Official archlinux installation guide: Click here.
My Arch Notes: Click here
Why do i make notes when i can use the same video _source/ article source_ to install in the same manner the way I did it in the first place ? Ans. Bcoz textual information can be divided into precise points in the way I understand the intention of what I need to do. And though video content has high bandwidth in terms of absorbing content but textual content can be very much helpful and text notes are irreplacably good in my experience when it comes to 2-3 years of down the line when i need to do solve the same problem again.
sudo dd if=pathToArchLinuxOS.iso of /dev/sda status=progress : Setting up bootable pendrive. (if option means input file path). TIP: You can use lsblk <stands for::listBlockDevices> to list all the devices plugged in at the moment. (Note: For my latest dell laptop I used this command to bootable usb: sudo dd bs=4M if=/home/array/Downloads/manjaro-i3-22.0-230104-linux61.iso of=/dev/sdc status=progress oflag=sync)sudo su to become root.
TIP: Please ensure that you have disabled legacy mode and secure boot features in your boot menu as it can cause problems in installation of the os.wifi-menu to access wifi targets and connect to them (it is highly recommened).timedatectl set-ntp true to set the time. # List all drives
fdisk -l
# Select your target device (hard drive)
fdisk /dev/sdb # Considering sdb is your device.
# Now you are in subshell of fdisk (use q to quit without saving any changes)
# Common commands you can make use
p : print the state of drive
n : add a new partition
d : delete a partition
t : change partition type ## THIS MIGHT BE USEFUL LATER IF YOU CHOOSE UEFI INSTALLATION MODE to change the partition type of sdb1 to EFI.
# FYI: UEFI IS BETTER THAN LEGACY
# For fresh way of setting up (you may ensure that there are no current partition in the drive using `p` to print the partitions).
# Make partition with `n` and press p to make it primary. Press <Enter> key for "First Sector", and type +200M for "Last Sector" to create a 200Mb partition. And type `y` to remove "Signature" then. Now use `p` to check if you got the partition there which you just made (this would show up as partition `sdb1`).
### /// now make an extended partition in similar way for the (SWAP partition for system hibernation purpose):
# `n<Enter>e<Enter> +12G<Enter> and now verify the same with p<Enter> (this would show up as partition `sdb2`)
### /// now create a primary partition for archlinux installation i.e., system partition:
n<Enter>p<Enter>+25G<Enter>y<Enter> and now verify the same with p<Enter> (this would show up as partition `sdb3`)
### /// now create an extended partition for user data
n<Enter>e<Enter><Enter>Y and now verify the same with p<Enter> (this would show up as partition `sdb4`)
# FYI: We're using end block as end of the drive for the user data partition now.
####### Above process would make a partition table like below (You may use p<Enter> to print partition table)
type partition_type (Future Mount Point)
/dev/sdb1 200M linux primary /boot
/dev/sdb2 12G linux extended <none> (todo: need to verify this)
/dev/sdb3 25G linux primary /
/dev/sdb4 260G linux extended /mnt/home
### FINISHING??
# Press w<Enter> to write the all new partition table to the drive at once.
# Since its written now, you may verify the partition table simply with `lsblk` command now.
# For UEFI: We need to make /dev/sdb1 of type EFI instead of ext4
mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdb1 # IMPORTANT: READ ABOVE COMMENT
mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdb3
mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdb4
mkswap /dev/sdb2
swapon /dev/sdb2
ls /mnt. Also, lsblk would show the mount point in for our system partition too.# Create two directories i.e., home and boot mkdir /mnt/home /mnt/boot
# mount boot and user data partitions mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/boot #ALERT: Don’t use this command in UEFI mode of installation. mount /dev/sdb4 /mnt/home
#FYI: To unmount you can use umount pathToPartition or umount mountedDirectoryPath
### Verify the mounted paths by lsblk
9. Install archlinux to target partition using pacstrap, refer `pacstrap -h` for help on it. Installting archlinux, base packages and vim for now. We can include as many packages as we want from arch package repo here IMO. This command might take couple of minutes so BE PATIENT.
