Archception: Arch Linux in Virtual Machine in Arch Linux | XFCE & Internet Torture | 2025
Video
In this blog post, I’ll walk you through a quirky yet functional setup: Arch Linux inside Arch Linux, running on VMware, with the XFCE desktop environment — all while suffering from painfully slow internet. Yes, we used archinstall, and yes, the installer crawled like it was running on a potato-powered Wi-Fi router.
This post reflects the steps recorded in this YouTube video where I documented the entire screen. If you’re into “Archception” setups, buckle up.
🧰 Tools Used
ISO: archlinux-2025.06.01-x86_64.iso
VM: VMware® Workstation 17 Pro (17.6.3 build-24583834)
mount /dev/sda1 /mnt
mkdir /mnt/boot
mount /dev/sda2 /mnt/boot
Use lsblk to verify mounts.
🚀 Run archinstall
Choose the following during setup:
Disk Configuration → Partitioning: Pre-mounted configuration
Set root mount point to /mnt
Choose XFCE desktop
Use Pipewire for audio
Use NetworkManager for networking
At this point, the installer really tested my patience with snail-paced download speeds.
🧹 Post-install steps
1
umount -lR /mnt
Remove the ISO
Reboot:
1
reboot now
🖥️ First Boot
Update the system:
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pacman -Syu
Install browser:
1
pacman -S firefox
Add the network panel applet in XFCE manually if not present.
🎉 Conclusion
Running Arch inside Arch might seem like overkill, but it’s a great learning exercise. Despite slow internet and minor frustration, everything worked smoothly in the end. XFCE provided a lightweight desktop experience and archinstall saved us from manually scripting every step.