Arch installation – Part 1

This is a continuation for my earlier post on Arch Linux. In this blog we’ll try to install and tame Arch Linux in an easier and quickest way.

The default installation covers only a minimal base system and expects the end user to configure and use it. Based on the KISS – Keep It Simple, Stupid! principle, Arch Linux focus on elegance, code correctness, minimalist system and simplicity.

Arch Linux supports the Rolling release model and has its own package manager – pacman. With the aim to provide a cutting-edge operating system, Arch never misses out to have an up-to-date repository. The fact that it provides a minimal base system gives you a choice to install it even on low-end hardware and then install only the required packages over it.

Also, its one of the most popular OS for learning Linux from scratch. If you like to experiment with a DIY attitude, you should give Arch Linux a try. It’s what many Linux users consider a core Linux experience.

You have been warned…!!! The method we are going to discuss here wipes out existing operating system(s) from your computer and install Arch Linux on it. So if you are going to follow this tutorial, make sure that you have backed up your files or else you’ll lose all of it or else your are installing in a fresh VM (You can deploy a VM easily with a Virtual Box, VMWare Workstation, KVM, Xen etc). Deploying a VM with any of those afore mentioned tools is completely out of scope for this post. again I would reccomend you to try this installation in any of your old laptop or a new VM

Requirements for installing Arch Linux:

  • A x86_64 (i.e. 64 bit) compatible machine
  • Minimum 512 MB of RAM (recommended 2 GB)
  • At least 1 GB of free disk space (recommended 20 GB for basic usage)
  • An active internet connection
  • A USB drive with minimum 2 GB of storage capacity
  • Familiarity with Linux command line

You have been warned..!!! If you are a person addicted to GUI and doesn’t want to do a DIY kind of Linux installation, IMHO, please discontinue reading this and go ahead with Arch derivatives like Manjaro.

Step 1: Download the ISO

You can download the ISO from the official website.
I prefer using the magnet link and downloading the ISO with a torrent client.

Step 2: Create a live USB of Arch Linux

We will have to create a live USB of Arch Linux from the ISO you just downloaded.

If you are on Linux, you can use dd command to create a live USB. I recommend you to try Balena Etcher for creating your usb. This is my favourite way of doing it. It is a portable piece of software and can be used on Windows/Mac OS/Linux etc

You can download it from the link here

Once you have created a live USB for Arch Linux, shut down your PC. Plugin your USB and boot your system. While booting keep pressing ESC, F2, F10 or F12 (depending upon your system) to go into boot settings. In here, select to boot from USB or removable disk. You will be presented with a Linux terminal which will be automatically logged in as root user.

As the initial steps are completed, we’ll discuss the installation part in my next post