Arch-Linux-Installer/README.md

# Simple, modern and secure installation of Arch Linux with KDE Plasma.

**Load the preferred keyboard. In my case it's "de" for Germany.**  
$ loadkeys de

**List devices to make sure you partition the right device.**
$ lsblk

**Partition the device using gdisk (assuming /dev/sda).**
$ gdisk /dev/sda

**Create GPT and EFI-partion.**
$ o     # _Creates new GPT-partition table._
$ y     # _Accept._
$ n     # _New partition._
$ +512M # _512 MB should be plenty for /boot._
$ ef00  # _Mark as EFI._
$ n     # _New main partition, accept all the following using "y"._

**Print and check your partitions.**
$ p

**Write partitions to device.**
$ w
$ y     # _Accept._

**Encrypt primary partition.**
$ cryptsetup -c aes-xts-plain -y -s 512 luksFormat /dev/sda2
$ YES

**Open encrypted partition, map as "root" and create filesystem.**
$ cryptseup luksOpen /dev/sda2 root
$ mkfs.fat -F 32 -n UEFI /dev/sda1
**-F specifies the type of file allocation tables used (12, 16 or 32 bit).**
**-n sets the volume name (label) of the filesystem to "UEFI".**

**Create ext4 filesystem on primary partition.**
$ mkfs.ext4 /dev/mapper/root

**Create mountpoints and mount partitions.**
$ mount /dev/mapper/root /mnt
$ mkdir /mnt/boot
$ mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot

**Optionally update mirrorlist using reflector.**
**In this case use the latest 10 mirrors from Germany, that have been synchronized within the last 24 hours and sort the by download-rate and write them to the pacman mirrorlist.**
$  reflector --verbose --latest 10 --country Germany --age 24 --sort rate --save /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist

**Install base system and basic packages (network, editor, sudo).**
**The package base-devel is not necessary but recommended.**
$ pacstrap /mnt base base-devel linux linux-firmware networkmanager nano sudo

**Generate fstab.**
$ genfstab -Lp /mnt > /mnt/etc/fstab
**-L = Use labels for source identifiers (shortcut for -t LABEL).**
**-p Exclude pseudofs mounts (default behavior).**

**Chroot into your installation.**
$ arch-chroot /mnt

**Set your hostname.**
$ echo mycomputer > /etc/hostname

**Generate locale.gen for your preferred language (and preferribly english).**
$ nano /etc/locale.gen
**Uncomment your language, e.g. de_DE.UTF-8 UTF-8 (and en_US.UTF-8).**

**Generate the locale.**
$ locale-gen

**Add necessary HOOKS and MODULES.**
$ nano /etc/mkinitcpio.conf

**MODULES=(ext4)**
**HOOKS=(base udev autodetect modconf block keyboard keymap encrypt filesystems fsck shutdown)**

**Create mkinitcpio.**
$ mkinitcpio -p linux

**Start NetworkManager for automatic network access on next boot.**
$ systemctl enable NetworkManager

**Set a root-password.**
$ passwd

**Install systemd-boot bootloader.**
$ bootctl install

**Create the bootloader config.**
$ nano /bootloader/entries/arch.conf

**Add the following:**
```
title    Arch Linux
linux    /vmlinuz-linux
initrd   /initramfs-linux.img
options  cryptdevice=/dev/sda2:root root=/dev/mapper/root rw lang=de init=/usr/lib/systemd/systemd locale=de_DE.UTF-8
```


**Create a fallback config.**
$ cp /boot/loader/entries/arch.conf /boot/loader/entries/arch-fallback.conf

**Edit the fallback config.**
$ nano /boot/loader/entries/arch-fallback.conf

**Change it to the following:**
```
title    Arch Linux Fallback
initrd   /initramfs-linux-fallback.img
```

**Edit loader config.**
$ nano /boot/loader/loader.conf

**Change it to the following:**
```
timeout 1
default arch.conf
```

**Exit and reboot.**
$ exit
$ umount /mnt/boot
$ reboot

**Enter encryption-password and login as root.**

**Set the keyboard to your preferred language permantently.**
$ echo KEYMAP=de-latin1-nodeadkeys > /etc/vconsole.conf

**Create a user with a /home-directory.**
$ useradd -m myusername

**Set password for your user.**
$ passwd myusername

**Add $myusername to group wheel for sudo access.**
$ gpasswd -a $myusername wheel

**Edit sudoers-file for sudo access.**
$ nano /etc/sudoers

**Uncomment „%wheel ALL=(ALL) ALL“-**

**Logout as root.**
$ exit

**Login as you user.**

**Install SDDM and a minimal KDE Plasma.**
$ pacman -S sddm sddm-kcm plasma-desktop

**Install KDE terminal for easier installation of packages in Plasma.**
$ pacman -S konsole

**Enable and start SDDM to login to Plasma.**
$ systemctl enable sddm
$ systemctl start sddm

**Now you are logged in to your Plasma desktop environment and ready to configure and use your Arch Linux.**

**Suggested packages to install.**

- microcode (https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Microcode)
- kde-gtk-config (Adds graphical settings for GTK apps.)
- kdeplasma-addons („All kind of addons to improve your Plasma experience.“)
- kscreen (Adds screen section to graphical settings.)
- ksystemlog (Graphical system log viewer)
- partitionmanager (Graphical partition manager)
- plasma-nm (Network manager applet)
- plasma-pa (Audio manager applet)
- powerdevil (Adds energy manager to graphical settings.)
- spectacle (Graphical screenshot tool.)
- systemd-swap (https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/swap#systemd-swap)