What's installed on your Arch Linux server?
- Arch Linux, from the arch-boxes project's official image, with packages from the day it was built
- pacman; command line only, no desktop
- OpenSSH running from boot, with root logging in by password
- cloud-init, which writes the IP and password at first boot and expands the root partition
- QEMU guest agent, installed with pacman at first boot
- No automatic updates, fail2ban or firewall rules: upkeep is entirely yours
- No AUR helper, web server or database: you pick what goes on
What size do you need for Arch Linux?
The Arch Wiki lists a minimum of 512 MiB of RAM and says a basic install takes less than 2 GiB of disk. In our tests a clean system took about 1.4 GB, and the image itself is 4 GB. Seturack's smallest size, 1 GB of RAM, is enough for a small service. For a website, a database or containers, look at 4 GB. If you'll build AUR packages on the server, 8 GB and several vCores make life easier. These are rules of thumb, and you can scale up from your panel.
| Use | Size | Price | Choose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 1 GB RAM · 1 vCore · 25 GB NVMe | $2.58/mo | |
| Medium | 4 GB RAM · 2 vCore · 60 GB NVMe | $6.89/mo | |
| Powerful | 8 GB RAM · 4 vCore · 120 GB NVMe | $13.62/mo |
Who is it for?
- People who use Arch on the desktop and want the same setup on a server
- Developers who want the latest stable versions of their tools
- Admins with time set aside for regular updates
- Anyone who'd rather stay on one system for a long time without release jumps
What happens after you order?
- Set the size and complete your payment. There's no version to pick on Arch.
- When your server is up, the Overview tab in your panel shows the IP Address, Username and Password rows.
- In a terminal, type ssh root@your-ip and paste the password.
- Read the news on archlinux.org, then update the system with pacman -Syu.
- If the kernel was updated, restart the server. Then install your software with pacman.
With every server
- Daily backups included in the price
- Unlimited traffic
- Full root access
- Scale RAM and CPU up or down later, and grow the disk
- Location: Istanbul · IST-1.
Good to know
- Partial upgrades are unsupported: never run pacman -Sy on its own, always use pacman -Syu.
- Some updates need manual steps. Arch asks you to read the news before upgrading and not to upgrade right before an important task.
- Don't leave the server without updates for long. Updates that pile up can all need manual steps at once.
- The AUR is unofficial: packages aren't vetted, and using and updating them is your responsibility.
- For a server you'll set up and leave alone for months, Debian or Ubuntu LTS is a better fit.
Arch Linux questions and answers
How much RAM does an Arch Linux VPS need?
The Arch Wiki lists a minimum of 512 MiB. Seturack's smallest size is 1 GB, which is enough for a small service. As a rule of thumb, start with 4 GB for a website or containers, and 8 GB if you'll build AUR packages on the server.
Can I choose an Arch Linux version?
No, Arch has just one. You install it once and keep it current with pacman -Syu. It isn't designed to stay on an old version, which is why the order screen shows no version boxes.
Is Arch Linux a good choice for a server?
It can be, if you'll keep up with maintenance. Arch ships the latest stable software and starts with only a command line. But updates sometimes need manual steps. If you want a server you can set and forget, choose Debian or Ubuntu LTS.
How do I update Arch Linux?
Read the news on archlinux.org first, then run pacman -Syu. Never run pacman -Sy on its own, because partial upgrades are unsupported. If the kernel was updated, restart the server.
Can I use the AUR on the server?
Yes, root access is yours, so you can. But the AUR is unofficial, so read each build file before you install it. Arch doesn't support these packages, and keeping them updated falls to you, not pacman.
What if an update breaks my server?
Nightly backups cover the last 7 days and are included in the price, so you can go back from the Backups tool in your panel. If SSH won't open, connect from your browser with the VNC Console tool on the Management tab and fix it there.