Part 1: Arch Linux Installation Guide
Tags: linux, archlinux, tutorial
Published: 2021-08-10 15:36:34

*Originally published on [xhalford.com](https://www.xhalford.com/part-1-arch-linux-installation-guide/)*

---

In part 1 of this **series**, I will be showing you how to download the latest version of Arch Linux, and write the operating system's image file onto a USB, to be used for installation.

> _**Notes:** There are a few presumptions being made for this guide. Regarding yourself and your current setup._
> 
> - *You will be moving from another \*nix system.*
>     - *This will help with the initial steps, with the programs being used to download the image and write it to a USB drive.*
>     - *If you are coming from Windows, I will try to link to articles explaining this fairly trivial difference.*
> - *Have access to this guide on another device.*
>     - *As once we get to installing Arch Linux, we'll be stuck in a terminal for some major steps.*
> 
> - *Can handle looking deep into the empty void of the tty.*
> - *Make sure not to make any typos - as I try to do the same throughout these guides.*


---

## What you'll need:

- **USB drive** to write the ISO file on (making sure it's bigger than the ~700 MB ISO size).
- **dd** a GNU core utility, to do the writing onto the USB (this will overwrite all data on the drive).
    - This should already be installed on all *nix systems.
    - If you're using Windows, I'd recommend [Rufus](https://rufus.ie/) for this step.
- **gnupg** installed if you're not one for taking risks.


---

## Downloading the latest version of Arch Linux

First we'll head over to the official [Arch downloads page](https://archlinux.org/download/) for the latest image, to be written to our USB drive. Using either BitTorrent or a HTTP mirror.
You can test which mirrors would best perform this task using both the [mirror list generator](https://archlinux.org/mirrorlist/) and check the [mirror status](https://archlinux.org/mirrors/status/).

Once you've downloaded an ISO, it's recommended to verify the image signature, for security purposes. So, make sure to also download the PGP signature file (*.iso.sig), and enter the following command:

```bash
$ gpg --keyserver-options auto-key-retrieve --verify archlinux-xxxxxxx-x86_64.iso.sig

Output:
gpg: assuming signed data in '/home/user/Downloads/archlinux-2021.02.01-x86_64.iso'
gpg: Signature made Mon 01 Feb 2021 15:23:39 GMT
gpg:                using RSA key 4AA4767BBC9C4B1D18AE28B77F2D434B9741E8AC
gpg: key 7F2D434B9741E8AC: public key "Pierre Schmitz <pierre@archlinux.de>" imported
gpg: Total number processed: 1
gpg:               imported: 1
gpg: Good signature from "Pierre Schmitz <pierre@archlinux.de>" [unknown]
gpg: WARNING: This key is not certified with a trusted signature!
gpg:          There is no indication that the signature belongs to the owner.
Primary key fingerprint: 4AA4 767B BC9C 4B1D 18AE  28B7 7F2D 434B 9741 E8AC
```
> *Replacing xxxxxxx with the version downloaded.*

You can then go one step further in making sure you've got the right ISO, by cross-referencing the public-key - used to decode the signature. Either by being signed by another trustworthy source. Or by comparing the public key's fingerprint, matches that of the [developer who signed the file](https://archlinux.org/people/developers/). By clicking on the author's PGP key and comparing the public key at the top of the page.


---

## Preparing the USB drive for installation

Plug in your USB and find the drive using the terminal:

```bash
$ lsblk

Output:
NAME    MAJ:MIN RM   SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
sda       8:0    1  28.9G  0 disk
```

> If you ever want to reuse the USB after installation use the command (`sudo wipefs --all /dev/sda`)

To load the installation media to the USB using **dd**, use the following command. Remembering to replace the absolute paths (e.g. `of=/dev/nvme0n1`).

```bash
$ sudo dd bs=4M if=/home/user/Downloads/archlinux-2021.02.01-x86_64.iso of=/dev/sda status=progress oflag=sync

Output:
708837376 bytes (709 MB, 676 MiB) copied, 35 s, 20.2 MB/s
172+1 records in
172+1 records out
723857408 bytes (724 MB, 690 MiB) copied, 35.6391 s, 20.3 MB/s
```

---

Now you should have the Arch Linux ISO on your USB! 🎉

```bash
$ lsblk

NAME        MAJ:MIN RM   SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
sda           8:0    1  28.9G  0 disk
└─sda1        8:1    1   629M  0 part
...
```

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