Small repo to bootstrap a basic arch linux using script. Just make it easier to keep messing around
This project aims to bootstrap arch linux. Basically giving me a chance to learn more about linux. I'm quite impressed with my knowledge so far as I can at least understand what a problem might be and how I might google to overcome them on arch. Arch seems to have a good amount og wiki info and community support and while it won't be my main device I certainly like the idea of it.
My first point of learning was to install arch via a combo of the following articles:
- itsfoss - Install Arch Linux: I found this good overall but I liked more of the simplicity of the second article.
- maketecheasier - how to install Arch Linux: This one combined with above got me booted. Make note that worth installing nano, net-tools (ifconfig) and dhcpcd with pacman.
- itsfoss - things to do after installing Arch Linux: Use this to understand how to install a display manager etc.
Rather than install over and over, I'd like to create a bootstrap script to install all the key points I'd want. Ideally could then use packer to bake and vagrant to install.
- Install base OS
- Create user
- Set up networking
- Install key packages
- Install desktop manager.
Ok, first things first. You'll need to download the arch ISO and then boot on a VM. Once booted follow the instructions on the wiki here to set up remote SSH access. In short:
- Setup a blank VM with a 30GB hard disk drive (else the partitioning disk step could fail)
- Boot ISO
- Check IP
ifconfig - set root password with
passwd - enable ssh with
systemctl enable sshd.service
- Now boot
ssh root@1<IP> "bash -s" < arch-bootstrap.sh
I haven't yet found a graceful way to have fdisk reinstall over the top in the script. It keeps complaining of existing ext4 signatures which screws up the SED command.
To workaround it for now I can wipe the disk using
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/vda bs=1M
However it can take a loooonnnnggg time.