A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Learn how to install Arch Linux on your Raspberry Pi and get started with this lightweight, flexible, and powerful distribution. …


Updated October 4, 2023

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Learn how to install Arch Linux on your Raspberry Pi and get started with this lightweight, flexible, and powerful distribution.

Arch Linux is a popular Linux distribution that provides a minimal installation by default, which makes it an ideal choice for Raspberry Pi users who want to have full control over their system. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of installing Arch Linux on your Raspberry Pi step-by-step.

Prerequisites:

  1. A Raspberry Pi device with Raspbian OS installed.
  2. An SD card (minimum 4GB) to install Arch Linux.
  3. An Ethernet cable or WiFi dongle for internet connection.
  4. Monitor, keyboard, and mouse (optional).
  5. USB-to-TTL Serial Cable (for accessing terminal without monitor, keyboard, and mouse).
  6. Download the latest Arch Linux ARM image from https://archlinuxarm.org/downloads.

Step 1: Prepare the SD Card

First, you need to format your SD card using a tool like Etcher or Raspberry Pi Imager. Insert the SD card into your computer and download the latest Arch Linux ARM image from https://archlinuxarm.org/downloads. Use Etcher or Raspberry Pi Imager to flash the image onto your SD card.

Step 2: Boot Your Raspberry Pi with the SD Card

Insert the formatted SD card into your Raspberry Pi and power it on. If you have a monitor, keyboard, and mouse connected, you should see the Arch Linux boot screen. If not, you can access the terminal using a USB-to-TTL Serial Cable. Connect the cable to your Raspberry Pi and your computer, and use a serial terminal emulator like minicom or picocom to access the console.

Step 3: Configure Network Connection

If your Raspberry Pi is connected to the internet via Ethernet, skip this step. If you are using WiFi, connect to your wireless network by editing /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf. Add the following lines to the file:

ctrl_interface=DIR=/var/run/wpa_supplicant GROUP=netdev
update_config=1
country=US

network={
    ssid="YOUR_WIFI_SSID"
    psk="YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD"
    key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
}

Replace YOUR_WIFI_SSID and YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD with your WiFi network credentials. Save the file and run wpa_cli -i wlan0 reconfigure to apply the changes.

Step 4: Update System Clock

Your Raspberry Pi needs to synchronize its system clock with an NTP server. Run the following command:

sudo timedatectl set-ntp true

This will enable the built-in NTP client and synchronize your system clock with a remote server.

Step 5: Update System and Install Essential Packages

Now, it’s time to update your Arch Linux system and install essential packages. Run the following commands:

sudo pacman -Syu
sudo pacman -S base-devel linux-firmware openssh vim sudo wget git

This will install the necessary tools for development, as well as OpenSSH for remote access, Vim for text editing, and Git for version control.

Step 6: Configure Locale and Timezone

Configure your system’s locale by running:

sudo nano /etc/locale.gen

Uncomment the desired locale (e.g., en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8) and save the file. Then, run:

sudo locale-gen
echo "LANG=en_US.UTF-8" > /etc/locale.conf
export LANG=en_US.UTF-8

Set your timezone by running:

ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo/REGION/CITY /etc/localtime
hwclock --systohc

Replace REGION and CITY with your timezone (e.g., America/New_York).

Step 7: Setup a User Account

Create a new user account by running:

sudo useradd -m -G wheel -s /bin/bash USERNAME
sudo passwd USERNAME

Replace USERNAME with your desired username. Add your user to the wheel group to grant administrative privileges.

Step 8: Enable SSH (Optional)

If you plan on accessing your Raspberry Pi remotely, enable the SSH server by running:

sudo systemctl enable sshd
sudo systemctl start sshd

You can now access your Raspberry Pi using SSH from another computer.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Arch Linux on your Raspberry Pi. With this powerful and flexible distribution, you can customize your device to fit your specific needs and learn more about the inner workings of Linux in the process.