How to Set Up a Minimal Arch Linux Installation

Arch Linux is a lightweight and flexible Linux distribution that is highly customizable. Unlike other mainstream distributions, Arch Linux provides the user with complete control over the installation process, allowing for a minimal system that can be expanded as needed. Setting up a minimal Arch Linux installation can be an educational and rewarding experience for those interested in learning more about Linux internals, system administration, and custom setups. This guide will walk you through the steps to perform a minimal installation of Arch Linux on your system.

Prerequisites

Before we dive into the installation process, make sure you have the following prerequisites:

• A computer with a compatible x86_64 architecture (Intel or AMD processors).
• A USB drive (at least 2 GB) for the Arch Linux installation media.
• A stable internet connection (for downloading packages).
• A basic understanding of Linux commands, especially using the terminal.

You can perform the installation on a physical machine or a virtual machine (VM) using a tool like VirtualBox or VMware.

Step 1: Download the Arch Linux ISO

The first step is to download the Arch Linux installation ISO. You can obtain the latest version of the Arch Linux ISO image from the official website:

• Arch Linux Downloads

Choose a mirror close to your location and download the archlinux-x86_64.iso file. After downloading the ISO, you can write it to a USB drive using tools like Rufus (on Windows) or dd (on Linux).

Step 2: Boot from the Installation Media

Once you have prepared the bootable USB drive, insert it into the target machine and restart the system. Access the boot menu by pressing the appropriate key during the startup (usually F12, F2, or Esc, depending on the manufacturer). Select the USB drive as the boot device.

The system should boot into the Arch Linux live environment. Once booted, you will be presented with a command line interface (CLI), where you can begin the installation process.

Step 3: Set Up Keyboard Layout

The default keyboard layout on Arch Linux is US QWERTY. If you are using a different layout, you can change it by using the loadkeys command. For example, to set the layout to German, you would run:

loadkeys de

You can check the available layouts with the following command:

ls /usr/share/kbd/keymaps/i386/qwerty/

Step 4: Verify Internet Connection

Arch Linux requires an active internet connection for package installation. If you’re using Ethernet, the connection should be automatically established. However, if you’re using Wi-Fi, you’ll need to configure the wireless interface.

To check if you’re connected to the internet, you can use the following command:

ping -c 3 archlinux.org

If the connection fails, you can connect to a Wi-Fi network using iwctl (for iwd). Here’s how:

1. Type iwctl to enter the interactive mode.
2. Use the device list command to list available Wi-Fi devices.
3. Scan for available networks with the station device scan command.
4. Connect to a network using station device connect SSID, replacing “device” with your network interface and “SSID” with the name of your Wi-Fi network.

Once connected, exit iwctl by typing exit.

Step 5: Update the System Clock

Before proceeding, it is essential to ensure that your system clock is accurate. This can be done with the following command:

timedatectl set-ntp true

This will enable Network Time Protocol (NTP) to keep your system clock synchronized.

Step 6: Partition the Disk

The next step is to partition the disk. Arch Linux does not have an installer that automates this process, so you’ll need to do it manually. For the sake of simplicity, we will assume you’re using a single disk setup, but feel free to adapt the steps to your needs.

List the available storage devices with:

lsblk

You should see something like /dev/sda or /dev/nvme0n1, depending on your system’s storage device.

To partition the disk, use the fdisk tool:

fdisk /dev/sda

Here are some common steps:

1. Create a new partition table by typing g for GPT (recommended for modern systems).
2. Create partitions using the n command. You typically need at least two partitions: one for the root filesystem (/) and one for swap.
3. Set partition types by typing t for the root partition (type 83 for Linux).
4. After creating partitions, type w to write the changes.

Step 7: Format the Partitions

Now that you have created the partitions, the next step is to format them. For example, let’s assume you created the following partitions:

• /dev/sda1 for the root (/) filesystem.
• /dev/sda2 for swap.

To format the root partition with the ext4 filesystem, run:

mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda1

If you created a swap partition, you can enable it with:

mkswap /dev/sda2
swapon /dev/sda2

Step 8: Mount the Filesystems

Now, mount the root partition to /mnt:

mount /dev/sda1 /mnt

If you have additional partitions, like a separate boot partition, mount them as well:

mount /dev/sdaX /mnt/boot

Replace /dev/sdaX with the appropriate partition name.

Step 9: Install the Base System

With the partitions mounted, it’s time to install the base system. Arch Linux provides a package called base that contains the essential packages needed to run a minimal Arch installation.

Run the following command to install the base system:

pacstrap /mnt base linux linux-firmware

This command will install the basic Arch system, including the Linux kernel and necessary firmware.

Step 10: Configure the System

Once the installation completes, you can proceed to configure your system.

1. Generate fstab:

   The fstab file is used to define how partitions should be mounted. Generate it with the following command:

   genfstab -U /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab
   

2. Chroot into the system:

   Change root into the newly installed system:

   arch-chroot /mnt
   

3. Set the timezone:

   Set the system timezone using ln:

   ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo/Region/City /etc/localtime
   

   Replace Region/City with your actual timezone, such as America/New_York.

4. Sync the hardware clock:

   Run the following command to sync the hardware clock with the system time:

   hwclock --systohc
   

5. Set the locale:

   Uncomment your locale in /etc/locale.gen:

   nano /etc/locale.gen
   

   Uncomment a line that corresponds to your region, such as en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8, and then generate the locale:

   locale-gen
   

6. Set the hostname:

   Set the hostname for your system:

   echo "myhostname" > /etc/hostname
   

7. Configure the hosts file:

   Edit /etc/hosts to add an entry for localhost:

   nano /etc/hosts
   

   Add the following lines:

   127.0.0.1   localhost
   ::1         localhost
   127.0.1.1   myhostname.localdomain  myhostname
   

8. Set the root password:

   Set the root password by running:

   passwd
   

Step 11: Install and Configure a Bootloader

Now, install a bootloader to boot your Arch Linux system. GRUB is a popular choice for bootloaders.

To install GRUB:

pacman -S grub

Install GRUB to the disk:

grub-install --target=i386-pc /dev/sda

For UEFI systems, use this command instead:

grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot --bootloader-id=GRUB

Generate the GRUB configuration file:

grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Step 12: Reboot and Test the System

Exit the chroot environment:

exit

Unmount the partitions:

umount -R /mnt

Finally, reboot the system:

reboot

Remove the installation media, and your Arch Linux system should boot into the login prompt.

Conclusion

You have now set up a minimal Arch Linux installation. From here, you can begin to customize your system to suit your needs, such as installing a desktop environment, configuring network settings, and adding additional software packages. The Arch Wiki is an excellent resource for further customization and troubleshooting.