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Tips and Tricks - Arch Linux Installation

A month ago, I had embarked on this remarkable challenge of installing Arch Linux, and truth be told, it was worth every bit.
Any CS Engineer should be aware of the nuances of the Linux Kernel, Distro, Display Manager and how all of these work together. The installation process of this Linux distro will make sure that you learn all of this, the right way.

Here are some tips to begin with:

1. Always try installation on Virtualbox first 

You don't know about the enormous struggle you will be facing with the installation and running Arch Linux on your machine. If you're not a Linux expert, please do not single boot this Linux on your first try. 
Only when you have finished installing Arch Linux on a Virtualbox, should you try dual/single booting Linux on your actual system. I took 3 attempts to get Arch Linux running properly (up till installing a DE) on my Virtualbox before installing it in my system.

2. Refer a tutorial for your first time

"But I might not learn anything then!"
You will, if you understand what every command is doing. 
But it's important to not have too much on your plate.
Once you follow a basic simple installation process, you can start questioning the reason behind each step the next time.
I would recommend a tutorial for first time installers because the Arch Linux Installation Guide is not a cakewalk. Following the official installation guide involves branching out onto several newer links, understanding what each and everything is, and one might not be really sure of what exactly they're supposed to do during the installation process. 
That being said, DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THE INSTALLATION GUIDE.

3. Always know your options

Whether its Virtualbox or a system dual boot, understand that whatever error you might run into, you have the following options:
However bad you screwed up, the Arch Linux forum experts will solve your problem.
But make sure you have exhausted all your options, because it's a pretty nasty place for Linux noobs.

4. Update the pacman mirrors (important!)

This is perhaps the most important tip you need. Just like you have `apt-get` in Ubuntu, you have `pacman`, short for package-manager in Arch. Now pacman uses a set of mirrors (download links, to put simply) to download the packages that you want it to. 
It has a list of mirrors stored in a file. Pacman fetches the package from the first link, and if it doesn't respond, it moves on to fetch from the next mirror. However, this does not mean that you will automatically be fetching from the fastest mirror. 
Before you proceed to run the command:
pacstrap /mnt base ..., do the following:
  • Open the file /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
  • Find the mirror links under India or China.
  • Cut & Copy the links to the top of the file.
 Your download speed will be 100 times faster than the original.

5. Learn about UEFI and the booting process

Once you have successfully installed Arch Linux on your Virtual Machine, the only challenge is to not crash your bootloader or do anything to jeopardize the existing systems. Learning about UEFI is not exactly learning about Linux, but it will give you an edge to understand whatever is going on, and probably prevent a system catastrophe.

Why you should be doing this?

Installing Arch Linux is stepping out of the comfort zone to explore the very platform you work on - Linux.
The process will not be a cakewalk, and Arch is not an extremely beautiful distro either, it's just like your normal Ubuntu/Mint/Zorin OS, just with lesser packages.
But the entire struggle will make you come out as a person with much much better knowledge about your OS than before, making you thankful for reading this blog.
I trust you to realize the additional benefits by the time you start using Arch.
Arch Linux is not cool, but installing it definitely is!

Source: Twitter @archlinuxmemes

Where to now?

 All the best!

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