pacstrap /mnt/ linux linux-firmware base vim
FYI: With base we means this [package](https://archlinux.org/packages/core/any/base/), tldr; these packages: `bash, bzip2, coreutils, file, filesystem, findutils, gawk, gcc-libs, gettext, glibc, grep, gzip, iproute2, iputils, licenses, pacman, pciutils, procps-ng, psmisc, sed, shadow, systemd, systemd-sysvcompat, tar, util-linux, xz, linux (optional) - bare metal support`, I got this list from the dependencies section [here](https://archlinux.org/packages/core/any/base/).
FYI: We don't need base-devel anymore. See [this](https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=227602) issue and [this diff](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php?title=Installation_Guide&diff=253744&oldid=250715) in installation guide.
10. Setting up auto mount all partitions to desired paths using file `/etc/fstab`. Recommendattion: Always use UUID's for making the entries coz they are not gonna change even if you plug-out and plug-in multiple hard drives later. We generate the fstab file using:
# Print all the current mounted file systems genfstab -U /mnt
# To write the same table to fstab file we do: genfstab -U /mnt » /mnt/etc/fstab
#### Verif by checking the /mnt/etc/fstab file, edit the file according to your wish like you want some partitions to be mounted or not on boot time.
11. Making archlinux bootable,
arch-chroot /mnt # You get in a subshell now # FYI: You are logged in your newly installed system partition right now (before this we were in the usb os instance) # We verify that we are inside of newly installed system partitin by doing: cat /etc/fstab # This will output your fstab that you generated moments ago.
- Now if we do `ls` then it'll show you your `home` folder ***here*** which you created at `/mnt/home` earlier.
- Also, `lsblk` will show your _sdb3_ and _sdb4_ mounted at _/_ and _/home_.
12. Installing packages
pacman -S networkmanager
# We want systemd to automatically start the networkmanager on startup, so we do it: systemctl enable NetworkManager
13. -
14. Set password for root user-
passwd # for ease set it to toor which is classical value of root user password
15. Setting up locale (compulsory), you simply need to uncomment below two lines and save the file. i.e.,
```bash
vim /etc/locale.gen
en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8
en_US ISO-8859-1
and generate the locals from /etc/locale.gen file using command:
locale-gen
vim /etc/locale.conf
# and enter below line and save the file
LANG=en-US.UTF-8
# List all the zone info details, and choose your country from below entries:
ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo/<TAB>
# for India it should look like
ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo/Asia/Kolkata /etc/localtime
array@myHostName. vim /etc/hostname
# and type the hostname there, tip: use `arch-os` as hostname.
exit
/mnt directory- umount -R /mnt
# If above command says: "Resource busy" then use below command instead, (-l is for lazy unmount option)-
umount -l /mnt
NOW REBOOT with reboot command and remove the USB and the system should boot from your newly installed system partition now. CONGRATS
useradd -m sahil
# Set a password for user sahil
passwd sahil
# Add users to important groups so it can do things with sudo privilidges (you can apped lib-virt to the below list of groups if you want to use virtual machies with the user):
usermod -aG wheel,audio,video,optical,storage sahil
# TIP: You can use below command to delete a user
userdel sahil
pacman -S sudo
visudo
#And uncomment the line which looks like and save the file.
%wheel ALL=(ALL) ALL
pacman -S grub
pacman -S efibootmgr dosfstools os-prober mtools
########## For UEFI ########
# Mount boot partition
mkdir /boot/EFI
mount /dev/sda1 /boot/EFI
grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --bootloader-id=grub-uefi --efi-directory=/boot/EFI
#FYI: If grub-install says /boot/EFI is not efi partition:: then you need to change partition type{by `mkfs.fat -F32 /dev/sdb1`} and partition file system{by `fdisk /dev/sdb` and then using t<Enter>1<Enter>} of a partition only after unmounting the partition first , otherwise it won't actually work.
