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Arch Linux ARM USB Boot on Raspberry Pi 4
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alarm-usb-config.md

Arch Linux ARM USB Boot on Raspberry Pi 4B

Index

  1. Requirements
  2. Flash latest EEPROM
  3. Change Raspberry Boot Order
  4. Install Arch Linux on USB device
    1. Format USB device
    2. (Optional) Migrate to hybrid MBR with GPT
    3. Create Filesystem and copy files
    4. Update USB Boot Partitions
  5. Final Configurations
  6. Resources

Requirements

  • Raspberry Pi 4B
  • SD card with RaspbianOS
  • USB device intended to use as boot device

Flash latest EEPROM

After booting the raspberry with the sd card, update the system:

sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade

Then we can update the latest firmware:

sudo rpi-eeprom-update -a

Restart to apply the changes.

Change Raspberry Boot Order

After the first reboot run:

sudo raspi-config

Then choose Advanced Options -> Boot Order -> USB Boot.

Restart to apply the changes.

Install Arch Linux on USB device

Format USB Device

After the second reboot, follow the following instructions to install Arch Linux according to the Arch Linux Documentation:
https://archlinuxarm.org/platforms/armv8/broadcom/raspberry-pi-4

Replace sdX in the following instructions with the device name for the USB device as it appears on your computer.

Start fdisk to partition the SD card:

fdisk /dev/sdX

At the fdisk prompt, delete old partitions and create a new one:

  1. Type o. This will clear out any partitions on the drive.
  2. Type p to list partitions. There should be no partitions left.
  3. Type n, then p for primary, 1 for the first partition on the drive, press ENTER to accept the default first sector, then type +200M for the last sector.
  4. Type t, then c to set the first partition to type W95 FAT32 (LBA).
  5. Type n, then p for primary, 2 for the second partition on the drive, and then press ENTER twice to accept the default first and last sector.
  6. Write the partition table and exit by typing w.

(Optional) Migrate to hybrid MBR with GPT

Note: This step is not necessary for most USB devices. Use this if your device has more than 2TB of capacity and you need to have a partition with more than 2TB of space.

At the gdisk prompt, enter recovery mode to create hybrid MBR:

  1. Type r to use recovery options.
  2. Type h to make hybrid MBR.
  3. Type 1 to select the first partition.
  4. Type n to not format the first partition to EFI.
  5. Type n to not set bootable flag.
  6. Type n to not protect any other partition.
  7. Type w to write changes.
  8. Type y to confirm changes and exit.

At the gdisk prompt, recreate the second partition:

  1. Type d to delete a partition.
  2. Type 2 to select the second parition.
  3. Type n to add a new partition.
  4. Type ENTER to select the default partition number.
  5. Type ENTER to select the default first sector.
  6. Type ENTER to select the default last sector.
  7. Type ENTER to select the default partition type (Linux Filesystem).
  8. Type w to write changes.
  9. Type y to confirm changes and exit.

Create Filesystem and copy files

Create and mount the FAT filesystem:

mkfs.vfat /dev/sdX1
mkdir boot
mount /dev/sdX1 boot

Create and mount the ext4 filesystem:

mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdX2
mkdir root
mount /dev/sdX2 root

Download and extract the root filesystem (as root, not via sudo):

wget http://os.archlinuxarm.org/os/ArchLinuxARM-rpi-4-latest.tar.gz
bsdtar -xpf ArchLinuxARM-rpi-4-latest.tar.gz -C root
sync

Move boot files to the first partition:

mv root/boot/* boot

Update USB Boot Partitions

fstab

First, adjust the fstab of the new system by replacing the defined system with the USB system:

sudo vim root/etc/fstab

Change the device /dev/mmcblk1p1 to your boot device /dev/sdX1.

cmdline.txt

Then we need to set the new root device to be used:

sudo vim boot/cmdline.txt

Set the root parameter to your root device /dev/sdX2.

Unmount the two partitions:

umount boot root

You can now boot from the newly created USB device without the need for the SD card

Final Configurations

Connect the USB device into the Raspberry Pi, connect ethernet, and apply 5V power. Use the serial console or SSH to the IP address given to the board by your router. Login as the default user alarm with the password alarm. The default root password is root.

Initialize the pacman keyring and populate the Arch Linux ARM package signing keys:

pacman-key --init
pacman-key --populate archlinuxarm

Resources

  1. How To Set Up a Raspberry Pi 4 with Archlinux 64-bit (AArch64) and Full Disk Encryption (+SSH unlock), USB Boot (No SD-Card) and btrfs: https://gist.github.com/XSystem252/d274cd0af836a72ff42d590d59647928
  2. Setting up a SSH Server: https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/computers/remote-access.html#setting-up-a-ssh-server
  3. Running Raspbian from USB Devices : Made Easy https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=196778
@eliasjonsson023
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The above way did not work for me. What I DID find to work was by following this guide; installing EndeavourOS on the Raspberry Pi 4 using an Arch Linux Arm micro SD card.
Forum post that explains how to do

@gustad
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gustad commented Sep 2, 2023

I can't seem to download the tar.gz file:

/tmp/pi4 # wget http://os.archlinuxarm.org/os/ArchLinuxARM-rpi-4-latest.tar.gz
--2023-09-02 09:42:54--  http://os.archlinuxarm.org/os/ArchLinuxARM-rpi-4-latest.tar.gz
Resolving os.archlinuxarm.org... 50.116.36.110
Connecting to os.archlinuxarm.org|50.116.36.110|:80... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 302 Found
Location: http://ca.us.mirror.archlinuxarm.org/os/ArchLinuxARM-rpi-4-latest.tar.gz [following]
--2023-09-02 09:42:55--  http://ca.us.mirror.archlinuxarm.org/os/ArchLinuxARM-rpi-4-latest.tar.gz
Resolving ca.us.mirror.archlinuxarm.org... 169.229.200.70, 2607:f140:0:32::70
Connecting to ca.us.mirror.archlinuxarm.org|169.229.200.70|:80... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 404 Not Found
2023-09-02 09:42:55 ERROR 404: Not Found.

@gustad
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gustad commented Sep 2, 2023

However, I did try http://os.archlinuxarm.org/os/ArchLinuxARM-rpi-aarch64-latest.tar.gz but this does not have a /boot/cmdline.txt and it will not boot from USB. If I put an Ubuntu image on the USB stick I'm able to boot via USB.

@mariolima
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same thing here - no /boot/cmdline.txt
I think the guide might be deprecated since the latest aarch64 release

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