https://github.com/wick3dr0se/arch-linux-installation-guide
An easy to follow Arch Linux installation guide. This guide will show you how to properly install Arch Linux on UEFI/BIOS systems, ext4/btrfs file systems; using systemd-bootloader/GRUB and systemd-networkd/NetworkManager for networking. These are the given examples but I have provided links to sections with the information necessary to install any 86_64 system
https://github.com/wick3dr0se/arch-linux-installation-guide
achi arch-linux bios btrfs ext4 grub guide linux networkmanager raid systemd uefi
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An easy to follow Arch Linux installation guide. This guide will show you how to properly install Arch Linux on UEFI/BIOS systems, ext4/btrfs file systems; using systemd-bootloader/GRUB and systemd-networkd/NetworkManager for networking. These are the given examples but I have provided links to sections with the information necessary to install any 86_64 system
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/wick3dr0se/arch-linux-installation-guide
- Owner: wick3dr0se
- Created: 2021-09-12T20:54:36.000Z (over 4 years ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2022-10-10T16:01:54.000Z (over 3 years ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-05-03T21:32:36.649Z (12 months ago)
- Topics: achi, arch-linux, bios, btrfs, ext4, grub, guide, linux, networkmanager, raid, systemd, uefi
- Homepage:
- Size: 28.3 KB
- Stars: 8
- Watchers: 2
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
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README
## Arch Linux Installation Guide
#### The goal of this Arch Linux installation guide is to provide an easier to interpret, while still chomprehensive how-to for installing Arch Linux on x86_64 architecture devices. This guide assumes you are technically inclined and have a basic understanding of Linux. This installation guide was made with intentions of sticking to systemd (systemd-boot, systemd-networkd). Due to the vast amount of options/prefrences for networking tools & boot loaders, instructions for NetworkManager & GRUB were included to their respective sections
###### This guide is a mix of knowledge and information from the [ArchWiki](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Installation_guide)
I use Arch BTW
---
### Contents
1. [Live Media Creation](#1-live-media-creation)
2. [Verify Boot Mode](#2-verify-boot-mode)
3. [Inital Network Setup](#3-initial-network-setup)
3.1. [Ethernet](#31-ethernet)
3.1. [WiFi](#31-wifi)
4. [System Clock](#4-system-clock)
5. [Disk Partitioning](#5-disk-partitioning)
6. [Swap Space (Optional)](#6-swap-space-optional)
6.1. [Swap Partition](#61-swap-partition)
6.1. [Swapfile](#61-swapfile)
7. [Format Partitions](#7-format-partitions)
8. [Mount Partitions](#8-mount-partitions)
9. [Install Essential Packages](#9-install-essential-packages)
10. [Fstab](#10-fstab)
11. [Change Root](#11-change-root)
12. [Time Zone](#12-time-zone)
13. [Localization](#13-localization)
14. [Network Configuration](#14-network-configuration)
14.1. [Systemd-networkd](#141-systemd-networkd)
14.1. [NetworkManager](#141-networkmanager)
15. [Initramfs](#15-initramfs)
16. [Users & Passwords](#16-users-and-passwords)
17. [Boot Loader](#17-boot-loader)
17.1. [Systemd-boot](#171-systemd-boot)
17.1. [GRUB](#171-grub)
## 1. Live Media Creation
if a system with access to linux commands is available, use [dd](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Dd) to create a bootable arch linux installation image on a usb/sd card from the downloaded [iso](https://archlinux.org/download/). there are several ways to create an installation medium -- see how to create an arch linux installer image, [here](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/USB_flash_installation_medium)
the 'of' path should be replaced with the destination to the usb/sd card; insert the device and use [lsblk](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Lsblk#lsblk) to check path. it should be something like 'sdb'
```shell
dd bs=4M if=///.iso of=/dev/ status=progress && sync
```
when a bootable image has sucessfully been created from the iso, attach the device and boot into the live enviornment.
