My first attempt at building my own iso

MAYBL8 · 2026-03-15 18:31:32

This is my first attempt at making my own iso from archiso.
I have successfully built the first version. It is just a basic version.
I have some questions.
I guess to actually use it and install packages to it I need to install it.
Is there a tutorial on how to install a custom built iso ?
Do I need to create some kind of installation package to the custom iso?
Do I install something like calamares?

cryptearth · 2026-03-15 19:59:52

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Archiso ?

Scimmia · 2026-03-15 20:03:56

I'm not sure what you mean when you talk about installing an ISO.

MAYBL8 · 2026-03-15 20:10:08

Scimmia wrote:

I'm not sure what you mean when you talk about installing an ISO.

Probably using the wrong terminology.
Using Virtualbox to run the iso

MAYBL8 · 2026-03-15 20:15:16

cryptearth wrote:

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Archiso ?

I'm using these instructions. That is how I got this far.
What I don't see is when you use someones live iso they have an installer to install it to your hard drive included.
That is what I am looking for and how to implement it.
Thanks

cryptearth · 2026-03-15 20:57:10

ohh ... now i get it
your goal is something like many arch forks offer: a (usually desktop) live image with a graphical installer to setup the os onto the systems fixed drive

well - as the only official way to install arch is the manual way there simply is no graphical arch installer ... the very same as there is no real arch live iso but only the minimal install iso

that's on purpose - and you're free to build on top of it - but then you're half way to your own distro - which is no longer supported here as this forum only supports the vanilla manual install and archinstall
when you put together your own bundle you have to support it

MAYBL8 · 2026-03-15 21:29:42

er

cryptearth wrote:

ohh ... now i get it
your goal is something like many arch forks offer: a (usually desktop) live image with a graphical installer to setup the os onto the systems fixed drive
well - as the only official way to install arch is the manual way there simply is no graphical arch installer ... the very same as there is no real arch live iso but only the minimal install iso

that's on purpose - and you're free to build on top of it - but then you're half way to your own distro - which is no longer supported here as this forum only supports the vanilla manual install and archinstall
when you put together your own bundle you have to support it

Can't I somewhere on here get some help or advise at from some other users as I try to build the distro. I mean the archiso is setup to build the distro.

cryptearth · 2026-03-15 23:17:41

archiso is merely the environment to install the os proper
you can bloat it up to include additional tools or maybe even a full blown DE - but then we talk about several GB which all gets loaded into RAM - but for what? to end up with a fancy graphical installer? to have it do what different then a regular user is supposed to do: follow the manual install guide
so, even if you get what you want - you have to support it one whatever platform you chose - but here will likely be the wrong place - as, by the rules: this forum is for vanilla arch only

qinohe · Yesterday 09:36:21

Can't I somewhere on here get some help or advise at from some other users as I try to build the distro. I mean the archiso is setup to build the distro.

It's basically easy to build a profile containing everything you want or need to have on your own ISO.

The archiso project follows the same way you build your own system on real hardware.
Meaning, if you want to add a package you add it to the package list 'packages.x86_64'
If config is needed, you add it to the 'airootfs' and place it at exactly the same place as in your OS on hardware.
There is an example of ZFS in the wiki, basically everything you want to add follows this same way.
So if you want a home directory with a '~/.config' with directories containing files you would end up with something like

../releng/airootfs/home/MAYBL8/.config/ranger/some-files

as example. But everything has the same hierarchy your own OS does.

So eventually it boils down to this; the better you understand the way your own OS is build up on real hardware, the easier it will probably be to build your own archiso profile with all the things you like on it;)

edit: I only now see '#5' and what it is you want, sorry I overlooked this!
Well you can just create your complete ISO then use the installer to install Arch and simply copy the user directory to disk.
Personally I have never bothered to create my own ' EndeavourOS' but I'm sure it's not that hard to add that to your installer.
Basically you copy what you see to the YOUR new users home directory F.I. or files in '/etc' and so on!
I don't use 'archinstall' but it shouldn't be that hard(I guess here ) to add it to the config.

Last edited by qinohe (Yesterday 10:03:34)

MAYBL8 · Yesterday 13:17:24

@qinohe
First thank you for the reply.
At least you are being helpful and that is all I was asking.

- as, by the rules: this forum is for vanilla arch only

As far as vanilla arch goes. If that is all that is supported here why have all those categories to choose from when asking a question?
There are allot of questions asked here that aren't vanilla and don't ask me to list them but I will list them if you want.

The level of expertise required here is unacceptable for a newbie. What is the definition of a newbie? What is he/she expected to know?
Yeah read the wiki I get that but haven't you read something thought you understood it but find out you didn't. That's not acceptable here.

Believe me I only ask questions here after I have tried and read everything that I can comprehend. Yeah I know what you will say to that. Then you shouldn't use arch use a simpler distro. But I don't want to do that . I want to learn all about Arch and sometimes it takes some trial and error.

OK enough of my ranting. Sorry I am just frustrated.
You can close this post , you can send it to the trash bin dust bin or whatever.
I will look for help elsewhere.

Lone_Wolf · Today 13:49:50

Asking for help with creating a custom iso using archiso on a vanilla archlinux install is fine, even if you need help adding a graphical installer to your custom iso.

How to configure that graphic installer however isn't .
Such questions would be better asked on sites/platforms like linuxquestions.org that cater to many distros.

Moderator Note
Closing this thread as implicitily requested by OP .

Arch Linux

#1 2026-03-15 18:31:32

My first attempt at building my own iso

#2 2026-03-15 19:59:52

Re: My first attempt at building my own iso

#3 2026-03-15 20:03:56

Re: My first attempt at building my own iso

#4 2026-03-15 20:10:08

Re: My first attempt at building my own iso

#5 2026-03-15 20:15:16

Re: My first attempt at building my own iso

#6 2026-03-15 20:57:10

Re: My first attempt at building my own iso

#7 2026-03-15 21:29:42

Re: My first attempt at building my own iso

#8 2026-03-15 23:17:41

Re: My first attempt at building my own iso

#9 Yesterday 09:36:21

Re: My first attempt at building my own iso

#10 Yesterday 13:17:24

Re: My first attempt at building my own iso

#11 Today 13:49:50

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