{"id":199,"date":"2026-09-24T14:41:35","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T09:11:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sushantmondal.com\/blog\/?p=199"},"modified":"2026-09-24T14:41:35","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T09:11:35","slug":"install-arch-linux-inside-a-vm-full-setup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sushantmondal.com\/blog\/2026\/09\/24\/install-arch-linux-inside-a-vm-full-setup\/","title":{"rendered":"Install Arch Linux inside a VM (full setup)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

My host system is running Fedora Linux 44:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

sushant@home:~$ cat \/etc\/os-release\nNAME=\"Fedora Linux\"\nVERSION=\"44 (KDE Plasma Desktop Edition)\"\nRELEASE_TYPE=stable\nID=fedora\nVERSION_ID=44\nVERSION_CODENAME=\"\"\nPRETTY_NAME=\"Fedora Linux 44 (KDE Plasma Desktop Edition)\"\nANSI_COLOR=\"0;38;2;60;110;180\"\nLOGO=fedora-logo-icon\nCPE_NAME=\"cpe:\/o:fedoraproject:fedora:44\"\nDEFAULT_HOSTNAME=\"fedora\"\nHOME_URL=\"https:\/\/fedoraproject.org\/\"\nDOCUMENTATION_URL=\"https:\/\/docs.fedoraproject.org\/en-US\/fedora\/f44\/\"\nSUPPORT_URL=\"https:\/\/ask.fedoraproject.org\/\"\nBUG_REPORT_URL=\"https:\/\/bugzilla.redhat.com\/\"\nREDHAT_BUGZILLA_PRODUCT=\"Fedora\"\nREDHAT_BUGZILLA_PRODUCT_VERSION=44\nREDHAT_SUPPORT_PRODUCT=\"Fedora\"\nREDHAT_SUPPORT_PRODUCT_VERSION=44\nSUPPORT_END=2027-05-19\nVARIANT=\"KDE Plasma Desktop Edition\"\nVARIANT_ID=kde<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Arch torrent download and VirtualBox setup<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For downloading Arch Linux, the preferred method is to use a torrent. I used ktorrent<\/code> for this. Download the latest Arch Linux ISO’s torrent file from here<\/a>. Please keep your client open for some time after downloading the file to help the community more. Try to maintain a 2:1 (up:down) ratio to fulfill your duties towards the Arch Linux open-source community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
sudo dnf install -y ktorrent\nktorrent \/path\/to\/the\/arch\/.iso.torrent\/file<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Download the latest version of VirtualBox from here<\/a> for your current host distribution. Then run this to install VirtualBox (replace dnf<\/code> with your package manager):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
sudo dnf install -y kernel kernel-devel\nsudo dnf install -y \/path\/to\/the\/vbox\/.rpm\/file<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Create a new VM with the below config (approx.). Use the .iso<\/code> image that was downloaded using the torrent:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Install Arch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Boot the VM with the Arch image loaded. You should get a live Arch installation environment. The prompt starts with something like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
root@archiso ~ #<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Check OS release:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
cat \/etc\/os-release<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Identify the VM’s disk:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
lsblk\nlsblk -f<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Set up the partition table<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
# Switch `sda` with the storage device you are creating the partition table for.\nfdisk \/dev\/sda<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Aim for this ideal partition table:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use<\/th>Partition (NAME<\/code>)<\/th>Mount point (MOUNTPOINTS<\/code>)<\/th>Type (FSTYPE<\/code>)<\/th>Size (FSAVAIL<\/code>)<\/th>Command to create the partition (last sector)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
UEFI<\/td>\/dev\/sda1<\/code><\/td>\/mnt\/boot<\/code><\/td>vfat<\/code><\/td>1G<\/td>+1G<\/code><\/td><\/tr>
Swap<\/td>\/dev\/sda2<\/code><\/td>[SWAP]<\/code><\/td>swap<\/code><\/td>2G<\/td>+2G<\/code><\/td><\/tr>
Root<\/td>\/dev\/sda3<\/code><\/td>\/mnt<\/code><\/td>ext4<\/code><\/td>17G<\/td>[Press <RETURN><\/code>, default = remaining size]<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Tip: Create the partitions in the order listed above. Also, press <RETURN><\/code> everywhere to set them to their default values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I forgot to use g<\/code> in the first-install phase. Do NOT repeat my mistake, because the systemd-boot<\/code> bootloader requires a GPT partition table. Follow these keystrokes in order; change wherever necessary:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
g\nn\n1\n<RETURN>\n+1G\nn\n2\n<RETURN>\n+2G\nn\n3\n<RETURN>\n<RETURN>\nt\n1\n1\nt\n2\n19\np\nw<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Before using w<\/code> to write the partition table to the disk (DANGER: it modifies the partition table of the disk live), ensure you have made the correct partition table (refer to the above table) using p<\/code>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Format the partitions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
