2. [Initializing Installation with Oracle VM VirtualBox Manager][2]
3. [Partition the hard disk][3]
4. [Bootstrap Arch Linux][4]
5. [Setup hostname and networking][5]
6. [Install the Bootloader][6]
7. [Boot into the installed ArchLinux operating system][7]
Arch Linux is a Linux-based operating system that is designed for i689 and 86-64 computers. Its unique package manager is responsible for providing updates to the latest software applications using “pacman” with complete tracking. Pacman is the package manager that is used to install, update, and remove the software packages. It is designed entirely for free and open-source software, along with the support from the Linux community.
Arch Linux is also popular for having a comprehensive documentation in form of the community wiki known as ArchWiki. This Linux operating system is based on binary packages that are targeted for i832, 64-bit, and 32-bit systems and optimized for the best performance on the modern hardware systems.
You can install Arch Linux directly to your home computer by following thisguide but you can also install it on a virtual machine on your Windows computer by using VirtualBox.
### Arch Linux Repositories
To install Arch Linux on Virtual Box, you must know the basic repositories of this Linux-based operating system. A repository is a storage location from where the software packages are retrieved during the installation process. There are multiple repositories available for Arch Linux, which are accessible via pacman and maintained by package maintainers. Here is a list of some of the basic repositories used to install Arch Linux on Virtual Box:
* The**core**repository contains all the packages that are needed to setupthe base system like booting Arch Linux, and building packages.
* The**extra**repository contains extra packages that do not fit in the core involving desktop environment.
* The**community**repositoryhas packages that are adopted by trusted Linux community users, and most of them will transfer to the core or extra repository.
* The**Multilib**repository contains 32-bit software and libraries for 32-bit application installation on 64-bit system.
* The**testing**repository contains packages that are destined for core or extra repositories.
* The**community-testing**repository is for the Linux community.
* The**multilib testing**repositoryis similar to the testing repository, but for multilib candidates.
* The**gnome-unstable**repository has the latest GNOME desktop environment.
* The**kde-unstable**repository contains the latest KDE software before they are been released.
### Install Arch Linux on Virtual Box
### Download Arch Linux
To install Arch Linux on Virtual Box, you must have the latest Arch Linux version that you can download from their[official website][10]. You can pick either the direct download option or torrent download, which is on a secure server. Before the installation, make sure you have 20 MB of free disk space and 1 GB of RAM in your system.
### Initializing Installation with Oracle VM VirtualBox Manager
Open the Oracle VM VirtualBox manager, click on new, and type in the name of the new operating system you want to create; in this case, it is Arch Linux. The system will automatically pick up the type and version of the Arch Linux, based on your system’s configuration. Click on_next_ .
Allocate the desired RAM size to your new operating system, which is ideally 1024 MB. Click on_next_ and then click on_create_ , to create a virtual disk now.
On the nextpage, you will be asked to select the type of hard disk file you want for your new operating system. Select VirtualBox Disk Image usually.
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Choose dynamically allocated and click_next_ .
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Allocate 20 GB hard disk file location and size.
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Now you can see that your Arch Linux operating system is created. Now you can click_start_ .
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Click on 'browser' and select the startup disk, which you downloaded from the Arch Linux official website.
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Click on_start_and then open the full-screen view.
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### **Booting to Install Arch Linux on Virtual Box**
You will see the first opening page of Arch Linux. Click on “Boot Arch Linux (x86_64), which is for 64-bit or click on “Boot Arch Linux (i686)”, which is for 32-bit.
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As soon as you click on the first option, the system will start booting. While it completes the temporary boot, we are basically moving into the live version and are logged in as root user.
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Check the Internet connection by typing in the following command.
_ping google.com_
The word ping stands for packet internet gopher. You will soon see the response that means Arch Linux has activated the Internet connection. This is essential to perform certain installation steps.
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Clear the command by typing
_clear_
Before we start the installation, you should partition your drive. Type_# fdisk – 1_ and you will see the current system’s disk partition. Focus on the 20 GB hard drives that you allocated to Arch in the beginning.
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### Partition the hard disk
We are going to partition this 20 GB space into three partitions. The first one is the primary root partition that will be of 10 GB. The second will be theswap partition, which will be twice the initial RAM allocation that will be 2048 MB. The third will be the logical partition that will be 8 GB allocated.
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Type the command:
_cfdisk_
You will see gpt, dos, sgi, and sun. Select the_dos_ option and press_enter_ .
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Here you will see the main disk space, which is 20 GB. To change this, press <enter> on the free space and type 10G.
