Trying Arch Install Scripts
Latest Arch Linux announcement mentioned that AIF (Arch Installation Framework) is no longer included. And this installation method is replaced with Arch Install Scripts. Users who are willing to install Arch Linux need to follow the guide. So, I just tried the installation of this latest Arch Linux with the VirtualBox.
If you follow the guide accordingly, everything should be fine. But without the basic Linux knowledge, it is really a hell (I think so).
The next thing is the requirement of internet connection. The Arch Linux installation CD provides only the network installation. For any laptop that does not have a Linux compatible wireless device hardware, I cannot imagine how to install the driver, without network cable and wireless connection. Because even the core and core-devel packages are installed from network connection. How do we build the package even we have the source?
One of the steps that I am not familiar is bootloader installation. This is because I was using older version of grub (grub-legacy). But current Arch Linux provides two solution, grub2 or syslinux. To have a dual boot with Windows, some configurations are needed.
Another part that I am not familiar is the systemd. This is because previously, mkinitcpio was using udev. However, udev is replaced with systemd. Now, systemd uses the configuration files such as /etc/locale.conf, /etc/hostname, /etc/timezone. These configuration previously were all set in /etc/rc.conf.
Actually, the Arch Way is really good. The Arch Install Scripts: pacstrap and genfstab are working well. The only thing I consider is the problem of network installation as I mentioned above. Maybe, I might choose Archbang over Arch Linux for the installation.