A Personal Arch Installation Guide
The "A Personal Arch Installation Guide" is a thoughtfully crafted personal resource designed to assist with the installation of Arch Linux. This guide is particularly aimed at those who prefer a more hands-on, customized setup using systemd-boot and UEFI. It even provides directions on encrypting partitions utilizing LUKS and LVM, making it a valuable asset for users seeking a robust level of security and customization.
Introduction
Arch Linux is renowned for its simplicity and flexibility, but its installation process can be intricate, especially for newcomers. This personal installation guide serves as a coherent documentation aiding the author's own need to remember essential steps through the installation process. However, the guide’s comprehensive explanations ensure that users who stumble upon it can also benefit, although they’re advised to also consult the official Arch Linux Wiki.
Pre-Installation Preparation
Before beginning the installation, there are several critical steps to ensure readiness:
- Familiarize oneself with the official wiki and download the necessary installation image.
- Verify the image’s signature for security.
- Prepare an installation medium and boot into the live environment.
Setting Up the System
Keyboard Layout and Boot Mode
- Keyboard Layout: Configuring the correct keyboard layout is a foundational step. For instance, to set the US keyboard layout, you simply execute
loadkeys us. - Verify Boot Mode: Whether your system boots in UEFI or BIOS mode can be confirmed by checking the
efivarsdirectory. This determines how the Arch ISO responds when booting.
Internet Connectivity
To install the necessary packages from the internet, one must establish a network connection:
- Wired: Enable the interface using the
systemctl start dhcpcd@<interface>command. - Wireless: Utilize the
iwctlcommand to connect to wireless networks, ensuring no hardware blocks withrfkill.
System Clock and Disk Partitioning
- System Clock: Employ
timedatectlto update the system time automatically. - Disk Partitioning: The guide walks through both unencrypted and encrypted setups:
- Unencrypted Setup: It covers creating boot, root, and home partitions using tools like
gdiskandcgdisk. - Encrypted Setup: It details creating encrypted LUKS containers and setting up logical volumes using LVM.
- Unencrypted Setup: It covers creating boot, root, and home partitions using tools like
Installation Process
The guide delves into formatting, mounting filesystems, and installing essential packages. Special attention is paid to:
- Package Selection: Recommendations on extra packages that optimize performance, networking, and utility functionality.
- Generating fstab: Properly generating and verifying the filesystem table.
- Chroot Environment: Transitioning into the new root environment to finalize configurations.
Post-Installation Configuration
After core system setup, a series of configurations ensure a smooth and personalized Arch Linux experience:
- Time Zone and Localization: Steps to set your time zone and locale settings, ensuring system-wide accuracy and preference adherence.
- Network Configuration: Setting up the hostname and editing the hosts file for network identity and resolution.
- Initramfs and Swap Management: Critical for systems with encryption, ensuring proper setup of the initial RAM filesystem and managing swap files for optimized memory usage.
Conclusion
This Personal Arch Installation Guide stands as a practical tool, marrying technical sophistication with user-friendly instructions. While primarily composed for the author’s needs, its detailed walkthroughs are beneficial for anyone looking to harness the full potential of Arch Linux in a customized and secure environment.