########### For Legacy
If you are using Legacy Boot then follow below code:
grub-install --target=i386-pc /dev/sda
# Make config file for grub-
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
Updating existing Archlinux
pacman -Syu
Test if you have internet after booting to your archlinux via:
ping google.com
sudo pacman -S ntfs-3g
#Usage:
sudo mount -t ntfs-3g /dev/sdc1
#Unmounting:
sudo umount <pathToPartition/mountPath>
#e.g, either of below should work:
sudo umount /dev/sdc1
sudo umount /mnt/sdc1
#There is nothing like unmounting disk but partition ~ IMO ~SAHIL
Know the filesystems of all your device partitions:
df -T
# and look for column "Type"
disklabel => DOS Partition Table
partition type => 07 -> HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
filesystem of partition => fuseblk (you can do it somhow using mkfs though ~ SAHIL)
sudo blkid
# Get UUID of a single partition:
sudo blkid /dev/sdb1
timedatectl set-ntp true
sudo hwclock --systohc
ctrl+alt+F1 ....
#IMPORTANT: To get back to i3wm
ctrl+alt+F7
# wallpaper manager:
sudo pacman -S nitrogen
# themes, icon-themes, etc
sudo pacman -S picom lxappearance pcmanfm material-gtk-theme papirus-icon-theme
#lxapperance is for setting themes
#pcmanfm is gui filemanager
# Now, open lxappearance from cli and set "Theme as Material-dark" and "IconTheme as Papirus
# fonts
sudo pacman -S ttf-dejavu ttf-liberation noto-fonts
# wallpapers
sudo pacman -S archlinux-wallpaper
# It copies wallpapers in /usr/share/backgrounds/archlinux directory
# firefox
sudo pacman -S firefox
# graphics card drivers (AMD)
sudo pacman -S xf86-video-amdgpu
# vlc
sudo pacman -S vlc
# image viewer
sudo pacman -S sxiv
# terminal file manager
sudo pacman -S ranger
# For usage instructions, see https://github.com/sahilrajput03/sahilrajput03/blob/master/arch-notes.md
# Install more??
# For help you can always do-
makepkg -h
makepkg -s <pkg_name>
# -s means sync dependencies
sudo pacman -U ./my-newly-made-package.tar.zst
google-chrome
git clone google-chrome-from-AUR
cd google-chrome
makepkg -s
sudo pacman -U google-chrome..tar.zst # You can omit this step if you use above command like ```makepkg -si```
#FYI: -U option means install from a file/URL
Add transparency ability to terminal by-
sudoCode /etc/xdg/picom.conf
# and set the value of vsync as false. By default it is set true in here.
#Keyboard
exec setxkbmap ch &
#Nitrogen
exec nitrogen --restore
#Picom (adds transparency ability to terminals)
exec picom -f
Setting i3 gaps to our i3. Find code here and add it to the end of .config/i3/config file. Now you can use SUPER+SHIFT+g and press i and then use SHIFT++ or SHIFT+- to increase or decrease the inner gaps.
nmtui to connect to wifi.
sudo pacman -Syu
sudo pacman -S i3
# Tip: Double press <Enter> to configure i3 config file at the time of prompting for setting up usage.
For setting i3status’s language in i3bar, we need to add LC_ALL="en_US.UTF-8 as a line to /etc/environment.
FYI: We must do above language setting otherwise it throws error like:
ERROR: status command process exited unexpectedly (exit 1) in i3bar.
