Arch Linux -- The Struggle

[The Beatles]

Here's to documenting some quirks found while installing Arch.

1. First off, the Wiki is excellent. It will solve most of your problems.
2. Do not use the default xorgconfig. Instead, boot Archie, and copy over the /etc/X11/xorg.conf to your own install.
3. Simplest way to start is to boot archie, mount your basic Arch install, chroot to it, and then do the fun stuff.
4. startxfce4 is located in the 'xfce-goodies' package for some reason. You should thus install that package... heh.
5. I use gdm, but the packages take care of all that if you use a display manager. You should edit /etc/inittab and set the default runlevel (it's in the first line) from 3 to 5. Then reboot.
6. I don't know about bootsplash.
7. Sound configures itself, but gstreamer hates it. If you use Amarok, use the xine engine (amarok-engine-xine) rather than gstreamer; it will work perfectly.
8. To mix, use alsamixer. Then at each option hit 'm' for unmute, and 7 for 70%. Make sure to omit the 'Mic', or you'll hear screeching noises. Then as root, run chmod you+s `which alsactl`; then as yourself, alsactl store. This will save those settings. Oh, XFCE's mixer applet is your friend.
9. Get the Clearlooks theme from gnome-look.org, because the default theme is ugly as heck. Clearlooks is nicer, haven't yet figured out icons yet though.
10. Wireless - their scripts are in flux, check back later.
11. The default choice of apps influences the perceived speed. I recommend stuff like:
terminal: xterm -fg white -bg black -sb -rightbar -sl 2000
(scroll wheel can be used)
browser: epiphany or konqueror
editor: pico
Of course, that's up to you. Arch really is fast, actually.

Haven't yet figured out bootsplash and wireless. I update my fedora install by chrooting to it and running yum.

I'll keep this updated as I go along in case you're interested.

[The Beatles]

Instead of that xterm command, use the XFCE folks' recommendation:
http://www.xfce.org/various/Xresources.txt

And just launch xterm.

My .Xresources (some minor modifications)

code: Select all

! this are Xresources to make xterm look good
! put into ~/.Xresources
! after changing contents, run xrdb -merge .Xresources
! gentoo has a bug so that it doesnt read it when X starts, so add above
! command to /etc/xfce4/xinitrc (top) and be happy.

!xterm*background:      Black
!xterm*foreground:      White
xterm*font:             -misc-fixed-medium-r-normal--18-*-*-*-*-*-iso10646-1
!xterm*iconPixmap: ...
xterm*iconPixmap:       /usr/share/pixmaps/gnome-gemvt.xbm
xterm*iconMask:         /usr/share/pixmaps/gnome-gemvt-mask.xbm
!XTerm*iconName: terminal
!Mwm*xterm*iconImage: /home/a/a1111aa/xterm.icon
XTerm*loginShell: true
XTerm*foreground: white
XTerm*background: black
XTerm*cursorColor: rgb:00/80/00
XTerm*borderColor: white
XTerm*scrollColor: black
XTerm*visualBell: false
XTerm*saveLines: 2000
!! XTerm.VT100.allowSendEvents: True
XTerm*allowSendEvents: True
XTerm*sessionMgt: false
!XTerm*eightBitInput:  false
!XTerm*metaSendsEscape: true
!XTerm*internalBorder:  10
!XTerm*highlightSelection:  true
!XTerm*VT100*colorBDMode:  on
!XTerm*VT100*colorBD:  blue
!XTerm.VT100.eightBitOutput:  true
!XTerm.VT100.titeInhibit:  false
XTerm*color0: black
XTerm*color1: red3
XTerm*color2: green3
XTerm*color3: yellow3
XTerm*color4: DodgerBlue1
XTerm*color5: magenta3
XTerm*color6: cyan3
XTerm*color7: gray90
XTerm*color8: gray50
XTerm*color9: red
XTerm*color10: green
XTerm*color11: yellow
XTerm*color12: blue
XTerm*color13: magenta
XTerm*color14: cyan
XTerm*color15: white
XTerm*colorUL: yellow
XTerm*colorBD: white
!XTerm*mainMenu*backgroundPixmap:     gradient:vertical?dimension=400&start=gray10&end=gray40
!XTerm*mainMenu*foreground:          white 
!XTerm*vtMenu*backgroundPixmap:       gradient:vertical?dimension=550&start=gray10&end=gray40
!XTerm*vtMenu*foreground:             white
!XTerm*fontMenu*backgroundPixmap:     gradient:vertical?dimension=300&start=gray10&end=gray40
!XTerm*fontMenu*foreground:           white
!XTerm*tekMenu*backgroundPixmap:      gradient:vertical?dimension=300&start=gray10&end=gray40
!XTerm*tekMenu*foreground:            white
!XTerm Profiles (idea from dag wieers)
XTerm*rightScrollBar: true

The changes are the font size & color and scrollback.

[The Beatles]

Printing is trivial with the wiki page. CUPS is very well-designed, and has a perfect web interface.
The wiki also describes cpufreq/acpi, which are also easy to set up.
Noip2 can be added as a service with this simple script which I wrote:

code: Select all

#!/bin/sh

. /etc/rc.conf
. /etc/rc.d/functions


NOIP=`which noip2`
KILLALL=`which killall`

case $1 in
        start)
                stat_busy "Starting no-ip client"
                $NOIP
                stat_done
               ;;
        stop)
                stat_busy "Stopping no-ip client"
                $KILLALL noip2
                stat_done
               ;;
        restart) 
                stat_busy "Stopping no-ip client"
                $KILLALL noip2
                stat_done
                stat_busy "Starting no-ip client"
                $NOIP
                stat_done
               ;;
esac

Add that as /etc/rc.d/noip
Make sure you have noip2 installed and configured!

NVIDIA is also described on the wiki.

[The Beatles]

Make sure to use CUPS to set your default print size to US Letter if you're in North America. A4 is default.

[Devari]

Thanks!

I've got Archie up and, aside from not liking my silly Windows USB keyboard, it runs perfectly, better than Mandriva OR Kubuntu ever were...

It's too bad you can't just install Archie.

[The Beatles]

Yes, fast, innit?
Luck with Arch itself?

[edit] Also very easy to maintain.

[The Beatles]

Further notes:
1. To set up sound, run alsaconf. It will do the work for you.
2. To get rid of the bell, uncomment the "set bell-style none" line in /etc/inputrc, and add a line to /etc/rc.local saying: "setterm -blength 0". To get rid of the bell in xterm, run this when X starts (say, in xinitrc): "xset -b".
3. Add the modelines (already configured higher up) in Archie's xorg.conf where appropriate to the Monitor (or whatever sections). Point is, they're configured, but not always used.

[Devari]

Can't try Vector OR arch right now, something screwy with my partitions. Looks like the Kubuntu one, but I can boot properly...

[The Beatles]

We hates GRUB yess we does, my preciouss...

[Philip]

We hates GRUB yess we does, my preciouss...

What were we talking about again?

[The Beatles]

Good answer, Philip man.

[Philip]

Good answer, Philip man.

I try to give the best replies I can. :*laughs*: