How to setup SSH access to Arch Linux Iso (livecd) booted computer?

The default root password for the ISO distribution is blank. And by default you are not allowed to login with SSH using a blank password.

Therefore two commands are necessary:

  1. passwd -- To set a non blank password for the currently logged in user ('root' for liveCD). Enter the password twice.

  2. systemctl start sshd.service -- To start the ssh daemon.

Now you can login from your client machine using ssh root@ip-address.


PS Don't know the IP address? The live-CD includes commands ifconfig and ip address.


The simplest way is to

  • install Arch onto an USB stick/harddisk (you can do this from the live cd)
  • in the new installation
    • set a root password (passwd)
    • allow ssh root login (vi /etc/ssh/sshd_config and append PermitRootLogin yes)
    • enable sshd (systemctl enable sshd)
    • also don't forget to enable systemd-networkd anything else you may need (like to preconfigure wifi)
  • boot the new machine from the usb device