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How to setup/configure the Arch Linux bootcd (live-CD, ISO) so I can login to it using an SSH client?

And which password is by default set for the (automatic login) root account?

Pro Backup
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2 Answers2

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The default root password for the ISO distribution is blank. And by default you are not allowed to login with SSH using a blank password.

Therefore two commands are necessary:

  1. passwd -- To set a non blank password for the currently logged in user ('root' for liveCD). Enter the password twice.

  2. Before september 2021: systemctl start sshd.service -- To start the ssh daemon.

    September 2021 and later: sshd is started by default.

Now you can login from your client machine using ssh root@ip-address.

PS Don't know the IP address? The live-CD includes commands ifconfig and ip address.

Pro Backup
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3

The simplest way is to

  • install Arch onto an USB stick/harddisk (you can do this from the live cd)
  • in the new installation
    • set a root password (passwd)
    • allow ssh root login (vi /etc/ssh/sshd_config and append PermitRootLogin yes)
    • enable sshd (systemctl enable sshd)
    • also don't forget to enable systemd-networkd anything else you may need (like to preconfigure wifi)
  • boot the new machine from the usb device
laktak
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    The question is asking only for a solution for the live-CD (ISO) boot. installing onto USB stick/harddisk is out of scope for this question. – Pro Backup Mar 12 '18 at 08:47
  • @ProBackup this answer is for people who are trying to install arch on a system without a display/keyboard – laktak Mar 12 '18 at 08:56