spc-pleroma/docs/installation/arch_linux_en.md

# Installing on Arch Linux

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## Installation

This guide will assume that you have administrative rights, either as root or a user with [sudo permissions](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Sudo). If you want to run this guide with root, ignore the `sudo` at the beginning of the lines, unless it calls a user like `sudo -Hu pleroma`; in this case, use `su <username> -s $SHELL -c 'command'` instead.

### Required packages

* `postgresql`
* `elixir`
* `git`
* `base-devel`
* `cmake`
* `file`

#### Optional packages used in this guide

* `nginx` (preferred, example configs for other reverse proxies can be found in the repo)
* `certbot` (or any other ACME client for Let’s Encrypt certificates)
* `ImageMagick`
* `ffmpeg`
* `exiftool`

### Prepare the system

* First update the system, if not already done:

```shell
sudo pacman -Syu
```

* Install some of the above mentioned programs:

```shell
sudo pacman -S git base-devel elixir cmake file
```

### Install PostgreSQL

[Arch Wiki article](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/PostgreSQL)

* Install the `postgresql` package:

```shell
sudo pacman -S postgresql
```

* Initialize the database cluster:

```shell
sudo -iu postgres initdb -D /var/lib/postgres/data
```

* Start and enable the `postgresql.service`

```shell
sudo systemctl enable --now postgresql.service
```

### Install media / graphics packages (optional, see [`docs/installation/optional/media_graphics_packages.md`](../installation/optional/media_graphics_packages.md))

```shell
sudo pacman -S ffmpeg imagemagick perl-image-exiftool
```

### Install PleromaBE

* Add a new system user for the Pleroma service:

```shell
sudo useradd -r -s /bin/false -m -d /var/lib/pleroma -U pleroma
```

**Note**: To execute a single command as the Pleroma system user, use `sudo -Hu pleroma command`. You can also switch to a shell by using `sudo -Hu pleroma $SHELL`. If you don’t have and want `sudo` on your system, you can use `su` as root user (UID 0) for a single command by using `su -l pleroma -s $SHELL -c 'command'` and `su -l pleroma -s $SHELL` for starting a shell.

* Git clone the PleromaBE repository and make the Pleroma user the owner of the directory:

```shell
sudo mkdir -p /opt/pleroma
sudo chown -R pleroma:pleroma /opt/pleroma
sudo -Hu pleroma git clone -b stable https://git.pleroma.social/pleroma/pleroma /opt/pleroma
```

* Change to the new directory:

```shell
cd /opt/pleroma
```

* Install the dependencies for Pleroma and answer with `yes` if it asks you to install `Hex`:

```shell
sudo -Hu pleroma mix deps.get
```

* Generate the configuration: `sudo -Hu pleroma MIX_ENV=prod mix pleroma.instance gen`
  * Answer with `yes` if it asks you to install `rebar3`.
  * This may take some time, because parts of pleroma get compiled first.
  * After that it will ask you a few questions about your instance and generates a configuration file in `config/generated_config.exs`.

* Check the configuration and if all looks right, rename it, so Pleroma will load it (`prod.secret.exs` for productive instance, `dev.secret.exs` for development instances):

```shell
sudo -Hu pleroma mv config/{generated_config.exs,prod.secret.exs}
```

* The previous command creates also the file `config/setup_db.psql`, with which you can create the database:

```shell
sudo -Hu postgres psql -f config/setup_db.psql
```

* Now run the database migration:

```shell
sudo -Hu pleroma MIX_ENV=prod mix ecto.migrate
```

* Now you can start Pleroma already

```shell
sudo -Hu pleroma MIX_ENV=prod mix phx.server
```

### Finalize installation

If you want to open your newly installed instance to the world, you should run nginx or some other webserver/proxy in front of Pleroma and you should consider to create a systemd service file for Pleroma.

#### Nginx

* Install nginx, if not already done:

```shell
sudo pacman -S nginx
```

* Create directories for available and enabled sites:

```shell
sudo mkdir -p /etc/nginx/sites-{available,enabled}
```

* Append the following line at the end of the `http` block in `/etc/nginx/nginx.conf`:

```Nginx
include sites-enabled/*;
```

* Setup your SSL cert, using your method of choice or certbot. If using certbot, first install it:

```shell
sudo pacman -S certbot certbot-nginx
```

and then set it up:

```shell
sudo mkdir -p /var/lib/letsencrypt/
sudo certbot certonly --email <your@emailaddress> -d <yourdomain> --standalone
```

If that doesn’t work, make sure, that nginx is not already running. If it still doesn’t work, try setting up nginx first (change ssl “on” to “off” and try again).

---

* Copy the example nginx configuration and activate it:

```shell
sudo cp /opt/pleroma/installation/pleroma.nginx /etc/nginx/sites-available/pleroma.nginx
sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/pleroma.nginx /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/pleroma.nginx
```

* Before starting nginx edit the configuration and change it to your needs (e.g. change servername, change cert paths)

* (Strongly recommended) serve media on another domain

Refer to the [Hardening your instance](../configuration/hardening.md) document on how to serve media on another domain. We STRONGLY RECOMMEND you to do this to minimize attack vectors.

* Enable and start nginx:

```shell
sudo systemctl enable --now nginx.service
```

If you need to renew the certificate in the future, uncomment the relevant location block in the nginx config and run:

```shell
sudo certbot certonly --email <your@emailaddress> -d <yourdomain> --webroot -w /var/lib/letsencrypt/
```

#### Other webserver/proxies

You can find example configurations for them in `/opt/pleroma/installation/`.

#### Systemd service

* Copy example service file

```shell
sudo cp /opt/pleroma/installation/pleroma.service /etc/systemd/system/pleroma.service
```

* Edit the service file and make sure that all paths fit your installation
* Enable and start `pleroma.service`:

```shell
sudo systemctl enable --now pleroma.service
```

#### Create your first user

If your instance is up and running, you can create your first user with administrative rights with the following task:

```shell
sudo -Hu pleroma MIX_ENV=prod mix pleroma.user new <username> <your@emailaddress> --admin
```

#### Further reading

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## Questions

Questions about the installation or didn’t it work as it should be, ask in [#pleroma:libera.chat](https://matrix.to/#/#pleroma:libera.chat) via Matrix or **#pleroma** on **libera.chat** via IRC.