Step by step basic installation of Arch Linux with systemd-boot on a UEFI system

arch-install-uefi-systemd-boot.txt

Step 1: Partition and format disks
	List disks,
		iso# fdisk -l
	Select disk,
		iso# fdisk /dev/X				// Replace X with a storage device
								// SATA drives: sda, sdb, sdc...
								// NVMe drives: nvme0n1, nvme1n1, nvme2n1...
	Create a GPT partiton table,
		iso[fdisk]# g
	Create partitions for ESP, root, and (optionally) swap,	// For swapfile, see step 4.5
		iso[fdisk]# n					// Minimum 128MiB for ESP, at least 256MiB for multi boot
	Change partition types to match,
		iso[fdisk]# t					// Partition types: ESP=1, Root=20, Swap=19
	Write changes,
		iso[fdisk]# w
	Format partitons,
		iso# mkfs.A /dev/Xi				// Replace A with a filesystem type, i with a partition number
		iso# mkfs.B /dev/Xj				// (e.g. "mkfs.vfat -F32 /dev/sda1", "mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda2")
		iso# mkswap /dev/Xk				// mkswap for the optional swap partition
		...

	Ref:
	https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Fdisk
	https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/File_systems
	https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/File_systems#Create_a_file_system
	https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Swap#Swap_partition

Step 2: Check internet connectivity
		iso# ping ...					// Provide a valid address to ping yadayadayada, you know the drill
	Use iwctl for wifi,
		iso# iwctl
		iso[iwctl]# station <wifi interface> connect <network name>
	
	Ref:
	https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Iwd#iwctl

Step 3: Update pacman databases
	(Optional) Get mirrorlist using reflector,		
		iso# pacman -S reflector
		iso# reflector -c SG,TH,ID -f 12 -l 10 -n 12 --sort age --save /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
				// ^  ^  ^ These are country codes for Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia.
				//	   You can replace these with the country you're in or closest to you.
	Update the databases,
		iso# pacman -Syy				// Note: for installation purposes only.
								// Don't do this on a working system. Use -Syu (see ref #2)
		
	Ref:
	https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Pacman
	https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/System_maintenance#Partial_upgrades_are_unsupported
	https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Reflector
	

Step 4: Mount filesystems and install base system, kernel, device firmware, text editor
	Mount root and ESP,
		iso# mount /dev/Xj /mnt				// Root partition
		iso# mkdir /mnt/boot
		iso# mount /dev/Xi /mnt/boot			// ESP
		iso# swapon /dev/Xk				// (Optional) Swap partition
		iso# pacstrap /mnt base linux linux-firmware nano
		--or--
		iso# pacstrap /mnt base linux-lts linux-firmware nano 	// LTS kernel is recommended for use with Nvidia graphics
	Generate fstab,
		iso# genfstab -U /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab		// genfstab works by detecting currently mounted partitions,
								// so make sure the partitions you want mounted at startup are mounted
	Ref:
	https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/File_systems#Mount_a_file_system
	
Step 4.5 (Optional): Set up swapfile				// Alternative to swap parition, not needed if you already have that
	Create swapfile,
		iso# dd if=/dev/zero of=/mnt/swapfile bs=1M count=<size in MiB>
		iso# chmod 600 /mnt/swapfile
		iso# mkswap /mnt/swapfile
	Append swapfile mount config to fstab,
		iso# echo "/swapfile none swap defaults 0 0" >> /mnt/etc/fstab
		
	Ref:
	https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Swap#Swap_file
	
Step 5: Complete base system setup
	Chroot into installed system,
		iso# arch-chroot /mnt
	Set timezone,
		# timedatectl set-timezone <timezone>		// To show available timezones: # timedatectl list-timezones
	Edit locale.gen and set system locale,
		# nano /etc/locale.gen				// Uncomment the locales to use
		# locale-gen
		# echo LANG=<locale> > /etc/locale.conf		// Replace <locale> with your preffered locale
		# export <locale>
	Configure hostname,
		# echo <hostname> > /etc/hostname
	Configure hosts file,
		# touch /etc/hosts
		# nano /etc/hosts
			127.0.0.1	localhost
			::1		localhost
			127.0.1.1	<hostname> 		// Replace <hostname> with your desired hostname
	Change root password,
		# passwd
	(Optional, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) Install and configure sudo,
		# pacman -S sudo
		# visudo					// Uncomment %wheel or %sudo to enable the sudoers group
	Add user accounts,
		# useradd -m <username>				// Replace <username> with your preferred username
		# passwd <password>
	(Optional, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) Add user account to sudoers and disable root login,
		# usermod -a -G sudo/wheel <username>
		# passwd -l root				// Prevents access to root without using sudo
		
	Ref:
	https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/System_time#Time_zone
	https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Locale
	https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Network_configuration#Set_the_hostname
	https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Users_and_groups#User_management
	https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Sudo

Step 6: Set up bootloader
	Install systemd-boot,
		# bootctl install
	Add boot entries,					// If you're using more than one kernel/different default kernel,
		# nano /boot/loader/entries/00-arch.conf	// add/modify accordingly
			title Arch Linux
			linux /vmlinuz-linux
			initrd /initramfs-linux.img
			options root="UUID=..." rw loglevel=3 ...	// UUID can be found by using the "blkid" command
									// Each partition has its own UUID, so double check
		# nano /boot/loader/entries/01-arch-fallback.conf	// (Not to be confused with PARTUUID)
			title Arch Linux (Fallback)
			linux /vmlinuz-linux				// Trailing ellipses signify any extra options you might
			initrd /initramfs-linux-fallback.img		// want to add, e.g. adding "quiet" reduces the amount of
			options root="UUID=..." rw loglevel=3 ...	// messages shown during booting
			
	Configure bootloader,
		# nano /boot/loader/loader.conf
			default 00-arch.conf
			console-mode max
			editor no
	
	Ref:
	https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Systemd-boot

(optional, recommended)
Step 7: Install network manager
		# pacman -S networkmanager
		# systemctl enable NetworkManager.service
	
	Ref:
	https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/NetworkManager

(optional for WiFi, recommended)
Step 7.5: Configure the wireless regulatory domain
       		# pacman -S crda
        	# nano /etc/conf.d/wireless-regdom   		// Uncomment the relevant country code
	
	Ref:
	https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Network_configuration/Wireless#Respecting_the_regulatory_domain

(optional)
Step 8: Install GUI
	(Required for Nvidia, not required otherwise)
	Install X server,
		# pacman -S xorg
	Install appropriate Xorg video drivers,
		# pacman -S xf86-video-amdgpu			// For AMD graphics
		--or--
		# pacman -S xf86-video-intel			// For Intel graphics
		--or--
		# pacman -S nvidia				// For Nvidia graphics on standard kernel
		--or--
		# pacman -S nvidia-lts				// For Nvidia graphics on LTS kernel
		
	GNOME:							// Example DEs only. You can install any other WM/DEs if you want
		# pacman -S gnome				// that isn't covered here (See ref #2-4)
		# systemctl enable gdm.service
	KDE:
		# pacman -S plasma kde-applications
		# pacman -S plasma-wayland-session		// Optional for Wayland support, not recommended for Nvidia
		# systemctl enable sddm.service
		
	Ref:
	https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Xorg
	https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Window_manager#List_of_window_managers
	https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Display_manager#List_of_display_managers
	https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Desktop_environment#List_of_desktop_environments

Step 9: Exit chroot, reboot, enjoy!
		# exit
	Unmount ESP and Root,
		iso# umount -R /mnt
	Disable swap,
		iso# swapoff -a
		iso# reboot