secure boot must be disabled from the system [bios](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BIOS) menu to boot the installation medium
## 2. Verify Boot Mode
list the efivars directory
```shell
ls /sys/firmware/efi/efivars
```
if the command returns the directory without error, then the system is booted in [uefi](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/UEFI). if the directory doesn't exist the system may be booted in [bios](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Arch_boot_process#Under_BIOS) or [csm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compatibility_Support_Module) mode
## 3. Initial Network Setup
check if the [network interface](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Network_interface#Network_interfaces) is enabled with [iplink](https://man.archlinux.org/man/ip-link.8)
```shell
ip link
```
if disabled, check the device driver -- see [ethernet#device-driver](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Network_configuration/Ethernet#Device_driver) or [wireless#device-driver](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Network_configuration/Wireless#Device_driver)
### 3.1. _Ethernet_
plug in an ethernet cable
---
### 3.1. _WiFi_
make sure the card isn't blocked with [rfkill](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Network_configuration/Wireless#Rfkill_caveat)
```shell
rfkill list
```
if the card is soft-blocked by the kernel, use this command:
rfkill unblock wifi`
the card could be hard-blocked by a hardware button or switch, e.g. a laptop. make sure this is enabled
authenticate to a wireless network in an [iwd](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Iwctl) interactive prompt
```bash
iwctl
```
list all wireless devices
```shell
[iwd] device list
```
scan for networks
```shell
[iwd] station scan
```
list scanned networks
```shell
[iwd] station get-networks
```
finally, connect to specified network
```shell
[iwd] station connect
```
verify connection
```shell
[iwd] station show
```
exit prompt (ctrl+c)
```shell
exit
```
_° for wwan (mobile broadband) -- see [nmcli](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Mobile_broadband_modem#ModemManager)_
## 4. System Clock
set system clock [timedatectl](https://man.archlinux.org/man/timedatectl.1)
```shell
timedatectl set-ntp true
```
check status
```shell
timedatectl status
```
## 5. Disk Partitioning
list disk and block devices
```shell
lsblk
```
using the most desirable [partitioning](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Partition) tool([gdisk](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Gdisk), [fdisk](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Fdisk), [parted](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/parted), etc) for your system, create a new gpt or mbr partition table, if one does not exist. a gpt table is required in uefi mode; an mbr table is required if the system is booted in legacy bios mode
if booted in uefi, create an [efi](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/EFI_system_partition)(512MB) [system partition](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/EFI_system_partition) (boot); not necessary for legacy bios systems. create an optional swap partition (half or equal to RAM) and the required [root](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Root_directory#/)(10GB+) [partition](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Root_directory)
if the system has an existing efi partition, don't create a new one. do not format it or all data on the partition will be lost, rendering other operating systems potentially un-bootable. skip the 'mkfs.vfat' command in the [format partitions](#format-partitions) section below and mount the already existing efi partition if available
to create any stacked block devices for [lvm](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/LVM), [system encryption](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Dm-crypt) or [raid](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/RAID), do it now
partitioning with gdisk
gdisk /dev/sdX
#### new gpt partition table (erases any existing partitions)
o
#### efi system partition
n
+512M
ef00
#### (swap partition)
n
+4G
8200
#### root partition
n
+10G
8300
#### write changes
w
## 6. _Swap Space (Optional)_
in order to create a [swap](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Partitioning_tools#Swap) consider creating either a [swap partition](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Swap#Swap_partition) or a [swapfile](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Swap#Swap_file) now. to share the [swap space](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Swap_file#Swap_space) system-wide with other operating systems or enable hibernation; create a linux swap partition. in comparison, a swapfile can change size on-the-fly and is more easily removed, which may be more desirable for a modestly-sized ssd
----
### 6.1. _Swap Partition_
if a swap partition was made, format it by replacing 'swap_partition' with it's assigned block device path, e.g. sda2
