User:Hamish
Arch Linux - Fedora User Guide
Having used Fedora as my primary operating system and Linux distribution for six years, I naturally wanted most of the same core tools I came to rely on to come with me when I finally decided to make the move to Arch. Thankfully this was not that difficult a process, and I have now documented how to get several Fedora staples installed and configured on your own Arch install so that you to can also pretend that almost nothing has changed at all.
Install PackageKit
Fedora by default uses the PackageKit interface for handling it's package management. Arch also supports PackageKit, which will make it easier for experienced Fedora users to wrap their heads around pacman.
To install PackageKit, enter the following into a root terminal:
# pacman -S gnome-packagekit
Install and Configure NetworkManager
Fedora uses the primarily Red Hat developed NetworkManager software to easily handle network connections. Arch also supports NetworkManager, although it will need to be installed and configured.
To install NetworkManager enter the following into a root terminal:
# pacman -S network-manager-applet networkmanager
Then disable the already running networking daemon:
# systemctl stop dhcpcd
# systemctl disable dhcpcd
And then finally enable NetworkManager as outlined here
Install and Configure PulseAudio
PulseAudio is a sound server that is also primarily developed by Red Hat and is used on Fedora to enable near seamless interactions with audio devices. Like with NetworkManager, PulseAudio is also available on Arch but it does need to be configured.
To install PulseAudio enter the following into a root terminal:
# pacman -S pulseaudio pulseaudio-alsa pavucontrol
Then read the following instructions.
Install and Configure Bluecurve cursor theme
Many Fedora users will be familiar with the Bluecurve cursor theme, which provides a more attractive cursor than is provided by default with Arch.
To install the Bluecurve cursor theme enter the following into a root terminal:
# pacman -S xcursor-bluecurve
And then follow the these instructions
Install and Configure system-config-printer
system-config-printer is another Red Hat invention that allows easy handling of multiple printers on a computer. Once again Arch also supports this, but you will need to install and configure both system-config-printer and CUPS in order for it to work.
To install system-config-printer enter the following into a root terminal:
# pacman -S cups cups-filters foomatic-filters ghostscript gsfonts system-config-printer
And then enable CUPS with the following commands:
# systemctl enable org.cups.cupsd.service
# systemctl start org.cups.cupsd.service
Install and Configure OpenSSH
Fedora uses SSH to communicate between different computers and for other network operations. Arch users can install and setup OpenSSH to ensure proper interoperability between Arch installs and Fedora installs, as well as with any other computers running an SSH server.
To install OpenSSH enter the following into a root terminal:
# pacman -S openssh
And then enable the SSH daemon.
Install and Configure firewalld
Fedora ships with a firewall already enabled by default for security reasons. Starting with the release of Fedora 18 the old system-config-firewall utility has been replaced with Red Hat's new firewalld implementation, which is also available for Arch users and acts as a front-end for iptables and ebtables.
To install firewalld enter the following into a root terminal:
# pacman -S firewalld iptables ebtables
You then you have to configure iptables by issuing the following commands:
# cd /etc/iptables/
# iptables-save > iptables.rules
# systemctl start iptables
# systemctl status iptables
You can then start and enable the firewalld daemon from a root terminal:
# systemctl start firewalld
# systemctl enable firewalld
Further configuration can then be handled from the firewall-config interface.
Further Recommend Reading
The following articles can also be especially useful for former Fedora users:
Additional Content
Enable OSS emulation modules on boot
The following commands will enable the OSS emulation modules on boot, which is useful for older game titles. This guide assumes that you already have the alsa-oss package installed.
# echo "snd-pcm-oss" > /etc/modules-load.d/snd-pcm-oss.conf
# echo "snd-mixer-oss" > /etc/modules-load.d/snd-mixer-oss.conf
# echo "snd-seq-oss" > /etc/modules-load.d/snd-seq-oss.conf
If you are using PulseAudio you will also need to use the padsp wrapper in order for OSS applications to have reliable sound.