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https://github.com/drizzt/vps2arch

The fastest way to convert a VPS to Arch Linux! Mirror of https://gitlab.com/drizzt/vps2arch/
https://github.com/drizzt/vps2arch

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The fastest way to convert a VPS to Arch Linux! Mirror of https://gitlab.com/drizzt/vps2arch/

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README 

        
VPS2Arch

========



The fastest way to convert a _VPS_ to [Arch Linux](https://www.archlinux.org/)!



Author

------



[Timothy Redaelli](mailto:[email protected])



Description

-----------



This script is used to convert a _VPS_, running another linux distro, to _Arch Linux_.  

It should be **only** used if your _VPS_ provider doesn't provide you an _Arch Linux_ image.



Disclaimer

----------



> I'm not responsible for any damage in your system and/or any violation of the agreement between you and your vps provider.  

> **Use at your own risk!**



How To

------



Download the script on your _VPS_ and execute it with root privileges



**WARNING** The script will **delete** any data in your _VPS_!



	wget http://tinyurl.com/vps2arch

	chmod +x vps2arch

	./vps2arch



Some _Debian_ _VPS_ images don't have the _CA certificates_ installed, so `wget` will give you the following errors:



	ERROR: The certificate of `gitlab.com' is not trusted.

	ERROR: The certificate of `gitlab.com' hasn't got a known issuer.



To fix them just execute `apt-get install ca-certificates` and then re-execute the previous commands.



How does it work?

-----------------



It's Black Magic.

Just kiddin' 😏, the script itself is very simple.



In a nutshell, it will download the _Arch Linux Bootstrap Image_ and (see the [wiki](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Install_from_existing_Linux#Method_B:_Using_the_Bootstrap_Image_.28recommended.29)),

extract the image to / and configure the _Bootstrap chroot_.



Now, about the **critical** part:



> How can you wipe the system without breaking everything?



It's simple: using `ld.so` from the _Bootstrap chroot_ to launch the `chroot` tool.



Since it will erase all the system directories except from the _Bootstrap chroot_, `/dev`, `/proc`, `/sys` and the like,

the only way to launch a command inside the _Bootstrap chroot_ is to using ld.so from the _Bootstrap chroot_ itself.



At this point _Arch Linux_ has been installed, but not configured.

The script will provide a SSH-able system automagically configuring grub (or syslinux), network and restoring the root password from the original system (or by using `vps2arch` as password if no root password was set).



Once done doing its job, the script will ask you to manually reboot your _VPS_ and voilà, PROFIT!



Does it really work?

--------------------



Yes, it does!



On the [Tested VPS Providers](https://gitlab.com/drizzt/vps2arch/wikis/Tested-VPS-Providers) wiki page you can find a list of **Tested VPS Providers**.



Theoretically it should also work on **real** computers (running linux), but I think it's not worth it,

because you can install it in the canonical way.



Contributing

------------



If you have any useful modification, please use **Pull requests**.  

If you have successfully used this script on a different _distro_ - _VPS_ combination, please contact me so that I can update the above list.



If you are not a developer, but you still want to contribute, you can donate me an account on your _VPS_ provider and I'll do my best to support it.  

Or you can just donate me some bucks I'll spend to buy a _VPS_ on your provider in order to support it.



Caveats

-------



_IPv6_ currently is not supported. If you need to use it, please configure it manually.