[Vultra]

Installation guide Arch Linux and i3

In this installation guide, I will be covering the process of the installation of Arch Linux and getting a windows manager running.
For this example, I will be using i3 for this process. If you're running ubuntu, Manjaro, Gentoo, Fedora & many others, I will link tutorials to videos.

As I found out, the Arch wiki wasn't helpful as much. I came across some mistakes just via using the wiki so, I hope this installation guide can help everyone.
Before we start, make sure you have a USB that has the latest Arch Linux distro. If you aren't sure how to install a ISO to a USB, a video below will help you for the windows users.

(How to install arch on a bootable USB)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJBZq7gsa8w

(Arch Installation Wiki)
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/installation_guide

Requirement:
2GB USB
Internet
Working computer

1.0 Installation of Arch Linux

Code:

Before installing Arch Linux, make sure your computer is connected to the internet.

# dhcpcd
# ping -c 3 archlinux.org

If none is available, stop the dhcpcd service with systemctl stop dhcpcd@<TAB> and see Network configuration. https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Network_configuration#Device_driver

Partitioning Disk (This is an example)
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
| HDD 8GB - RAM 3GB |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
| /DEV/SDA | SIZE | MOUNT POINT |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
| sda1 | 10GB | / |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
| sda2 | 1GB | swap |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
| sda3 | 9GB | /home |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|

Check what your partition name is.
# lsblk
# cfdisk /dev/sda

Format the partition sda1
# mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda1

Activate the swap partition
# mkswap /dev/sda2
# swapon /dev/sda2

Format the partition sda3
# mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda3

Mount the file systems
# mount /dev/sda1 /mnt
# mkdir /mnt/home
# mount /dev/sda3 /mnt/home

Choose closest mirror list
# pacman -Sy
# pacman -S reflector
# reflector --verbose -l 5 --sort rate --save /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist

Install arch linux base packages
# pacstrap -i /mnt base base-devel

Configure Fstab and chroot /mnt
# genfstab -U -p /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab
# cat /mnt/etc/fstab
# arch-chroot /mnt

Configure language and location
# nano /etc/locale.gen
uncomment your language, for example : en_AU.UTF-8 UTF8
# locale-gen
# echo LANG=en_AU.UTF-8 > /etc/locale.conf
# export LANG=en_AU.UTF-8

Set time zone
# ls /usr/share/zoneinfo
# ln -s /usr/share/zoneinfo/America/New_York > /etc/localtime
ln -s /usr/share/zoneinfo/Region/City /etc/localtime
# hwclock --systohc --utc

Configure the repository
# nano /etc/pacman.conf
Uncomment the line: [multilib] and include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
# pacman -Sy

Set hostname and network
# echo yourroothostname > /etc/hostname
# systemctl enable dhcpcd@enp3s0.service (If you don't know it, type "ip addr")

Set root password and create new user
# passwd
# pacman -S sudo bash-completion
# useradd -m -g users -G wheel,storage,power -s /bin/bash mimi (This name can be anything, Just replace "mimi")
# passwd mimi

Allow the users in wheel group to be able to preformance administrative tasks with sudo:
# EDITOR=nano visudo
Uncomment the line: %wheel ALL=(ALL)

Install and configure bootloader
# mkinitcpio -p linux
# pacman -S grub os-prober
# grub-install /dev/sda
# grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Unmount the partitions and reboot
# exit
# umount -R /mnt
# reboot
Take USB out of machine.

2.0 Installation of i3

Code:

sudo pacman -S xorg-server xorg-apps xorg-xinit i3
rm -rf ~/.xserver<TAB>
echo 'exec i3' > ~/.xinitrc
startx (startx starts the windows manager)

Distro i3 Installation Video

Ubuntu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbOQS5xHFGY
Manjaro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vG9ORRUkUQ
Gentoo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8NXaL9Bpzs
Fedora: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRYeXoPmIxI

About Startx and xinit

also xinit and .xinitrc are to different things
xinit is a command. .xinitrc is file, usually in $HOME
startx is a script that runs xinit which parses .xinitrc if I remember that correctly

If I'm missing something, let me know via posting here.

[mothered]

It's good to see you've referenced Rufus to create a bootable USB. I've used this tool many times, and It hasn't failed to date.

A well documented and elaborated guide.
Well done.

[Vultra]

It's good to see you've referenced Rufus to create a bootable USB. I've used this tool many times, and It hasn't failed to date.

A well documented and elaborated guide.
Well done.

I love Rufus and pendrivelinux just because it allows you to install multiple ISOs to the one USB.

[Esoterith]

I can't use i3 without i3-gaps. But none the less amazing tutorial

[Vultra]

I can't use i3 without i3-gaps. But none the less amazing tutorial

“i3” comes with i3-gaps i3wm and many others. I’ll add what packages comes with it.

[Esoterith]

I can't use i3 without i3-gaps. But none the less amazing tutorial

“i3” comes with i3-gaps i3wm and many others. I’ll add what packages comes with it.

Ah

[mothered]

I love Rufus and pendrivelinux just because it allows you to install multiple ISOs to the one USB.

With Pen Drive Linux, are you referring to Universal USB Installer?

[Vultra]

I love Rufus and pendrivelinux just because it allows you to install multiple ISOs to the one USB.

With Pen Drive Linux, are you referring to Universal USB Installer?

Yes, that's correct.

[mothered]

I love Rufus and pendrivelinux just because it allows you to install multiple ISOs to the one USB.

With Pen Drive Linux, are you referring to Universal USB Installer?

Yes, that's correct.

I thought as much.

I've used both and they serve their purpose well. In terms of overall usability, I do prefer Rufus.