User:Larivact/old-drafts/Getting and installing Arch 1

From ArchWiki
Comment: This was my first draft for Getting and installing Arch. For a newer draft, see User:Larivact/old-drafts/Getting and installing Arch.

Download the installation medium

The installation medium and its GnuPG signature can be acquired through the links on the Download page.

Verify signature

It is recommended to verify the image signature before use, especially when downloading from an HTTP mirror, because mirrors could be malicious and HTTP is vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks (unless you use HTTPS).

On a system with GnuPG installed, do this by downloading the PGP signature directly from the Download page (under Checksums) to the ISO directory, and verifying it with:

gpg --keyserver pgp.mit.edu --keyserver-options auto-key-retrieve --verify archlinux-<version>-x86_64.iso.sig

Alternatively, run pacman-key -v archlinux-<version>-x86_64.iso.sig from an existing Arch Linux installation as root.

Note:

  • The signature itself could be manipulated if it is downloaded from a mirror site, instead of from archlinux.org as above. In this case, ensure that the public key, which is used to decode the signature, is signed by another, trustworthy key. The gpg command will output the fingerprint of the public key.
  • Another method to verify the authenticity of the signature is to ensure that the public key's fingerprint is identical to the key fingerprint of the Arch Linux developer who signed the ISO-file. See Wikipedia:Public-key cryptography for more information on the public-key process to authenticate keys.

Installation methods

The installation media can be written on a USB flash drive or an optical disc. Arch Linux can also be installed in a virtual machine, via SSH or next to a Windows installation.

The table below offers an overview of the common ways to boot the installation media. As the installation process retrieves packages from a remote repository, these methods require an internet connection; see Offline installation of packages and Archiso#Installation without Internet access when none is available.

Note:
  • Pointing the current boot device to a drive containing the Arch installation media is typically achieved by pressing a key during the POST phase, as indicated on the splash screen. Refer to your motherboard's manual for details.
  • When the Arch menu appears, select Boot Arch Linux and press Enter to enter the installation environment.
  • See README.bootparams for a list of boot parameters, and packages.x86_64 for a list of included packages.

This article or section is being considered for removal.

Reason: The list should be sufficient, the table "conditions" are mostly redundant (Discuss in User talk:Larivact/old-drafts/Getting and installing Arch 1)
Method Articles Conditions
Write the image on flash media or optical disc, then boot from it.
  • Installation on one, or a few machines at most
  • Obtain a directly bootable system
Mount the image on a server machine and have clients boot it over the network.
  • Client-server model
  • Wired (1Gbit+) network connection
Mount the image in a running Linux system and install Arch from a chroot environment.
  • Replace an existing system with reduced downtime
  • Install on the local machine, or a remote one via VNC or SSH
Set up a virtual machine and install Arch as a guest system.
  • Operating system compatible with virtualization software
  • Obtain an isolated system for learning, testing or debugging
Install Arch next to a Windows installation.
  • Machine shared with Windows users
  • Allow to easily factory-reset a Windows-preinstalled device

See also