Pistonite VM

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Configure Boot Loader ​

We will be using systemd-boot as the boot loader. See https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Arch_boot_process#Boot_loader for all options.

This page is partially adopted from https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Systemd-boot

Install Boot Loader ​

First ensure the system is in UEFI mode with

bash
ls /sys/firmware/efi/efivars
ls /sys/firmware/efi/efivars

The command should not error.

Assuming you have been following this guide, the ESP mount point should be /boot (chrooted into the system i.e. /mnt)

Install the boot loader with

bash
bootctl install
bootctl install

TIP

This will automatically search for /efi. /boot and /boot/efi. If you are using a different mount point, you need to set --esp-path=/path/to/esp

Configure Loader ​

Create /boot/loader/loader.conf with

bash
nvim /boot/loader/loader.conf
nvim /boot/loader/loader.conf

Paste in the following content

default      arch.conf
timeout      3
console-mode max
editor       yes
default      arch.conf
timeout      3
console-mode max
editor       yes

WARNING

Use space for indent. Tabs won't work.

TIP

We have editor yes in case something goes wrong, we can edit the boot loader

TIP

Change timeout 3 to a longer timeout if you need longer to select in the boot menu

Save with the following so parent directories are created if they don't exist

:w ++p
:w ++p

Next run the following to get the UUID of the root partition. Copy it somewhere and we will need it later.

bash
blkid /dev/sda3
blkid /dev/sda3

Next we will add 2 loader entries for arch and arch-lts.

arch ​

Create /boot/loader/entries/arch.conf

bash
nvim /boot/loader/loader.conf
nvim /boot/loader/loader.conf

Paste in the following content. Replace the UUID with the one you got from blkid

title   Arch Linux
linux   /vmlinuz-linux
initrd  /amd-ucode.img
initrd  /initramfs-linux.img
options root="UUID=d71c6c2a-2731-4825-b4c6-e25ab1fd451b" rw
title   Arch Linux
linux   /vmlinuz-linux
initrd  /amd-ucode.img
initrd  /initramfs-linux.img
options root="UUID=d71c6c2a-2731-4825-b4c6-e25ab1fd451b" rw

WARNING

Replace amd-ucode with intel-ucode if you have intel CPU

arch-lts ​

Run this to clone the arch entry to arch-lts

bash
cp /boot/loader/entries/arch.conf /boot/loader/entries/arch-lts.conf
cp /boot/loader/entries/arch.conf /boot/loader/entries/arch-lts.conf

Edit /boot/loader/entries/arch-lts.conf and replace:

  • Arch Linux with Arch Linux LTS
  • /vmlinuz-linux with /vmlinuz-linux-lts
  • /initramfs-linux.img with /initramfs-linux-lts.img

WARNING

Check you have intel-ucode instead of amd-ucode if you have intel CPU

It should look like this

title   Arch Linux LTS
linux   /vmlinuz-linux-lts
initrd  /amd-ucode.img
initrd  /initramfs-linux-lts.img
options root="UUID=d71c6c2a-2731-4825-b4c6-e25ab1fd451b" rw
title   Arch Linux LTS
linux   /vmlinuz-linux-lts
initrd  /amd-ucode.img
initrd  /initramfs-linux-lts.img
options root="UUID=d71c6c2a-2731-4825-b4c6-e25ab1fd451b" rw

Reboot ​

Exit the chroot environment by pressing Ctrl+D or running

exit
exit

Then unmount all partitions

bash
umount -R /mnt
umount -R /mnt

Exit the SSH environment by pressing Ctrl+D or running

logout
logout

Now, go to Hyper-V Manager:

  1. Click on Shut Down... to shut down the VM.
  2. Open Settings... and select DVD Drive under SCSI Controller.
  3. Click Remove on the right to remove the installation ISO
  4. Click OK to save the settings.
  5. Press Start to start the VM. Then press Connect... to connect to the VM.

In the login screen, type root for the login, then type the root password you just set (not the one you set intiaially for the live environment).

You should see the prompt if you login successfully. pistonite would be your hostname.

[root@pistonite ~]#
[root@pistonite ~]#

Boot LTS ​

We will now make sure the LTS kernel can also boot.

  1. Go to Hyper-V Manager and click Shut Down... to shut down the VM.

TIP

You don't need to close the VM connection, we will be reusing it.

  1. Click Start in the VM connection window. Press down in the boot menu to prevent the default boot.
  2. Select Arch Linux LTS and press Enter to boot.

You should be able to login the same way as above.

Disable Editing ​

Now that we have confirmed both kernels can boot, we will disable editing the boot loader.

Run

bash
nvim /boot/loader/loader.conf
nvim /boot/loader/loader.conf

and change editor yes to editor no.