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Arch Linux Installation and Post-Install Customization

date: June 20, 2014 | reading_time: 4 min read

Arch Linux Installation and Post-Install Setup

After using Fedora for years, I wanted something lighter and more customizable. Arch Linux offers a minimal, DIY approach with no bloat and full control.

1. Pre-Installation

Download Arch Linux ISO and create a bootable USB:

sudo dd if=/path/to/arch.iso of=/dev/sdX status=progress

#Boot into the system and test internet:
ping -c 3 google.com

2. Partitioning

#Check disks:
fdisk -l

#Or use:
cfdisk /dev/sda

#Format partitions:
mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda1
mkswap /dev/sda2
swapon /dev/sda2

3. Install Base System

#Mount partition:
mount /dev/sda1 /mnt

#Install base packages:
pacstrap -i /mnt base base-devel

#Generate fstab:
genfstab -U /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab

#Verify:
nano /mnt/etc/fstab

#Chroot:
arch-chroot /mnt

4. Locale and Time

#Edit locale:
nano /etc/locale.gen

#Uncomment:
en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8

#Run:
locale-gen
echo "LANG=en_US.UTF-8" > /etc/locale.conf

#Set timezone:
ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo/Asia/Kathmandu /etc/localtime
hwclock --systohc

5. Package Manager Setup

#Edit config:
nano /etc/pacman.conf

#Enable:
[multilib]
Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist

#Update:
pacman -Sy

6. Users and Permissions

#Set root password:
passwd

#Create user:
useradd -m -G wheel -s /bin/bash your_username
passwd your_username

#Install sudo:
pacman -S sudo

#Enable sudo:
EDITOR=nano visudo

#Uncomment:
%wheel ALL=(ALL) ALL

7. Bootloader

#Install GRUB:
pacman -S grub
grub-install --target=i386-pc /dev/sda
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

8. Finish Installation

exit
umount -R /mnt
reboot

9. Network Setup

ip link

#Enable network:
systemctl enable dhcpcd
systemctl start dhcpcd

#Test:
ping -c 3 google.com

10. Install GUI (Xorg)

pacman -S xorg-server xorg-xinit mesa

#Input drivers:
pacman -S xf86-input-synaptics

#Test GUI:
pacman -S xorg-twm xorg-xclock xterm
startx

11. Desktop Environment

#Install LXDE:
pacman -S lxde lxdm

#Enable display manager:
systemctl enable lxdm
systemctl start lxdm

12. Essential Applications

pacman -S wget git firefox vlc gimp file-roller unzip

13. Development Stack (Optional)

#Install Apache:
pacman -S apache
systemctl enable httpd
systemctl start httpd

#Install MySQL:
pacman -S mysql
systemctl start mysqld
mysql_secure_installation

#Install PHP:
pacman -S php php-apache

14. Network Manager (WiFi)

pacman -S networkmanager network-manager-applet
systemctl enable NetworkManager
systemctl start NetworkManager

15. NTFS Support

pacman -S ntfs-3g

Notes

  • Arch is minimal by design
  • Always double-check partitions and configs
  • Keep backups before running destructive commands
[:bn] Fedora fix Multilib version problems
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