How to install and configure Arch Linux step by step ( PART I )

How to install and configure Arch Linux step by step ( PART I ) :

Arch Linux is an independently developed, i686/x86-64 general purpose GNU/Linux distribution versatile enough to suit any role. Development focuses on simplicity, minimalism, and code elegance. Arch is installed as a minimal base system, configured by the user upon which their own ideal environment is assembled by installing only what is required or desired for their unique purposes. GUI configuration utilities are not officially provided, and most system configuration is performed from the shell by editing simple text files. Arch strives to stay bleeding edge, and typically offers the latest stable versions of most software.

Arch Linux uses its own Pacman package manager, which couples simple binary packages with an easy-to-use package build system. This allows users to easily manage and customize packages ranging from official Arch software to the user's own personal packages to packages from 3rd party sources. The repository system also allows users to easily build and maintain their own custom build scripts, packages, and repositories, encouraging community growth and contribution.

Some pic from Arch Linux :

Reason Why You Will Love Arch Linux :

• Minimalist: You install things that you need, there is no software bloat. This means less memory, both of hard-drive and RAM is wasted.

• Light-weight: My whole system with Gnome 3 installed took a little less than 200 mB of RAM (176 mB to be specific). On a full fledged server and workstation (with LAMP installed), Arch takes around 400 mB of RAM. Compare this to latest versions of Ubuntu which takes > 300 mB of RAM for a default desktop. More RAM availible for the system means your system will be more fast and stable and you will be able to do multitasking easily.

• Stable: Consider this screanio. My system was on for a full one week without a reboot and Arch performed the same from beginning to end. This makes Arch capable of a server, though its not designed to be one. You will fall in love with its rock-solid stability.

• Rolling Release: Previously, I used to use Fedora, and for a little time, Ubuntu. The problem with these distributions is that they give out a new release every six months, and you must download and install it on your PC if you want to receive new updates and newer software. This meant I had to keep my PC on for a night to download the new release and then configure the system and install software for a full day or more. Obviously a sheer waste of time, data and energy. Arch Linux is a rolling release, which means it doesn’t has the thing called “releases” every few months. Rather, you keep the system up to date by issuing one single command and download the latest packages of your software. Thus your data, time and energy is conserved.

• State-of-art and bleeding edge software: Just a realistic example. KDE 4.8 and Gnome 3.4 were released a few days ago. If you were using Ubuntu/Fedora, what had you done? Maybe you had waited for the next release of your distro in which it had come by default, or had added a not officially supported PPA and tried to test in on your system and in most chances, break your system. In arch, we can update to the latest software and access all its new features as soon as it comes to the official repositories, we need not wait for a newer release of the distro, neither fear the breaking of our system. That’s what the magic of a rolling release is.

• Simple: In The Arch Way‘s own words : Arch Linux defines simplicity as without unnecessary additions, modifications, or complications, and provides a lightweight UNIX-like base structure that allows an individual user to shape the system according to their own needs. In short: an elegant, minimalist approach.

• User Centric: Arch is not designed for a specific computer, rather, its designed to for a specific user – those who want to tweak every bit of their system and want the full power from their computers. Your whole system will be under your control, you will make it the way you like.

• Fast: Once Arch is installed, you will be amazed by the sheer speed applications open and work. As said earlier, my system boots up in 10 seconds and shuts down in 4.

• Customizeable: In other distros, you are presented with a out-of-box environment in which you get little choice to customize the system the way it looks and works. In Arch, you are presented with a default environment – a bash shell, and its you who decides what type of system you will have. The fun of making Arch Linux from CUI to GUI is comparable to building your own operating system. Its you who decides what type of software your computer will have, right from the drivers to the window manager or desktop environment. Every piece of software in Arch is ultimately your choice.

• One of the best community and the best documentation ever: People who use Arch Linux are competent Linux users who know about the system in detail and are ready and capable of helping you if you have any problem. In most cases you will not need help as everything is documented clearly in their wiki, which is obviously the best in this planet.

In this tutorial im gonna help you to install and configure your Arch Linux with simple and easy way, we're going to start with part 1 that show you how to partionate the hard drive on Arch Linux.So let's start our adventure with Arch Linux.

You can download Arch Linux from the official website : 

PART I : Partitioning the hard drive :

1)- Boot your Arch Linux from usb or dvd you will see this menu,chose your architecture :

- (i686) = 32 bits
- (x86_64)= 64 bits

2)- In order to see what the name of your hard drive type :

# fdisk -l

This cmd show you all your hard drive :

3)- Launch cfdisk manager bu typing :

#cfdisk /dev/sda

As result it show this menu, chose "dos" and hit enter : 

Now you're on the cfdisk menu,chose the partion and select "New" and hit enter :

Chose the size for root partion :

then select "primary" and hit enter :

Now the root partion is created we should creat the Swap partion,chose the size and hit enter :

Chose the size and hit enter :

Select "primary" and hit enter :

Now we need to make the root partion bootable,target the root partion and chose "bootable" and hit enter to confirme :

Now we need to make the swap partition as a SWAP partition, select the swap partion and chose type :

Now select "82 Linux swap / solaris" and hit enter :

Now we are almost done with partitioning the hard drive,select "write" and confirme with "yes" then hit enter and select "quit" to leave cfdisk :

Now we need to format the root drive with ext4 extension by typing :

#mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda1 

Note : the number 1 can be another, you need to verifie the number of your root partion (sda1,sda2,sda3 ...)

Now we need to mount the root drive to /mnt folder by typing :

#mount /dev/sda1 /mnt

Note : the number 1 can be another, you need to verifie the number of your root partion (sda1,sda2,sda3 ...)

After mounting thr root drive on /mnt folder we need to make a swap file on the swap partition by typing :

#mkswap /dev/sda2

Note : the number 1 can be another, you need to verifie the number of your swap partion (sda1,sda2,sda3 ...)

And to finish this part 1 we need to reload the swap partion by typing :

#swapon /dev/sda2

Note : the number 1 can be another, you need to verifie the number of your swap partion (sda1,sda2,sda3 ...)

Video tuto :

That's all for the part I enjoy ;)