Arch Setup Guide

A simple guide for getting Arch running on ASUS laptops

By Mateusz SchybollJune 25, 2021

Installing

To install Arch on all ASUS laptops just follow the regular installation guide

Only issue which might appear is nouveau crashing the installation, this can be solved by adding a boot parameter modprobe.blacklist=nouveau to the kernel cmdline before booting the installation media. To edit the installation media boot entry just press e on it and then put the blacklist parameter at the end off all parameters. Example:

Blacklist nouveau

The same parameter can be used to boot the system after installing as long you don't install nvidia drivers.

Repo

g14 repo contains all the tools you need on a ROG laptop precompiled for you. g14 is only a name and all tools from it apply to most ROG laptops Before adding the repo you need to add the repo sign key to your pacman-key. Run the following commands to add it:

pacman-key --recv-keys 8F654886F17D497FEFE3DB448B15A6B0E9A3FA35
pacman-key --finger 8F654886F17D497FEFE3DB448B15A6B0E9A3FA35
pacman-key --lsign-key 8F654886F17D497FEFE3DB448B15A6B0E9A3FA35
pacman-key --finger 8F654886F17D497FEFE3DB448B15A6B0E9A3FA35

This should show output similar to this: Pacman key If you have any problems check if /etc/pacman.d/gnupg/gpg.conf doesn't have specified the keyserver or make sure it is hkp://keyserver.ubuntu.com If you still have problems check if you are not running some active VPN connection, this does sometimes cause problems when fetching the server. If you still have problems you can do it the less proper way by running those commands:

wget "https://keyserver.ubuntu.com/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0x8b15a6b0e9a3fa35" -O g14.sec
sudo pacman-key -a g14.sec

After that to get the repo add to your /etc/pacman.conf at the end:

[g14]
Server = https://arch.asus-linux.org

You could use a mirror instead if the origin has slow connection. Following is a list of available servers:

https://arch.asus-linux.org # Germany, origin
https://naru.jhyub.dev/$repo # Republic of Korea

After adding the repo run a full system update before you go to install tools from the repo:

pacman -Suy

Asusctl - custom fan profiles, anime, led control etc.

The recommended way to install asusctl is using g14 pacman repo. Packages like asusctl-git from AUR aren't supported. Also installing manually from cloned git isn't supported. For installing it run:

pacman -S asusctl power-profiles-daemon

asusd service is triggered by a udev rule after the keyboard driver is ready, the service doesn't need to be enabled and is not supposed to be.

power-profiles-daemon is optional but highly recommend, other power management tools can create conflicts with asusctl or supergfxctl.

systemctl enable --now power-profiles-daemon.service

Be aware that some functions or asusctl need kernel level drivers support, take a look at the "Custom kernel section"

Supergfxctl - graphics switching

The same rules as for asusctl, installing:

pacman -S supergfxctl switcheroo-control

Enable and start the systemd service:

systemctl enable --now supergfxd
systemctl enable --now switcheroo-control

supergfxctl can be used without asusctl. You can use switcherooctl launch your_command command in hybrid command to run selected programs on the dGPU. Any program/command run by the main command does inherit the select GPU (so launching Steam with switcherooctl will make run any game in it on the dGPU).

ROG Control Center

ROG Control Center is a GUI tool for configuring few aspects of asusctl and supergfxctl. It was previously part of the asusctl package, but has now been separated as its own package in G14 repo. After adding the repo to /etc/pacman.conf as stated above, then you can install the tool:

pacman -S rog-control-center

GUI Main Window

Custom kernel - drivers fixes, hardware support

Newer devices often require custom kernel with patches, that kernel is also available in the g14 pacman repo, to install it just run:

pacman -Sy linux-g14 linux-g14-headers

Again, don't get confused by the name, it exists only for historical reasons. If you are using a custom kernel use the nvidia-dkms package for nvidia drivers, the regular nvidia package works only with stock Arch kernel At the date of updating this articel devices from 2023 and older shouldn't need a custom kernel, fixes for 2024 are currently be worked on. Be aware that this state might change more often then this guide gets updated.

After installing the new kernel you need to regenerate your boot menu or add a new boot entry depending on what boot manager you are using. For GRUB that will be:

grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

For others refer to their documentation/Arch Wiki page. You can check currently booted kernel with command uname -r. It should give you for example:

6.8.1-arch1-g14-1

The -g14 part is the important one.

Other distros based on Arch

To ease the installation you can use other distro based on Arch, only Manjaro is highly not recommend (it is not really based on Arch and might not be compatible with points above and things might break with upgrades).

Recommended ones are: EndeavourOS, RebornOS, Garuda.

Blacklisting nouveau might be still needed.

EndeavourOS

When installing EndeavourOS don't use the option with Nvidia drivers preinstalled, this installs configs with might conflict with supergfxctl and installs the driver with works only with stock kernel. Use the default install option then install nvidia-dkms post install.

Legal Matters

ASUS and ROG Trademark is either a US registered trademark or trademark of ASUSTeK Computer Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.

Reference to any ASUS products, services, processes, or other information and/or use of ASUS Trademarks does not constitute or imply endorsement, sponsorship, or recommendation thereof by ASUS.

The use of ROG and ASUS trademarks within this website and associated tools and libraries is only to provide a recognisable identifier to users to enable them to associate that these tools will work with ASUS ROG laptops.

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