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https://github.com/dtgoitia/alai

Arch Linux Automatic Installation
https://github.com/dtgoitia/alai

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Arch Linux Automatic Installation

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# Arch Linux Automatic Installation



Steps to install Arch Linux via SSH in another machine (guest) automatically:



## TL;DR



1. Start the live installation.

2. Ensure you have internet connection in your guest (run `wifi-menu` and follow the instructions).

3. Connect via SSH from your host to your guest (details [here](#connect-via-ssh)).

4. In your host, clone the installation scripts and execute them:

    ```bash

    git clone git://github.com/dtgoitia/alai

    cd alai

    ./run.sh

    ```



## Connect via SSH



If you are in VirtualBox, configure it to expose the guest port 22 at host's port 2222:

1. Open Settings > Network > Adapter 1 > Advanced > Port Forwarding

2. Create a new rule:

    ```text

    Name        | Protocol | Host IP | Host Port | Guest IP | Guest Port

    My SSH rule | TCP      |         | 2222      |          | 22

    ``` 

    More info [here](https://blog.johannesmp.com/2017/01/25/port-forwarding-ssh-from-virtualbox#port-forwarding-ssh)

3. On the host, if you have rebooted the VM:

    ```bash

    ssh-keygen -R [127.0.0.1]:2222

    ```

    This command will remove the old fingerprint

4. On the guest:

    ```bash

    passwd

    systemctl start sshd

    ```

5. From the host:

    ```bash

    $ ssh -p 2222 [email protected]

    The authenticity of host '[127.0.0.1]:2222 ([127.0.0.1]:2222)' can't be established.

    ECDSA key fingerprint is SHA256:/9MTMlkNq684abDnAIuhJcrT7VYrc2criEAN6GHiDgG.

    Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no)? yes

    Warning: Permanently added '[127.0.0.1]:2222' (ECDSA) to the list of known hosts.

    [email protected]'s password: 

    ```

6. Type the password set in step 1.

7. If everything went OK, you should be now inside the VM shell. Press `Ctrl+D` to exit.

8. From the host:

    ```bash

    ./run.sh 2222

    ```



9. After rebooting, in the guest, login as root and set the password of the just created user:

    ```bash

    root

    passwd dtg

    ```

10. Log out (`Ctrl` + `D`) and log in as the user.



## Setup WiFi



Installing the `base` group of packages installs `netctl` to handle the network connections. I will use the `networkmanager` package, which should be installed by the installation scripts. There is no need to uninstall `netctl` as it's very small (95KB).



The script will also automatically disable `netctl` and enable `NetworkManager` services. From then on, you can communicate with the `NetworkManager` service via the `nmcli` CLI client. This client is enough to manage and connect to WiFi networks.



## Setup X resources



Copy all the dotfiles from the host to the guest:



```bash

./install_xmonad.sh 2222

```



## Setup XMonad



1. Install required packages:

    ```bash

    sudo pacman -Syu --noconfirm xmonad xmonad-contrib xorg-server xorg-xinit rxvt-unicode

    ```

2. Set-up _X_ server-client required files:

    ```bash

    echo 'xmonad' > ~/.xinitrc

    echo 'xmonad' > ~/.xsession

    ```

3. Create _xmonad_ configuration file at `~/.xmonad/xmonad.hs`:

    ```haskell

    import XMonad



    main = xmonad def

        { terminal = "urxvt"

        }

    ```

4. Create `~/.Xresources` file to customize _rxvt-unicode_ terminal:

    ```

    URxvt*termName:          screen-256color

    URxvt*loginShell:        true

    URxvt*scrollWithBuffer:  false

    URxvt*background:        Black

    URxvt*foreground:        White

    URxvt*scrollBar:         false

    ```

    Ensure to run `xrdb ~/.Xresources` when you change the configuration, and then reopen  _rxvt-unicode_.



[Incredibly detailed `Xresources` settings](https://www.askapache.com/linux/rxvt-xresources/)



5. Install _xmobar_ package: `xmobar`.

6. Add _xmobar_ configuration to `~/.xmobarrc` (see [example](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xmobar#Configuration)).

7. Configure _xmonad_ to start _xmobar_ on start:

    ```haskell

    mport XMonad

    import XMonad.Hooks.DynamicLog



    main = xmonad =<< xmobar defaultConfig

    {   modMask = mod4Mask

        { terminal = "urxvt"

        }

    }

    ```



## XMonad usage



- Open new terminal: `Alt`+`Shift`+`Enter`

- Exit Xmonad: `Alt`+`Shift`+`Q`

- Go to workspace 1, 2...: `Alt`+`1`, `Alt`+`2`, ...



## Troubleshooting



### Xresources



#### Xresources are not being loaded



When you start _X_ using a custom `.xinitrc`, you need to specify the _X_ config files to be loaded. Otherwise you'll be presented with a plain default settings (white and ugly).



**Solution**: run `xrdb ~/.Xresources`. The new settings should be picked up when you open a new terminal.

In order to load the custom _X_ configurations on start, add the instruction to your `.xinitrc` file:

```text

xrdb ~/.Xresources



xmonad

```



## Development



Bear in mind:



  - Scripts needs to have `777` permissions: `chmod 777 path_to_script`.

  - Configuration files ending in `CRLF` can cause problems in Linux (_XMonad_, etc.).