Install more essentials (some gui and other utilities)
sudo pacman -S lightdm xfce-terminal lightdm-gtk-greeter lightdm-gtk-greeter-settings dmenu nitrogen xorg flameshot unzip
# Also make use of
lightdm-gtk-greeter-settings
# to customize ui
# Enable Display Manager lightdm service
sudo systemctl enable lightdm
# Now reboot to reflect the changes
reboot
# Set background at login/logout screen
lightdm-gtk-greeter-settings
# Get current resolution config of the monitor/s
xrandr
# Set resolution for a montitor
xrandr -s 1920x1080
# For setting resolution for second monitor
# SYNTAX:
# xrandr --output MONITOR_NAME --mode DESIRED_RESOLUTION
# Tip: You can MONITOR_NAME and DESIRED_RESOLUTION by using `xrandr` command
# Example:
xrandr --output DP-2-1 --mode 2560x1440
xrandr --output DP-2-1 --mode 1360x768 # For manjaro-i3's extended display (Date: 1 Sep, 2023)
xrandr --output HDMI-2 --mode 1360x768 # For manjaro-i3's extended display (Date: 16 Sep, 2023)
# 16 Sept, 2023 - Update - Please always try to use `arandr` a frontend for `xrandr` cli
# sudo pacman -S arandr
# Usage
# =====
# arandr might throw as error: `xrandr failed xrandr returned error code xrandr cannot find mode none`
# To fix that you can add a mode first via command below and then you would be able to `arandr`
xrandr --addmode HDMI-2 1360x768
top
# We can use htop as well, which is more powerful than top
sudo pacman -S htop
# Usage
htop
# Leverage htop ?
# Use ctrl+n/p to toggle between processes.
# Use f4 to search in the processes list
# Use k to send any signal, you get a list of signals which you can send.
#### Check RAM and SWAP usage
# Usage in gigabytes
free -g
# Usage in megabytes
free -m
SWAP Partition test-
# Confirm that fstab file has a swap partition entry
cat /etc/fstab
# Check if system shows SWAP usage
free -m
# Check below file shows swap usage
cat /proc/swaps
# Check if swapon shows swap usage with
swapon
swapon --show
swapon -s
# -s is to show summary
# Check swap usage with
top
htop
sudoCode /etc/mkinitcpio.conf
# Find the line that says:
HOOKS=(base udev autodetect modconf block filesystems keyboard fsk)
# and add entity `resume` in between keyboard and fsk, so FINALLY it would look like
HOOKS=(base udev autodetect modconf block filesystems keyboard resume fsck)
## Now edit another file
sudoCode /etc/default/grub
# and add the linux swap partition with UUID entry to the GRUB_CMDLINE_DEFAULT variable-
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="loglevel=3 quiet"
# and add a resume paramter with UUID value of the SWAP partition (here 899efccc-3a01-48bb-aa44-1de74cc9798a is UUID of my SWAP atm of installation)
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="loglevel=3 resume=UUID=899efccc-3a01-48bb-aa44-1de74cc9798a quiet"
# FINISHED!
# tldr;
# You need to ensure that you have a swap partition and have a the corresponding entry for it in /etc/fstab file.
# Entry in /etc/fstab file ensures that swapon is run for the swap_partition/swap_file at the system startup.
Fix the #speaker drivers, #speaker issues, sound drivers, sound issues
sudo pacman -S alsa-utils pulseaudio
alsactl init
UPDATE: LEARN: Pulseaudio can be pain in ass at times, and this comes as like pulseaudio user config files can get corrupted at times. So to fix that you can fix that via:
rm -rf ~/.pulse ~/.config/pulse
# restart pulseaudio now (things should be FIXED BY THIS!!), src: https://askubuntu.com/a/536488/702911, src: https://appuals.com/how-to-fix-pulseaudio-issues-in-linux/
