Arch Handbook
Contents |
Notice
This handbook has only just been started. It's currently a rather bare outline. Please edit it and make it better! Look at the FreeBSD Handbook as a style guide.
Most sections should be a summary, with a link to the main article on the subject.
Getting Started
Introduction
Arch linux is a lightweight and flexible linux distribution that tries to Keep It Simple. There are official packages optimized for the i686 and x86-64 architectures. There is also a community-operated package repository. See the pages in this category
Installing Arch Linux
The full install guide is here and the install CDs are available here. If you would like a more detailed installation guide, please see the Beginners' Guide.
Linux Basics
A few basics on the file system and command line, for people starting Unix/Linux with Arch.
How to change directory:
cd /name/of/directory
e.g.
cd /etc/pacman.d
How to make a directory:
mkdir /path/to/new/directory
e.g.
mkdir /home/archuser/newfolder
How to remove an empty directory:
rmdir /path/to/empty/directory
How to remove a directory and all its content:
rm -r /path/to/directory
How to list files in a directory:
All files: (except hidden files)
ls
All files: (including hidden files)
ls -a
All files, hidden files and their properties:
ls -la
Files with the .avi file extension only:
ls *.avi
How to move a file:
mv /path/to/old/file.ext /path/to/new/file.ext
e.g.
mv /home/archuser/compressed.zip /home/archuser/myfiles/compressed2.zip
How to copy a file:
cp /path/to/file.txt /path/to/copied/file.txt
How to remove a file:
rm /path/to/file.txt
e.g.
rm /home/archuser/file.txt
How to show the contents of a file:
cat /path/to/file.txt
How to make a file executable:
chmod +x /path/to/script.sh
How to (search the entire filesystem for) a file called euwfh.avi
cd /
find -name euwfh.avi
How to mount a partition:
mount /dev/sdX1 /media/mountpoint
e.g.
mount /dev/sda1 /media/folder
How to show how much space is left/used on (all mounted) partitions:
df -h
How to show all running processes:
ps -A
How to stop an annoying process called "EvilTrojan":
killall EvilTrojan
How to show an unintelligible manual for a program "ultracompressor"
man ultracompressor
Installing, removing, updating and managing software: pacman
See pacman.
Graphical Desktop Environments
The Xorg project provides an open source implementation of the X Window System – the foundation for a graphical user interface. Desktop environments such as Enlightenment, GNOME, KDE, LXDE, and Xfce provide a complete graphical environment. Various window managers offer alternative and novel environments, and may be used standalone to conserve system resources. Display managers provide a graphical login prompt.
Common Tasks
Desktop Applications
Web browsers, office suites, etc.
Multimedia
Video players, music jukeboxes, photo management, how to get codecs.
Printing
CUPS installation and configuration, finding drivers.
System Administration
Configuration and Tuning
Systemd is used for most administrative tasks.
Users and Basic Account Management
Creating and managing users with command-line utilities.
Users are created with useradd. See Users and Groups for more information.
Networking
Network Configuration
How networks are set up in Arch.
Servers
Mail, web, SSH server installation and configuration.