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Online installation

Online installation builds the target system from repositories instead of copying the live environment. It lets you select repositories, boot method, desktop and optional software, then runs chwd inside the target system to configure hardware drivers.

Requirements​

You need a stable network, correct system time and access to the Arch Linux, CatOS and, when selected, CachyOS repositories. The installer reports downloaded and total data, current transfer speed and active package names. Repository synchronization or network failures can still abort installation; failure diagnostics retain recent package-manager output, the failed command and its exit status.

Flow​

Locale and keyboard
        ↓
Repository selection
        ↓
Boot method
        ↓
Partitioning and filesystem
        ↓
Desktop or window manager
        ↓
Input method, shell, kernels and applications
        ↓
User account and summary
        ↓
Repository installation
        ↓
chwd hardware configuration
        ↓
Boot and snapshot integration

Repository selection​

CatOS repositories​

The default uses Arch Linux official repositories plus CatOS repositories. It keeps a standard Arch package stack while adding CatOS installer, desktop presets, themes, boot tools and integration packages.

CatOS + CachyOS repositories​

This option keeps CatOS repositories, enables CachyOS repositories selected for the current CPU and installs linux-cachyos. It changes the kernel and some package sources; select it when you specifically want the CachyOS optimized stack. The option is shown only when the current CPU supports x86-64-v3.

Boot method​

Available options are GRUB, Limine, rEFInd, systemd-boot, Unified Kernel Image and Linux EFI Stub. Firmware mode, Secure Boot state, partition table, ESP size and snapshot requirements determine which one is appropriate. When Secure Boot is active, the installer offers only GRUB, Limine, systemd-boot and UKI because rEFInd and EFI Stub do not currently have automatic CatOS Secure Boot integration. See boot methods and snapshots.

Filesystem​

Btrfs is the default. ext4, ext3, JFS, XFS and F2FS are also available. Choose Btrfs for Snapper and bootable snapshot integration, or ext4 for a traditional filesystem without those features. See partitioning and filesystems.

Desktop and optional software​

The installer can install a complete desktop, a lightweight desktop, a Wayland workflow or a command-line system without a desktop. KDE Plasma is selected by default. Choose one primary desktop preset to avoid duplicated applications, display managers and configuration.

Niri + DMS and Niri + Noctalia use Catdot Profiles. After package deployment, the installer activates the selected Profile in package-verification mode instead of running a second package installation.

See desktop environments and window managers.

Additional selections include Fcitx5 or IBus, CatOS Bash/Fish/Zsh configuration, LTS/Mainline/Zen/Hardened kernels, virtualization tools, Docker, Podman, development tools, Distroshelf and common applications.

Driver configuration​

After installing the target packages, Calamares runs:

chwd --autoconfigure

chwd matches PCI and USB devices against hardware profiles and installs the required graphics, network, virtual-machine guest and device-specific packages and configuration. See hardware drivers.

Before confirming​

Review the repository, boot method, target disk, filesystems, swap, desktop, extra kernels, optional software, username and timezone. After reboot, complete the post-installation checks.