Install Index

📝 TL;DR / Who this is for

This guide is for anyone who wants a fully bootable, snapshot-capable Arch Linux system with Secure Boot enabled. It’s aimed at users who:

• Prefer using archinstall for faster setup rather than manual partitioning, especially if facing time sync / NTP issues during install.
• Want a Btrfs root with subvolumes for easy snapshots and rollbacks.
• Need guidance on Secure Boot key management using sbctl.
• Appreciate clear, step-by-step instructions and practical examples rather than theoretical documentation.

⚠️ If you are following this guide, read everything before starting, verify compatibility with your system, and consult the ArchWiki for tool-specific details. sbctl carries the highest risk if misused.

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⚠️ Disclaimer

⚠️ Warning: This is a guide for myself so I don't forget the steps I did on my own PC. If you follow it, please read everything first and make sure your system matches the assumptions in this guide. The only tool I give a serious disclaimer for is sbctl because improper use can brick your system.

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🗂️ Document Index

This guide is broken into stages that reflect the actual install flow I used. Each section builds on the previous one, starting with pre-install fixes and ending in a fully bootable, snapshot-capable Arch Linux system.

🔧 Start with 1. PreSetup — if you skip that, time sync or keyring issues may cause archinstall or package installs to fail.

1. 1. PreSetup

   Get your system ready for a smooth Arch installation by fixing time sync issues, disabling Secure Boot temporarily, and initializing Pacman's keyring.

   • Edit Timesync Configuration (Prevents time-related install failures due to blocked NTP servers)

   • Enable and Sync Time (Ensures system clock is accurate — required for HTTPS and secure installs)

   • Update Pacman Keys (Avoids signature verification errors during package installs)

2. 2. Install with Btrfs

   • Manual partitioning and subvolume creation

   • GRUB setup and Secure Boot using sbctl

   • Includes /swap subvolume and swapfile at /swap/swapfile

3. 3. SecureBoot on Arch using SBCTL

   • Signing kernel and EFI binaries

   • Key creation and firmware enrollment

   • Troubleshooting quirks

4. 4. Btrfs Snapshots and Rollbacks

   • Automatic and manual snapshot creation

   • GRUB boot entry integration optional

   • Pacman integration with snap-pac

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💾 Partition Layout (example)

Device	Size	Type	Mount Point	Description
/dev/sda1	500MB	FAT32	/boot/efi	EFI partition (GRUB)
/dev/sda2	1GB	ext4	/boot	Kernel + GRUB files
/dev/sda3	~2TB	Btrfs	/	Main Btrfs volume

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📁 Btrfs Subvolumes

Subvolume	Mount Point	Purpose
@	/	Root filesystem
@home	/home	User data
@log	/var/log	Logs
@pkg	/var/cache/pacman/pkg	Pacman cache
@snapshots	/.snapshots	Snapper-managed snapshots
@swap	/swap	Swapfile stored here

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🧊 Swap File Location

• Subvolume: @swap

• Mount point: /swap

• Swap file path: /swap/swapfile

• Created using fallocate + chattr +C to disable COW