Installing Archlinux for dummies
I am a user of debian-based distros, in recent years I have opted to use ubuntu, specifically in xubuntu (xfce as a desktop environment), I usually like to experience and understand how things work, and honestly, in ubuntu is everything ready and the additional configuration that must be done is insignificant, let's recognize that things have changed in the last 10 years, for example, we no longer have to resort to IRC forums or channels to know how to play mp3 in GNU / Linux.
The fact is that I have missed a bit how to get my hands dirty touching configurations and see that for something to be in place it requires effort or at least understand what it implies. Finally, I decided to take the step of trying something different (except how to configure or maintain the software of the daily distro). The result of all these experiences (just installing arch) I have compiled and decided to share with you.
Although I have tried to simplify it as much as possible and so that you have a functional archlinux at first, you should know something about the linux shell, if you have done it before, it may not be as complicated as it seems.
Let's move on!
Installing Archlinux
Requirements
1. Download the iso from https://www.archlinux.org/download/
2. Create a partition for this purpose (recommended ext4)
3. Determine exactly the address of the partition in / dev (with tools like blkid, lsfdisk, etc)
4. Restart the computer from CD/DVD / USB
5. Connect to the Wi-Fi if you do not have a LAN (Wi-Fi menu),
6. Verify connection by pinging any site * .com
7. When we verify that there is an internet connection, edit manually /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
using anyone from https://www.archlinux.org/mirrorlist/?ip_version=6
8. Update pacman
pacman -Sy
BASE SYSTEM
9. Mount created partition on /mnt (X is the partition number for example sda6)
mount /dev/sdaX /mnt
10. Exec pacstrap on /mnt partition
pacstrap /mnt base base-devel linux-lts linux-lts-headers linux-firmware nano sudo ntfs-3g
base: the archlinux base, directory structures, necessary symbolic links and basic programs.
base-devel (optional): development tools, such as compilers and source code headers needed to build programs from source code.
linux-lts, headers and firmware: the heart of the OS, the kernel necessary for the operation of our hardware.
nano: allow us to allow text files during installation.
sudo: for users to have administrative permissions.
ntfs-3g (optional): if you have NTFS partitions.
11. Generate fstab file
genfstab -U /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab
12. Entering on chroot
arch-chroot /mnt
13. Set timezone, see list with timedatectl list-timezones
14. Set your timezone
timedatectl set-timezone "America/Caracas"
systemctl enable systemd-timesyncd
15. Edit /etc/locale.gen file removing # simbol in our language (you can use nano)
16. We generate all configured lang…
locale-gen
17. We creating necessaries files /etc/locale.conf and /etc/vconsole.conf
cat > /etc/locale.conf << "EOF"
LANG=es_VE.UTF-8
EOF
cat > /etc/vconsole.conf << "EOF"
KEYMAP=es
EOF
18. We set the name of our computer /etc/hostname
cat > /etc/hostname << "EOF"
MyCOMPUTER
EOF
Adding the /etc/hosts file
cat > /etc/hosts << "EOF"
127.0.0.1 localhost
::1 localhost
127.0.1.1 MyComputer
EOF
19. Set root password
passwd root
Installing Xorg
20. Installing Xorg
pacman -S xorg xorg-server xterm xf86-video-{intel,ati,amdgpu} xf86-input-libinput
21. Installing additional fonts
pacman -S ttf-{freefont,arphic-uming,baekmuk,liberation} noto-fonts{,-cjk,-emoji,-extra}
22. If we have a laptop set the /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/30-touchpad.conf file
cat > /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/30-touchpad.conf << "EOF"
Section "InputClass"
Identifier "MyTouchpad"
MatchIsTouchpad "on"
Driver "libinput"
Option "Tapping" "on"
EndSection
EOF
23. Installing and enabling a graphical session manager
pacman -S lxdm
systemctl enable lxdm
XFCE4
24. Installing Xfce4 Desktop Enviroment
pacman -S xfce4{,-goodies,-notifyd} gvfs-{nfs,mtp} pavucontrol pulseaudio
25. Networking Aplications (optional)
pacman -S firefox transmission-gtk filezilla thunderbird gnome-keyring
26. Office Aplications (optional)
pacman -S libreoffice-fresh{,-es}
27. Extra Aplications (optional)
pacman -S geany poedit diffuse gimp inkscape vlc openshot gnome-calculator evince file-roller unrar
NetworkManager
28. Install and enable Network Manager
pacman -S wpa_supplicant wireless_tools networkmanager modemmanager mobile-broadband-provider-info usb_modeswitch rp-pppoe nm-connection-editor network-manager-applet usbutils
systemctl enable NetworkManager
systemctl enable wpa_supplicant
systemctl enable ModemManager
ADD A NEW USER (ADMINISTRATOR)
29. Adding new user
useradd -m -g adm -s /bin/bash -c "Full Name" user
-m: the directory is created in /home
-g: add the user to the adm group
-s: default shell
-c: Full name of the user
30. We give super powers to the new user by adding the adm group to the last line of /etc/sudoers, then assign a password to the new user
echo "%adm ALL=(ALL) ALL" >> /etc/sudoers
passwd user
INSTALLING GRUB
31. Installing grub
pacman -S grub os-prober
32. Installing grub on Master Boot Record (MBR)
grub-install /dev/sdX
33. Creating a grub file config
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
34. And... reboot
reboot
I hope you can find it useful, and help them simplify things so that you are encouraged to try archlinux, proto I will be buying my experiences with you.
Best regards!