```shell
mkswap /dev/
```
then activate it
```shell
swapon /dev/
```
----
### 6.1. _Swapfile_
to create a swapfile instead, use dd. the following command will create a 4gb swapfile
```shell
dd if=/dev/zero of=/swapfile bs=1M count=<4096> status=progress
```
format it
```shell
mkswap /swapfile
```
then activate it
```shell
swapon /swapfile
```
a swapfile without the correct permissions is a big security risk. set the file permissions to 600 with [chmod](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/File_permissions_and_attributes#Changing_permissions)
```shell
chmod 600 /swapfile
```
## 7. Format Partitions
format the root partition just created with preferred [filesystem](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/File_systems) and replace 'root_partition' with it's assigned [block device](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Device_file#Block_devices) path, e.g. sda3
```shell
mkfs. /dev/
```
for uefi systems, format the efi partition by replacing 'efi_partition' with it's assigned block device path, e.g. sda1
_°if an efi partition already exist, skip formatting_
```shell
mkfs.vfat -F32 /dev/
```
## 8. Mount Partitions
[mount](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Mount) root partition to /mnt
```shell
mount /dev/ /mnt
```
mount the efi system [partition](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Partitioning#Example_layouts) to [/boot](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Partitioning#/boot)
```shell
mkdir /mnt/boot
```
```shell
mount /dev/ /mnt/boot
```
## 9. Install Essential Packages
[pacstrap](https://man.archlinux.org/man/pacstrap.8) base, [kernel](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Kernel) choice and if the system has an amd or intel cpu, install the coinciding [microcode](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Microcode) updates
```shell
pacstrap /mnt base linux linux-firmware nano sudo -ucode
```
## 10. Fstab
generate an [fstab](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Fstab) file from detected mounted block devices, defined by uuid's
```shell
genfstab -U /mnt > /mnt/etc/fstab
```
check generated fstab
```shell
cat /mnt/etc/fstab
```
## 11. Change Root
[chroot](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Change_root) into freshly installed system
```shell
arch-chroot /mnt
```
## 12. Time Zone
set [time zone](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Time_zone)
```shell
ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo// /etc/localtime
```
generate /etc/adjtime with [hwclock](https://man.archlinux.org/man/hwclock.8)
```shell
hwclock --systohc
```
_° this assumes the hardware clock is set to [utc](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/UTC). for more, see [system time#time standard](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/System_time#Time_standard)_
## 13. Localization
[edit](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Textedit) /etc/locale.gen and un-[comment](https://linuxhint.com/bash_comments/) 'en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8' or any other necessary [locales](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Locale) by removing the '#'
```shell
nano /etc/locale.gen
```
use ctrl+x then 'y' to save and close [nano](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Nano)
_° for a different editor -- see [documents#editors](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/List_of_applications/Documents#Text_editors)_
generate the locales
```shell
locale-gen
```
[create](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Textedit) the [locale.conf](https://man.archlinux.org/man/locale.conf.5) file and set the [system locale](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Locale#Setting_the_system_locale)
```shell
echo LANG=en_US.UTF-8 > /etc/locale.conf
```
## 14. Network Configuration
create [hostname](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Hostname) file
```shell
echo > /etc/hostname
```
add matching entries to [hosts](https://man.archlinux.org/man/hosts.5)
```shell
nano /etc/hosts
```
```
127.0.0.1 localhost
::1 localhost
127.0.1.1 .localdomain
```
_° if the system has a permanently assigned ip address, use it instead of '127.0.1.1'_
install any desired [network managment](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Network_configuration) software. for this guide [systemd-networkd](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Systemd-networkd) is used. if you prefer a gui and configureless setup -- check out networkmanager below
### 14.1. _Systemd-networkd_
install wpa_supplicant
```shell
pacman -S wpa_supplicant
```
connect to the network with [wpa_passphrase](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Wpa_supplicant#Connecting_with_wpa_passphrase)
```shell
wpa_passphrase > /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant-.conf
```
[enable & start](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Start/enable) the wpa_supplicant daemon reading the config file just created
