Orange PI Plus 2 with Arch Linux Minimal

ArchLinux_Minimal.img                            Arch Linux basic image (without Desktop GUI)

Download ArchLinux_Minimal.img from https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B1hyW7T0dqn6fndnZTRhRm5BaW4zVDVyTGlGMWJES3Z1eXVDQzI5R1lnV21oRHFsWnVwSEU


Installation on SD Card

• Download any of the available images (xz archive) from Mega or GoogleDrive
• Download scriptbin_kernel.tar.gz, it contains the latest kernel (uImage) and script.bin
• Unpack the archive.
• Write the xxx.img file (disk image) to your SD Card
• on Linux use dd command ( sudo dd if=image_name.img of=/dev/sdX bs=1M oflag=direct )
• on Windows use disk image writing software such as Win32 Disk Imager
• After writing the image, mount SD Card FAT partition (BOOT)
• Copy uImage_OPI-2 or uImage_OPI-PLUS (depending on your board type) to uImage (for OPI-PC use uImage_OPI-2)
  
• Copy one of the script.bin.OPI-XXXX (depending on your board type and desired monitor resolution) to script.bin
• use uImage_OPI-XX and script.bin.OPI-XXXX from scriptbin_kernel.tar.gz if it is newer (probably it is).
• Boot your Orange PI board from SD Card

Installation on internal EMMC

• Install the image on SD Card as described above
• Boot your Orange PI board from SD Card
• Run:
• 1. sudo install_to_emmc

  Copy the Code
  
  
• Power off the board.
• Remove SD Card
• Power on, the board will boot from EMMC

1) First connect to internet via the LAN cable
2) try `sudo pacman -Syu` to fetch the updated installation urls. Hit NO when asked to install update packages.
3) Now do `sudo pacman -S parted dosfstools` to install the partitioning pr the disk packages
4) Now you can do `sudo install_to_emmc` .... have fun ....


Setting up WiFi


wifi-menu -o

# netctl start profile 

then it can be enabled using:

# netctl enable profile

This will create and enable a systemd service that will start when the computer boots. Changes to the profile file will not propagate to the service file automatically. After such changes, it is necessary to reenable the profile:

# netctl reenable profile

If you see network profile aleady up, do
ip link wlan0 down

then do
netctl start wireless-wpa

Fine Tune Linux for Desktop

Setting hda DMA on and making it 32bit
hdparm -t /dev/sda (Check perfomance after passing below arguments)
hdparm -c 1 /dev/sda
hdparm -d 1 /dev/sda

Nice Performing Borders
gconftool-2 --type string --set /apps/metacity/general/theme Atlanta
Disable Gnome Splash
gconftool-2 --type bool --set /apps/gnome-session/options/show_splash_screen false

Manipulate SWAP
sudo cat /proc/sys/vm/swappiness
sudo sysctl -w vm.swappiness=100
Add 'vm.swappiness=100' or more in vim /etc/sysctl.conf depend upon available SWAP
Add 'vm.swappiness=10' in vim /etc/sysctl.conf if high RAM

Source
Part I http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8308
Part II http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8317
Part III http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8322