Running a Arch Linux VM in Proxmox VE

  1. Download the Arch Linux iso Download and upload it to the Proxmox ISO image library
  2. Log into the Proxmox web UI
  3. Select a storage from the left navigation pane to download the .iso to
  4. Select ISO Images in the left sub-navigation pane
  5. Right click the Proxmox node name > Create VM
  6. Give the VM a unique ID and Name > Next
  7. On the OS tab, Select the Arch Linux installation .iso file, leave the Type as Linux and the Version as 5.x - 2.6 Kernel > Next
  8. Leave the defaults on the System tab > Next
  9. On the Hard Disk tab, set the Disk size to 30 GiB or more > Next
  10. On the CPU tab, set Cores to 2 or more and Type to host > Next
  11. On the Memory tab, set the Memory to 4096 or more > Next
  12. Leave the defaults on the Network tab > Next
  13. Verify the summary and click Finish
  14. Right click the Arch Linux VM in the left navigation pane > Start
  15. Click console in the left sub-navigation menu
  16. At the Arch Linux menu, select Arch Linux install medium > Press Enter
  17. Run the following commands to install Arch Linux
    # list disk drives, note the identifier for VBOX HARDDISK
    fdisk -l
    # partition the drive, change the identifier if needed
    fdisk /dev/sda
    # create a new partition
    n
    # set the partition type to primary
    p
    # default sector
    Press Enter to accept default
    # press enter to accept the default start sector
    2048
    # set the partition size, adjust to leave ~2GB for swap
    +14GB
    # create a swap partition
    n
    # set the partition type to primary
    p
    # default sector
    Press Enter to accept default
    # set the partition size
    Press Enter to accept default
    # write the partitions
    w
    # print out the partitions
    fdisk -l
    # create ext4 root partition
    mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda1
    # confirm proceeding with the change if prompted
    y
    # create swap partition
    mkswap /dev/sda2
    # confirm proceeding with the change if prompted
    y
    # mount the root partition
    mount /dev/sda1 /mnt
    # enable swap
    swapon /dev/sda2
    # run pacstrap installation
    pacstrap /mnt base linux linux-firmware
    # generate fstab file
    genfstab -U /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab
    # change root to the /mnt directory
    arch-chroot /mnt
    # set the hostname
    echo archlinux-vm > /etc/hostname
    # install grub bootloader
    pacman -S grub
    grub-install /dev/sda
    # create grub config
    grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
    # install gnome desktop environment
    pacman -S gnome networkmanager qemu-guest-agent
    # enable required services
    systemctl enable gdm.service
    systemctl enable NetworkManager.service
    # set root passwd
    passwd
    # shutdown
    exit
    shutdown now
  18. In the Proxmox web UI, select Hardware from the left sub-navigation menu > Double click the CD/DVD drive > Select Do not use any media > Click OK
  19. Select Options from the left sub-navigation menu
  20. Double click QEMU Guest Agent > Check the Use QEMU Guest Agent box > Click OK
  21. Right click the Arch Linux VM in the left navigation pane > Start
  22. Click console in the left sub-navigation menu
  23. Welcome to Arch Linux