linux aports:
  • Busybox, on-demand coreutils
  • Main/aports & apk package manager
  • No graphics
LIBC:
  • Musl and glibc support
  • Optimized musl, optimized mallocs
Compatibility with Docker, QEMU support:
  • Docker
  • QEMU support
Coordinated Restore at Checkpoint (CRaC)
  • Dedicated CRaC builds
  • Liberica JDK with CRaC full compatibility

Production-ready Containers, now with CRaC Support

Using Alpaquita in production is convenient with Liberica Runtime Containers!
Secure, performant, and regularly updated container images with Alpaquita Linux and Liberica JDK Lite are available for free on Docker Hub, GHCR, and MCR.
By integrating CRaC API support into Liberica JDK and Alpaquita Linux, we offer a comprehensive Java development and deployment solution.This solution ensures predictable scaling, higher availability, and reduced resource consumption by minimizing the startup and warm-up time of your JavaTM Workloads to near zero.

With services operating at peak performance from the get-go, resource planning becomes easy, precise and predictable — add instances as needed without over- or under-planning, thereby reducing operational costs for running and scaling your services

Startup Time
Memory Footprint

Learn how to use Liberica Runtime Containers

Download Alpaquita Linux now for free

Get a Stream version of full-featured operating system optimized for Java

  • Cloud Optimized
    Cloud Optimized

    Alpaquita is the best choice for small performant containers.

  • Secure
    Secure

    All the components of Alpaquita receive regular security updates.

  • Great support
    Great support

    Enterprise level support from engineers who develop OpenJDK.

Cloud Optimization for Java

The most complete Java experience

Deliver applications faster and optimize your cloud-native environment

Get Started

The only Linux optimized to run Java microservices

Start with Linux

Flexible, performant, and secure Java runtime

Run Java Microservices

GraalVM-based distribution for the most performant native images

Build native images

Java Profiler to manage and collect the data on your applications

Analyze your apps

Best in class support by the people behind OpenJDK

Discover our support

General

01. What is Alpaquita Linux?

Alpaquita Linux is a lightweight Linux distribution based on Alpine for Cloud and Server use.

02. How is Alpaquita different from Alpine?

Alpaquita is distinguished by multiple performance and security optimizations and LTS releases optimal for enterprise use. Alpaquita comes with three additional malloc for various workloads and best Java support. In addition, we enhanced stock musl libc. Our musl perf is similar or superior to glibc performance. We also provide two Alpaquita variants based on musl perf or glibc.

03. What is Alpaquita Cloud Native Platform?

Alpaquita Cloud Native Platform is an end-to-end solution for enterprises deploying cloud-native applications. It includes Alpaquita LTS, Liberica JDK Lite, Liberica Native Image Kit, and BellSoft’s support both for Linux and Java.

04. What is the difference between Alpaquita Stream and Alpaquita LTS?

Alpaquita Stream is a free rolling release of Alpaquita with the latest updates and fixes. Alpaquita LTS is a stable version supported for four years with two-years overlap with the previous version.

05. What C library implementation does Alpaquita support?

Alpaquita comes in two versions, musl and glibc-based. Our musl perf is 100% compatible with musl def (a default musl implementation similar to the upstream release version), but boasts performance enhancements making it as efficient as glibc.

06. How do I switch to Alpaquita?

The process of migrating to Alpaquita depends on several factors, such as libraries utilized for development (statically or dynamically linked) and so on. If you build an application outside Docker and copy the binary into the Docker image, simply substitute the image you are currently using.

Security and updates

01. Is Alpaquita secure?

Alpaquita's enhanced security sums up to low attack surface, additional kernel security hardening, regular updates, and emergency patches provided within the scope of commercial support. Security advisory (underway) will provide information about discovered vulnerabilities and available patches.

02. How is Alpaquita licensed?

Alpaquita is distributed under EULA (End-user license agreement) — we verified all the packages regarding clean licenses and substituted some software to eliminate the risk of license violation.

03. How is Alpaquita updated?

Alpaquita Stream is continually updated with fresh packages, features, and fixes. It can be used by developers who want the latest software, but is not recommended for enterprise applications requiring stability. Alpaquita LTS is aligned with Linux Kernel LTS. It is a stable production-grade version with a focus on security patches and critical fixes without significant package changes.

04. How do I get updates for Alpaquita?

Alpaquita uses APK as a package manager. Use apk update to update the index of available packages and apk upgrade to upgrade the currently installed packages. Docker images, ISO, and WSL are also regularly updated and available from the corresponding locations.

Support

01. Is Alpaquita free?

Alpaquita Stream is free to use. In addition, we offer enterprise-grade support for Alpaquita Cloud Native Platform.

02. What does BellSoft deliver with Alpaquita support?

BellSoft's subscription model includes 24x7 support both for Linux and Java, Alpaquita LTS versions, and emergency patches and bug fixes. There is no man-in-the-middle, meaning that you receive prompt help directly from our engineers.

03. What support plans are available?

We provide Standard and Premium support for our customers. Both options include emergency security patches, off-cycle updates and fixes, and a two-hour initial consultation. The response times are as fast as 24 hours based on SLA for Standard subscription and 1 hour for Premium. Premium customers also get a dedicated engineer.

04. What is BellSoft's support cycle for Alpaquita?

We provide updates for Alpaquita LTS for min. four years with two-year overlap between the latest versions.

Availability

01. Does Alpaquita have a desktop version?

No. Alpaquita is tailored specifically for Cloud/Server deployments with low resource consumption and high performance in mind. To keep it lightweight, we refrained from the GUI functionality.

02. What platforms are supported?

Alpaquita Linux supports both x86 and AArch64 hardware architectures, providing flexibility and compatibility for a wide range of systems.

03. Does Alpaquita support Docker?

Alpaquita comes with Docker and QEMU support.

04. How do I download Alpaquita?

There are several ways of obtaining Alpaquita binary: directly from our website, Linux repositories, or Docker Hub Container Image Library.

05. Which programming languages can Alpaquita be used with?

Alpaquita Linux supports various languages for application development — Java, Python, C/C++. It is also compatible with Liberica NIK, a GraalVM-based utility for native image generation.

Alpaquita containers

01. What is a small Linux for containers?

A lightweight Linux distribution contributes to significant container size reduction. Such distribution contains only the libraries your application needs plus optional packages you can remove or add as required.

02. What is included into Alpaquita containers?
BellSofts provides an extensive selection of Alpaquita containers:
  • Alpaquita base includes only the base Linux image
  • Liberica Runtime Container comprises of Alpaquita and Liberica Lite JDK or JRE;
  • Liberica Native Image Kit Container is made up of GraalVM-based Liberica NIK and Alpaquita
  • We also provide Alpaquita images for Python and C/C++
03. How to install additional Linux packages?

You can add, list, remove, or update packages with the APK Package Manager tool that comes pre-installed on all Alpaquita versions. A comprehensive guide on working with APK on Alpaquita can be found here.

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