Post-install: the real checklist

arch / published / guide #9 / ≈ 2 min read

The Arch Linux installation guide walks you through partitioning, mounting, and the bare minimum needed to boot. Then it sort of waves goodbye, and you're left at a blinking prompt wondering what to actually do next. This is that next step.

What is Arch? Arch is a minimal Linux distribution that gives you nothing you didn't ask for. You build the system up by installing exactly what you want. The trade-off is more typing up front, in exchange for a system you understand entirely.

Step 1: Time and locale

Make sure the clock is synchronised over the network:

timedatectl set-ntp true

"NTP" stands for Network Time Protocol — it asks an internet server what time it is and adjusts your clock.

Now set your language and country format. Open the locale list:

sudo nano /etc/locale.gen

Find the line for your locale (e.g. en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8) and remove the # at the start. Save and exit. Then generate it:

sudo locale-gen
echo "LANG=en_US.UTF-8" | sudo tee /etc/locale.conf

Step 2: Give your computer a name

echo "tortoise" | sudo tee /etc/hostname

The hostname is just your computer's name on the network. Make it anything.

Step 3: CPU microcode (don't skip this)

Microcode is firmware that patches bugs in your CPU. Modern Intel and AMD chips need it loaded at boot. Pick the one matching your CPU:

sudo pacman -S intel-ucode     # for Intel
sudo pacman -S amd-ucode       # for AMD

If you're using systemd-boot, edit your boot entry to load it. If you're using grub, it picks up automatically when you run grub-mkconfig.

Step 4: Add a non-root user

Don't live as root. Create a normal user:

useradd -m -G wheel -s /bin/bash your-username
passwd your-username

The flags:

  • -m — create a home directory.
  • -G wheel — add to the wheel group (Arch's convention for "people allowed to use sudo").
  • -s /bin/bash — make bash the login shell.

Then enable sudo for the wheel group:

sudo pacman -S sudo
EDITOR=nano visudo

Find the line # %wheel ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL and remove the leading #. Save (Ctrl+O, Enter, Ctrl+X).

Step 5: Get on the network

sudo pacman -S networkmanager
sudo systemctl enable --now NetworkManager

enable --now both starts the service immediately and arranges for it to start on boot.

If you're on Wi-Fi, use nmtui for a friendly text interface, or nmcli if you prefer commands.

Step 6: A few more things you'll want

sudo pacman -S base-devel git man-db man-pages openssh
  • base-devel — compilers, in case you build software.
  • man-db man-pages — the manual. Try man ls later.
  • openssh — for connecting to other machines (and being connected to).

Reboot when you're done, log in as your new user, and the system is yours.

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