Here's a basic guide to configuring a new Arch Linux install.
Initial update (say Yes to all):
pacman -Syu
Install some “essential” packages:
pacman -S vim openssh acpid sudo screen alsa-utils pm-utils rsync \ keychain cpufrequtils lm_sensors lshw dnsutils uml_utilities \ bridge-utils iptables alpine aspell-en gnu-netcat inetutils ethtool
Then run:
/etc/rc.d/sshd start /etc/rc.d/acpid start
Note: make sure all lines are commented out of /etc/hosts.deny for sshd to accept connections
Edit /etc/rc.conf to make these services start automatically:
DAEMONS=(acpid !hal !gdm syslog-ng network !netfs !crond sshd)
Run “visudo” and uncomment one line:
%wheel ALL=(ALL) ALL
Create a good /etc/skel/.screenrc
autodetach on startup_message off vbell off defscrollback 8000 ### if using rxvt-unicode: #terminfo rxvt-unicode hs@:ti@:te@ #term rxvt-unicode
Run adduser and some good secondary groups are “wheel,audio,video,optical,camera,games”
To install X, first it's helpful to know your video card:
Run “lspci | grep VGA” and find something in “pacman -Ss xf86-video” that looks like your card:
pacman -S xorg xf86-video-YOURCARD
Also useful to install is xf86-input-synaptics if you have a laptop with a synaptics touchpad.
cp /usr/share/hal/fdi/policy/10osvendor/11-x11-synaptics.fdi /etc/hal/fdi/policy/
Optionally as root run (edit as necessary):
X -configure cp /root/xorg.conf.new /etc/X11/xorg.conf
Then run:
/etc/rc.d/hal start startx
Make sure the mouse works then press ctrl-alt-F1 and ctrl-C to exit.
Set hal up in /etc/rc.conf to start automatically:
DAEMONS=(acpid hal !gdm syslog-ng network !netfs crond sshd)
Install a terminal:
pacman -S rxvt-unicode terminus-font
Create ~/.Xdefaults
urxvt.loginShell: True urxvt.background: rgba:0000/0000/0000/ccdd urxvt.foreground: white urxvt.font: xft:Terminus:pixelsize=12 urxvt.scrollBar: 0 urxvt.saveLines: 12288 urxvt.internalBorder: 5 urxvt.depth: 32 urxvt.scrollTtyOutput: 0 urxvt.scrollTtyKeypress: 1 urxvt.scrollWithBuffer: 1 urxvt.pastableTabs: 1
Install some other useful stuff:
pacman -S awesome slock feh firefox mplayer gnome gdm gdm-themes tango-icon-theme \ gtk-engine-murrine murrine-themes-collection gimp evince eog cheese gnome-games \ pidgin zim