arch-zbm/README.md

# arch-zbm

Helper script to install Arch Linux with ZFSBootMenu from within a running Arch Linux live CD ISO image

# Prep

We expect minimal prep on your end. Please make sure that before execution the following conditions are met.

- Arch Linux live CD ISO image sees exactly one partition with partition type code `BF00` ("Solaris root")
- Arch Linux live CD ISO image sees exactly one partition with partition type code `EF00` ("EFI system partition")
- No ZFS zpool exists

The script will create a single ZFS zpool `zpool` on the `BF00` partition with dataset child `zpool/root` which itself has one child `zpool/root/archlinux`, that's where Arch Linux gets installed. Parallel to `zpool/root` it'll create `zpool/data` with a `zpool/data/home` child dataset that gets mounted at `/home`.

The script will use the `EF00` partition to install a ZFSBootMenu EFI executable if `efibootmgr` says that no such `ZFSBootMenu` entry exists. If ZFSBootMenu gets added to the EFI partition it'll become primary boot option.

# How to run this?

- Boot an Arch Linux live CD ISO image
- Run:
    ```
    export SCRIPT_URL='https://quico.space/quico-os-setup/arch-zbm/raw/branch/main/setup.sh'
    curl -s "${SCRIPT_URL}" | bash
    ```
    During execution the script will call itself when it changes into its `chroot`, that's why we `export SCRIPT_URL`. Feel free to update `"${SCRIPT_URL}"` with whatever branch or revision you want to use from [quico.space/quico-os-setup/arch-zbm](https://quico.space/quico-os-setup/arch-zbm). Typically `.../branch/main/setup.sh` as shown above is what you want.

# Steps

The scripts takes the following installation steps.

1. Install ZFS tools and kernel module with [github.com/eoli3n/archiso-zfs](https://github.com/eoli3n/archiso-zfs)
1. Create one encrypted ZFS zpool on top of `BF00` partition, password `password`
1. Create dataset for Arch Linux and `/home`
1. Install Arch Linux into pool
1. Add ZFSBootMenu to `EF00` partition if it doesn't exist already
1. Exit into Arch Linux live CD ISO image shell for you to `reboot` and frolick

# Flavor choices

We make the following opinionated flavor choices. Feel free to change them to your liking.

* Arch Linux locale is set to `en_US.UTF-8`
* Keymap is set `de-latin1`
    * Consult `/etc/vconsole.conf`
    * Change `zfs set org.zfsbootmenu:commandline=...`
* No X.Org Server, Wayland compositors or other GUI elements get installed
* Timezone is `Etc/UTC`
    * Check `timedatectl set-timezone <tzdata-zone>`

# Post-run manual steps

After installation you're goig to want to at least touch these points in your new Arch Linux install:

* Hostname: Installation chose a pseudo-randomly generated 8-character string with `pwgen`
* Unprivileged user accounts: The OS was installed only with a `root` account
* Passwords
    * ZFS: The password for all datasets underneath `zpool` is `password`.
    * Local `root` account: The local `root` account's password is `password`.
* Arch User Repository (AUR) helper: We installed [paru](https://github.com/Morganamilo/paru) as our AUR helper, we installed from GitHub via `makepkg -si`. You may want to replace that by an AUR native installation e.g. by doing `paru paru`.

# Development

## Conventional commits

This project uses [Conventional Commits](https://www.conventionalcommits.org/) for its commit messages.

### Commit types

Commit _types_ besides `fix` and `feat` are:

* `build`: Project structure, directory layout, build instructions for roll-out
* `refactor`: Keeping functionality while streamlining or otherwise improving function flow
* `test`: Working on test coverage
* `docs`: Documentation for project or components

### Commit scopes

The following _scopes_ are known for this project. A Conventional Commits commit message may optionally use one of the following scopes or none:

* `iso`: Changing Arch Linux ISO CD
* `zbm`: Adjusting ZFSBootMenu's behavior
* `zfs`: A change to how ZFS interacts with the system, either a pool or a dataset
* `os`: Getting an perating system set up to correctly work in a ZFS boot environment
* `meta`: Affects the project's repo layout, readme content, file names etc.