DOSSIER 14 / 14 ARTICLES
Arch Linux
A practical path from installation and boot to package management, snapshots, security, and the GNOME desktop.
Start with the first articleFollow the question further.
Arch's user-centric principle asks you to turn system choices into configuration you understand. This topic progresses through system foundations, management and storage, security and maintenance, then desktops and applications. It retains manual installation and the complete desktop workflow while explaining the limits of UKIs, TPMs, Btrfs rollback, and third-party sources.
- 01
Clarify Arch design principles, UEFI, and storage choices before choosing manual installation or an installer.
Arch Linux philosophy and installation planning
Understand pre-installation choices through rolling releases, boot modes, and storage planning.
Read article - 02
Understand UKI generation, boot discovery, and the signing chain; distinguish successful generation from verified booting.
Kernel management, systemd-boot, and UKIs
Combine the kernel, initramfs, and command line into a UKI, and understand the limits of signing and TPM measurement.
Read article - 03
Learn hooks and AUR review, and distinguish clean builds, clean chroots, and security sandboxes.
Pacman hooks, the AUR, and build security
Distinguish the roles of official repositories, AUR build scripts, and isolated environments in package-management automation.
Read article - 04
Define subvolume boundaries, mount arrangements, and available recovery paths before taking snapshots.
Btrfs subvolume layouts and Snapper snapshots
Define separate state boundaries for the system, user data, and logs, then configure a recoverable snapshot workflow.
Read article - 05
Combine encryption, Secure Boot, TPM, and runtime access control according to your threat model.
Hardening with LUKS2, Secure Boot, and TPM2
Combine disk encryption, boot verification, and runtime access control while retaining a recovery route for each layer.
Read article - 06
Establish routine checks for updates, pacnew files, caches, logs, and power management.
Performance choices and an everyday maintenance checklist
Use measurements to choose kernels, compressed swap, and power management, and establish checks after rolling updates.
Read article - 07
Learn S/Q/R/U syntax before using advanced flags and orphan queries.
Common Pacman commands and how to remember their flags
Use the S, Q, R, and U operation groups to distinguish repository queries, local queries, removal, and local package installation.
Read article - 08
Check networking and mirror status before adjusting parallel downloads and Reflector parameters.
Diagnosing slow Pacman downloads and choosing mirrors
Locate download bottlenecks step by step through networking, mirror status, and parallel downloads.
Read article - 09
Learn when informant blocks a transaction, and distinguish marking news as read from completing the actions it requires.
informant: Arch news and Pacman hooks
Flag unread Arch news before installation or upgrade transactions, with separate entry points for reading and configuration.
Read article - 10
Start in the installation environment and check partitions, subvolumes, pacstrap, fstab, and GRUB step by step.
Arch Linux with Btrfs: manual installation and archinstall
Work through UEFI, Btrfs subvolumes, the base system, GRUB, and the archinstall installation process.
Read article - 11
Once the base system boots, choose desktop, audio, and input-method components for the graphics hardware and session.
Configuring GNOME, input methods, and snapshots
Progress from desktop components and graphics and audio drivers to applications, input methods, shortcuts, and snapshots.
Read article - 12
Verify graphics switching, hibernation, and power policies before adjusting themes and the terminal.
GNOME laptop management and desktop customization
Configure hybrid graphics, power, and hibernation, then adjust GNOME, Zsh, and terminal appearance.
Read article - 13
Set up an ordinary VM before studying IOMMU passthrough; choose gaming approaches by architecture and compatibility.
KVM, GPU passthrough, and gaming on Arch Linux
Set up virtual machines and device passthrough, and distinguish the runtime boundaries of Steam, Wine, and Waydroid.
Read article - 14
Before changing kernels or removing a system, check fallback boot options and backups, then address swap and partitions.
Swap, kernels, and troubleshooting on an Arch desktop
Retain full operational details for compressed swap, kernel switching, system cleanup, and common desktop problems.
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