# Use FAT32 for the EFI partition.\nmkfs.fat -F 32 -n EFI \/dev\/sda1\n\n# Assign swap.\nmkswap \/dev\/sda2\n\n# Use EXT4 for the root partition.\nmkfs.ext4 \/dev\/sda3<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Mount the file systems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
mount \/dev\/sda3 \/mnt\nmount --mkdir \/dev\/sda1 \/mnt\/boot\nswapon \/dev\/sda2<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Verify the new partition table<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
lsblk -f<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Install Arch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
# Requires an internet connection to the VM.\npacstrap -K \/mnt base linux linux-firmware<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Make the file systems persistent<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
genfstab -U \/mnt >> \/mnt\/etc\/fstab\n\n# Verify\ncat \/mnt\/etc\/fstab<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Chroot and complete the remaining VM setup (except the bootloader)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
# This lets you boot into your computer without actually booting into it.\narch-chroot -S \/mnt\n\n# Time\nln -sf \/usr\/share\/zoneinfo\/Asia\/Kolkata \/etc\/localtime\nhwclock --systohc\n\n# Localization\necho \"LANG=en_US.UTF-8\" >> \/etc\/locale.conf\necho \"KEYMAP=us\" >> \/etc\/vconsole.conf\n\n# Network\necho \"arch-vm.sushantmondal.com\" >> \/etc\/hostname\n\n# Recreate `initramfs`.\nmkinitcpio -P\n\n# Set a password for `root`.\npasswd root<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
systemd-boot<\/code> bootloader<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Installation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
# Install the `systemd-boot` bootloader.\nbootctl install\n\n# Verify\nbootctl status<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Use a text editor like vim<\/code> to edit the configuration files<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
# Install the `vim` text editor.\npacman -S --noconfirm vim\n\n# Verify\nvim --version | head -n 1<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
loader.conf<\/code><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
When systemd-boot<\/code> reaches the boot menu, it should use the arch.conf<\/code> configuration file as the default boot entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
vim \/boot\/loader\/loader.conf\n\n# Enter the insert mode to start editing.\n<ESC>\ni\n\n# Append this.\ndefault  arch.conf\ntimeout  4\nconsole-mode max\neditor   no\n\n# Save and exit `vim`.\n<ESC>\n:wq\n<RETURN>\n\n# Verify\ncat \/boot\/loader\/loader.conf<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
arch.conf<\/code><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
vim \/boot\/loader\/entries\/arch.conf\n\n# Enter the insert mode to start editing.\n<ESC>\ni\n\n# Use this format.\ntitle   Arch Linux\nlinux   \/vmlinuz-linux\ninitrd  \/initramfs-linux.img\noptions root=UUID=xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx rw\n\n# The easier method to replace the UUID is given below.\n\n# Write only this inside `vim`:\ntitle   Arch Linux\nlinux   \/vmlinuz-linux\ninitrd  \/initramfs-linux.img\noptions root=UUID=\n\n# Save and exit `vim`.\n<ESC>\n:wq\n<RETURN>\n\n# Append the root's UUID with rw dynamically directly from the shell.\necho \"$(blkid -s UUID -o value \/dev\/sda3) rw\" >> \/boot\/loader\/entries\/arch.conf\n\n# You need to manually remove the newline between `options root=UUID=` and the UUID. Use `vim` and do it.\n\n# Verify\ncat \/boot\/loader\/entries\/arch.conf<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Verify whether the configuration files were correctly implemented<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
bootctl list\nls -l \/boot\/EFI\/BOOT\/BOOTX64.EFI<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Exit the chroot and shut down your system<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
exit\n\n# Unmount recursively.\numount -R \/mnt\n\nshutdown<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Eject the .iso<\/code> virtual disk from the VirtualBox interface before booting into the system again<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. Open Oracle VirtualBox Manager<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Click on the Machines icon<\/strong> (left panel).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Select the VM running Arch Linux<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Click on the Settings icon<\/strong> in the top ribbon.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Switch to Expert<\/strong> mode.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Go to the Storage<\/strong> tab.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Select the Arch Linux .iso<\/code> image file under Controller: IDE<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. In the Optical Drive option, click on the blue CD icon<\/strong> on the right.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Select the Remove Disk from Virtual Drive<\/strong> option from the dropdown.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    Bibliography<\/h2>\n\n\n\n