pulseaudio -k
Master alsamixer, pulseaudio: Click here
Pacman
# Search for below options via
man pacman
# to get detailed and concise details of how a option works internally
# -S : sync libraries from remote repository of arch
# -y : the means referesh the packagedatabase from server.
# -u : Restrict or filter output to packages that are out-of-date on the local system. Only package version are used to find outdated packages; replacements are not checked here. This optin works best when used iwth `-Sy` option. (FROM `man pacman`)
# Update a specific package
sudo pacman -S pkg-name
# Search among installed packages
pacman -Qs pkg-name
# Search on available packages frmo archlinux packages repo
pacman -Ss pkg-name
# FYI: -S means sync, -s means search.
echo $SHELL
# default output would be
/bin/bash
Install more utility AUR PACKAGES, #install vscode, #install visual studio code, #install code
## FYI: With yay
yay -S visual-studio-code-bin
# OR INSTALL VIA AUR MANUALLY:
git clone visual-studio-code-bin_AUR_URL
cd visual-studio-code-bin
makepkg -si
# Usage
code
# Install slack
git clone slack-desktop_AUR_URL
cd slack-desktop
makepkg -si
ip address show
ip address show wlp3s0
sudo pacman -S blueman # This installs config file at /etc/bluetooth/main.conf
# Start the service and enable service to run on startup-
sudo systemctl start bluetooth
sudo systemctl enable bluetooth
sudo systemctl status bluetooth
# Enable bluetooth device on startup-
sudoCode /etc/bluetooth/main.conf
# and add below line to it
AutoEnable=true
and now use below steps to connect to any device:
(If doesn’t connect then use this link to help youself: Click here)
# Install bluez-utils
sudo pacman -S bluez-utils # This installs `bluetoothctl` cli tool
# alias for `bluetoothctl` and it opens a subshell
blc
# power on the device
power on
# enable auto connection with devices after you connect once with a device
default-agent
# output all nearby available devices
scan on
# you can type just two letters starting of any visible devices and use <TAB> to autocomplete the address *(one time only)
trust <mac_id>
# pair device *(one time only)
pair <mac_id>
# you can see your paired devices using
devices
# connect to your device
connect <mac_id>
Connecting a bluetooth headset/speaker
Prerequisite: You must have already installed pulseaudio in your system.
sudo pacman -S pulseaudio-bluetooth
sudoCode /etc/bluetooth/main.conf
# and edit the line which says
ControllerMode = dual
# and finally it should look like
ControllerMode = bredr
# now logout and login so that pulseaudio-bluetooth can take this change into effect.
# Now we can use bluetoothctl to simply connect your headset/portable speaker.
sudo pacman -S notify-osd
#THIS IS OPTIONAL IMO ( and I don't know what exactly it does though)
sudo pacman -S libnotify
# Install dunst
sudo pacman -S dunst
mkdir -p ~/.config/dunst
# copy config file to user defined config file location-
cp /etc/dunst/dunstrc ~/.config/dunst/dunstrc
# Send a sample notification
notify-send --icon=gtk-info "TitleHere" "DescriptionHere"
# NOTE: You only need to have double quotes if any of your title or description has spaces in its text.
# ALSO: ANY CHANGES YOU MAKE TO `~/.config/dunst/dunstrc` file won't take effect until you run -
killall dunst
# WARNING: You might not be able to see the dunst binary's vi effect taken into account by notify-send, so to fix that you must logout-login once (or do a reboot).
Battery info
sudo pacman -S acpi
acpi -b
# This tells us if battery is charing/discharing, % of battery left, estimated time for what pc can run until dying.
#Sample outputs
Battery 0: Charging, 99%, 00:01:00 until charged
Battery 0: Discharging, 99%, 02:41:11 remaining
Pushing sound alert and visible notification on full battery and low battery events. Refer @ https://github.com/sahilrajput03/config/blob/main/scripts-in-use/battery-status.sh .
nproc
Enable parallel compiling in arch
sudo nano /etc/makepkg.conf
# search for line
MAKEFLAGS="-j2"
# this means to use 2 threads i.e., use two cores of cpu to run the compilation phase whenever we use makepkg command, so instead we can do it like:
MAKEFLAGS="-j$(nproc)"
What is makepkg ?
You can read a file named PKGBUILD, you’ll find this file in any source code of a program from AUR website. So you would read the variable meanings of this file content @ https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/PKGBUILD .
Arch programs
Tip: You can simply install any package from Arch Packages by
sudo pacman -S pkg-name
Tip2: You would need to do
git clone any_AUR_program_url
cd program-name
makepkg -si
sudo pacman -R pulseaudio pulseaudio-bluetooth noisetorch pulseaudio-alsa