What is Arch Linux?

What it is

Arch is an independent, community-run rolling release. There is no version to upgrade between: new versions of programs reach users shortly after their developers publish them.

Software comes from the official repositories through pacman, the package manager. The Arch User Repository (AUR) adds a large collection of build scripts contributed by users. The Arch team does not check AUR packages, so you are expected to read one before installing it.

A fresh install is little more than the base system and a command line. You add a desktop, services and tools yourself, either with the guided installer, archinstall, or by following the installation guide by hand.

Who it suits

Arch suits people who want to learn how Linux fits together, developers who want current compilers and kernels, and personal workstations where the owner is also the administrator and can fix what an update changes.

Why business servers usually run something else

A server should run for years with little change.Debian, Ubuntu LTS and RHEL-family systems freeze program versions for each release and add security fixes on top. On Arch any update can bring a new major version, and some need manual steps that the project announces on its news page. There is no long-term support release and no vendor support contract, which many business applications require.

Why the Arch Wiki matters anyway

The Arch Wiki is written for Arch users, but most pages explain how a piece of Linux software works and how to configure it, which applies on other distributions too. Its pages on systemd, networking, disk encryption and boot loaders are detailed and kept current, so administrators on every distribution use them.

How KawaConnect works with Arch Linux

The servers we build and support run Ubuntu, Debian and RHEL-family systems. We do not deploy Arch for clients. Our engineers do use the Arch Wiki as a reference when working out how a Linux component behaves, whatever distribution the server runs.

Learn more

• The Arch WikiA great resource for anyone running Linux: detailed, community-maintained pages on configuring and troubleshooting Linux software, most of which apply on any distribution.
• Arch Linux websiteDownloads, package search, and the news page that announces updates needing manual steps.
• Arch installation guideThe official guide to installing Arch by hand, which also shows what a Linux system needs to boot.
• Arch Linux on WikipediaA neutral overview of the project, its history and its design principles.