```shell
systemctl enable --now wpa_supplicant@
```
setup systemd-networkd for wireless networking
```shell
nano /etc/systemd/network/25-wireless.network
```
```
[Match]
Name=
[Network]
DHCP=yes
```
enable and start systemd-network service daemon
```shell
systemctl enable systemd-networkd
```
_° for a static connection -- see [#static](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Systemd-networkd#Wired_adapter_using_a_static_IP); for ethernet -- see [#wired adapter](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Systemd-networkd#Wired_adapter_using_DHCP)_
----
### 14.1. _NetworkManager_
install [networkmanager](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/NetworkManager)
```shell
pacman -S networkmanager
```
enable and start networkmanager service daemon
```shell
systemctl enable NetworkManager
```
## 15. _Initramfs_
_° creating an initramfs image isn't necessary since [mkinitcpio](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Mkinitcpio) was ran when pacstrap installed the kernel_
for [lvm](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Install_Arch_Linux_on_LVM#Adding_mkinitcpio_hooks), [system encryption](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Dm-crypt) or [raid](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/RAID#Configure_mkinitcpio) modify [mkinitcpio.conf](https://man.archlinux.org/man/mkinitcpio.conf.5) then recreate the initramfs image with:
```shell
mkinitcpio -P
```
## 16. Users and Passwords
create a new user
```shell
useradd -m
```
add created user to the wheel group
```shell
usermod -aG wheel
```
uncomment '%wheel'
```shell
EDITOR=nano visudo
```
set created user [password](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Password)
```shell
passwd
```
set [root user](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Root_user) password
```shell
passwd
```
disable login to [superuser/root](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_user), locking password entry for root user. this will give the system increased security and a user can still be elevated within the wheel group to superuser priveleges with [sudo](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Sudo) and [su](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Su) commands
```shell
passwd -l root
```
## 17. Boot Loader
install a linux-capable [boot loader](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Boot_loader). for simplicity and ease-of-use I recommend systemd-boot, not grub for uefi. systemd-boot will boot any configured efi image including windows operating systems. systemd-boot is not compatible with systems booted in legacy bios mode
### 17.1. _Systemd-boot_
install [systemd-boot](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Systemd-boot) in the efi system partition
```shell
bootctl --path=/boot install
```
add a [boot entry](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Systemd-boot#Adding_loaders) and load installed microcode updates
```shell
nano /boot/loader/entries/.conf
```
```
title
linux /vmlinuz-linux
initrd /-ucode.img
initrd /initramfs-linux.img
options root=/dev/ rw quiet log-level=0
```
_° if a different kernel was installed such as linux-zen, you would add '-zen' above to 'vmlinuz-linux' and 'initframs-linux' lines. this will boot the system using the selected kernel. for more -- see [kernel paramters](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Kernel_parameters#systemd-boot)_
edit [loader config](https://man.archlinux.org/man/loader.conf.5)
```shell
nano /boot/loader/loader.conf`
```
```
default .conf
timeout <3>
console-mode
editor
```
verify entry is bootable
```shell
bootctl list
```
----
### 17.1 _GRUB_
install [grub](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/GRUB). also, install [os-prober](https://archlinux.org/packages/?name=os-prober) to automatically add boot entries for other operating systems
```shell
pacman -S grub os-prober
```
#### 17.2. _UEFI_
for systems booted in uefi mode,
install [efibootmgr](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/EFISTUB#efibootmgr)
```shell
pacman -S efibootmgr
```
and install grub to the efi partition
```shell
grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/grub --bootloader-id=GRUB
```
----
#### 17.2. _BIOS_
othwerwise, if booted in bios mode; where path is the entire disk, not just a partition or path to a directory
install grub to the disk
```shell
grub-install --target=i386-pc /dev/sdx
```
----
generate the [grub config](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/GRUB#Configuration) file. this will automatically detect the arch linux installation
```shell
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
```
_° if a warning that os-prober will not be executed appears then, un-comment 'GRUB_DISABLE_OS_PROBER=false'_
```shell
nano /etc/default/grub
```
## 18. Arch Linux Installation Complete :partying_face:
exit (ctrl+d) chroot
```shell
exit
```
unmount all partitions; check if busy
```shell
unmount -R /mnt
```
reboot the system
```shell
reboot
```