Arch Linux

gremlin

Member

Registered: 2022-07-19

Posts: 18

Installing and running Arch on an external drive - SD-card

I want to install and use Arch on an *external* memory device only. Not as Live USD, but permanently.

Is there an instruction of how to  install and run it: on SD card, SSD drive or memory stick?

And data between reboots should be preserved too.

Last edited by gremlin (2023-06-14 17:00:29)

Scimmia

Fellow

Registered: 2012-09-01

Posts: 12,453

Re: Installing and running Arch on an external drive - SD-card

For the most part, you just install like normal. See https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Instal … ble_medium

gremlin

Member

Registered: 2022-07-19

Posts: 18

Re: Installing and running Arch on an external drive - SD-card

For the most part, you just install like normal. See https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Instal … ble_medium

Those suggestions are about post-installation, right? Turning performance, tweaking some settings.

The  "pre-installation" and "installation" parts remain identical? With one difference is that I'll choose my external drive to install it onto instead of a hard-drive. A boot sector will be created on it as well. Right?

Last edited by gremlin (2023-06-14 17:02:21)

Scimmia

Fellow

Registered: 2012-09-01

Posts: 12,453

Re: Installing and running Arch on an external drive - SD-card

As the link says, the main differences are in mkinitpio and the bootloader. The 'boot sector' isn't really a thing anymore, the world has moved past BIOS years ago.

Talking about "choose an external drive" makes me wonder how you're actually installing it. If you're talking about some automated installer, I have no idea if it will work at all.

Last edited by Scimmia (2023-06-15 02:12:50)

gremlin

Member

Registered: 2022-07-19

Posts: 18

Re: Installing and running Arch on an external drive - SD-card

>As the link says, the main differences are in mkinitpio and the bootloader. The 'boot sector' isn't really a thing anymore, the world has moved past BIOS years ago.

I've asked not "what they are", but whether they're are done during "pre" or "post" installation.

mkinitpio -- post installation
bootloader -- isn't mentioned there at all

>Talking about "choose an external drive" makes me wonder how you're actually installing it. If you're talking about some automated installer, I have no idea if it will work at all.

One has to choose what drive to install Arch onto in any case: be it in an automated installer, or  the manual way.

Last edited by gremlin (2023-06-15 18:47:29)

jl2

Member

From: 47° 18' N 8° 34' E

Registered: 2022-06-01

Posts: 592

Website

Re: Installing and running Arch on an external drive - SD-card

bootloader -- isn't mentioned there at all

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Instal … figuration
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Instal … oot_loader - I also oversaw it on first install

One has to choose what drive to install Arch onto in any case: be it in an automated installer, or  the manual way.

yes - just like the normal install. run lsblk -f to see the disks/sd.
btw there are automatic installers - https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Instal … m#See_also

Last edited by jl2 (2023-06-15 19:08:54)

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Why I run Arch? To "BTW I run Arch" the guy one grade younger.
And to let my siblings and cousins laugh at Arsch Linux...

Scimmia

Fellow

Registered: 2012-09-01

Posts: 12,453

Re: Installing and running Arch on an external drive - SD-card

mkinitpio -- post installation
bootloader -- isn't mentioned there at all

They are both part of setting up the installation, so during, not pre or post. Installation is a process, not a single point. The majority of the page I linked is about the bootloader, so no idea why you could possibly say it's not mentioned. Looking at it, it's pretty out of date, though; the key is making sure you install to the UEFI default loader location and not rely on NVRAM entries.