Arch Linux

megachad simulator

Create a File System

Wipe Partitions

The goal of this section is to create 3 partitions: efi (boot), swap, and root.

Search for partitions using fdisk -l.

wipefs <path_to_partition> for whatever partitions you decide to nuke.

fdisk to F whatever disk you decide to. Create an efi partition 1 Gb big with type 1, a swap partition at least 4 Gb big with type 19, and a root partition using however much space you want your system to have with type 23. Write changes.

Mount

mkfs.fat -F 32 <path_to_efi_part>
mkfs.ext4 <path_to_root_part>
mkswap <path_to_swap_part

mount <path_to_root_part> /mnt
mount --mkdir <path_to_efi_part> /mnt/boot
swapon <path_to_swap_part>

Connect to a Network

If you're on Ethernet, just plug it in.

Wireless

This section assumes you need no drivers. If you do, :(

ip link, iw dev <wireless_interface> link to check status.

ip link set <wireless_interface> up

Enter the iwctl interactive prompt.
device list
device <wireless_interface> set-property Powered on
station <wireless_interface> scan
station <wireless_interface> get-networks
station <wireless_interface> connect <SSID>

Verify connectivity with iw dev <wireless_interface> link or ping 1.1.1.1 -c 4

If there is an issue with name resolution, try the following:
killall dhcpcd
dhcpcd <wireless_interface>

Install

Install Necessary Packages

pacstrap -K /mnt base linux linux-firmware

pacman-key --init

pacman-key --populate archlinux

pacman-key --refresh-keys (optional)

Making It Bootable

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

Configure the System

Let's go inside:
arch-chroot /mnt
pacman -Syu

Time

ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo/America/New_York /etc/localtime
hwclock --systohc

Localization

locale-gen

pacman -Sy nano
Use nano /etc/local to add the line LANG=en_US.UTF-8

Network

Use nano /etc/hostname to create a hostname.

You're also gonna want to install the following network tools since they're not native:
pacman -Sy iw iwd dhcpcd
systemctl enable iwd
systemctl start iwd
systemctl enable dhcpcd
systemctl start dhcpcd

Security

I don't care about encryption. That skips a lot.

Use passwd to set a root password.

Go Boom

Boot Loader

I only care about GRUB here.

pacman -Sy grub efibootmgr

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

mkinitcpio -P
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.conf

Run It

exit the chroot.

shutdown 0

Remove the installation media.

Power on.