This document is a guide for installing BlackArch Linux using the live system booted from blackarch-linux-full or blackarch-linux-netinst made from an offical installation image.
BlackArch Linux should run on any x86_64 compatible machine with a minimum of 512MB RAM if opting out to installing X display and Window Managers, 1GB is recommended as more memory is needed to boot a live medium. An alternataive installation of BlackArch Linux using the live system booted from blackarch-linux-slim installation media should also run on any x86_64 compatible machine with a minimum of 1GB (2GB Recommended).
BlackArch Linux offers two installers for your preference. Each bundled as a default depending on the ISO you have selected.
The standard installer for BlackArch Linux is a guided CLI installer. While it may appear daunting to some users trying out BlackArch Linux, it offers a series of options for customization. You can either select your preferences or simply accept the defaults chosen by the BlackArch team.
The blackarch-installer can be installed from the BlackArch repository as well.
pacman -S blackarch-installer
Executed as:
blackarch-install
The standard installer for the Slim ISO and many graphical Linux distributions. Most users familiar with Linux would have come accross the Calamares installer. Calamares is a graphically guided installer focused on simplicity for the average user.
We have a number of options for your convenience as follow:
BlackArch-Linux-Full is the most popular ISO because it’s suitable for offline use and offline installation. It is bundled with a graphical live environment, five popular Window Managers for you to choose from, and all tools in the BlackArch Linux repository. Please note that this is a large download. If you choose to run the installation online, be cautious of your bandwidth limitations due to the size of the entire repository.
The default window manager is fluxbox.
Other options include:
These window managers are selectable at the greeter.
Username: root
Password: blackarch
Networking is disabled by default on the live environment for various professional reasons, e.g., Forensic Analysis.
Networking is managed by systemd and can be enabled with systemctl enable --now systemd-networkd && dhcpcd. For further reading please see systemd-networkd.
Wireless networking is managed by iwd.
iwctl station wlan0 connect <SSID>
Blackarch-linux-netinstall provides a smaller download option with a minimal live environment (TTY only). However, please note that it requires an internet connection for installation, and you won’t be able to run blackarch-install in offline mode. You still have the option to install all tools, similar to the blackarch-linux-full installation. Be aware that if you opt for the full toolset, the download size will be approximately 100GB.
Blackarch-linux-slim is our latest addition, designed for both general security professionals and newcomers to Arch Linux or Linux in general. This ISO includes a user-friendly Desktop Manager and features a curated selection of 50 popular security tools. It’s ideal for users seeking a smaller download size while still needing a convenient live environment.
Username: root
Password: blackarch
This guide assumes you have already downloaded and created your bootable BlackArch Linux medium. The blackarch-install script is bundled with the full and netinstall ISO.
You may open a terminal by right clicking on the desktop and run blackarch-install. You will be prompted for your installation type, i.e., offline or online.
Select option 1 from the installation modes.It is recommended to select verbose installation in order to observe the installation progress and take note of any errors that may occur.
The default keymap is en. You may select a preferred keymap from the list of available keymaps.
Enter your preferred hostname.
Your system will automatically detect all network interfaces in your system. Type out your preferred network interface and skip device configuration if you are already connected to the internet. This is confirmed when the script is launched because the script checks for an updated version of itself. If not connected, select option option 1.
Validate your system boot type. Most modern systems boots UEFI by default. If your computer was manufactured prior to 2017, please confirm whether you have booted UEFI or BIOS/MBR.
UEFI systems must create a GPT partition scheme. You will be prompted for the type once you boot into CFDISK as prompted. CFDISK wipes the entire disk, please proceed with caution. Should you wish to setup dual boot, first create your partions via FDISK (Recommended for advanced users).
Default partition layout:
In CFDISK, create the BOOT partition. Select the EFI Filesystem parition type. For the swap partition, assign the Linux swap / Solaris type. For the root, leave default on Linux and write all your changes before exiting.
Select whether you would like a fully encrypted root partition and set a password. Note you will need to remember this password and enter each time you boot your BlackArch system.
Complete the harddrive configuration by matching your partitions and selecting your desired filesystem.
E.g.,
Set the root password. Enter details for your personal account should you have one created.
Select from the list your preferred mirror. Note this can be manually changed or updated in /etc/pacman.d/blackarch-mirrorlist by commenting out the mirrors your want. Alternatively you can install rankmirrors e.g., rankmirrors -n 6 /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist.backup > /etc/pacman.d/blackarch-mirrorlist
You the choice to install xorg-server with one or all Window Managers. If you opt out, your system will boot TTY and you have to manually set it up.
All blackarch environment configs are avialable in the repository as following:
blackarch-config-fluxbox
blackarch-config-spectrwm
blackarch-config-awesome
blackarch-config-i3
blackarch-config-xfce
blackarch-config-vim
blackarch-config-gtk
blackarch-config-zsh
blackarch-config-icons
blackarch-config-openbox
blacakrch-config-bash
blackarch-config-x11
blackarch-config-lxdm
Reboot and you can enjoy your newly setup BlackArch Linux machine.
Select option 2 from the installation modes. It is recommended to select verbose installation in order to observe the installation progress and take note of any errors that may occur.
The default keymap is en. You may select a preferred keymap from the list of available keymaps.
Enter a name for your host.
You wil be required to configure your partitons
This guide assumes you have already downloaded and created your bootable BlackArch Linux medium. The Calamares installer is bundled with the Slim ISO.