arch-chroot

Start an interactive shell (Bash, by default) in a new root directory

$ arch-chroot [path/to/new/root]

$ arch-chroot -u [user] [path/to/new/root]

$ arch-chroot [path/to/new/root] [command] [command_arguments]

$ arch-chroot [path/to/new/root] [zsh]

arch-chroot [command]

    The directory to use as the new root.

[command]
    The command to execute within the chroot environment. If no command is specified, it will launch the shell defined in /etc/passwd.

The arch-chroot command provides a convenient way to change the root directory of a process, specifically targeting environments where the target system is an Arch Linux installation. It simplifies the process of entering a chroot environment, ensuring that necessary mounts (like /proc, /sys, /dev) are properly set up for the target system. This is commonly used for system recovery, building packages, or managing Arch Linux systems from a live environment. arch-chroot essentially creates a mini-system within your current system where your processes believe the new directory is root. It manages mounting the required virtual filesystems into the chroot environment, ensuring that processes within the chroot have access to essential system information. Typically, it requires the procps, util-linux, and systemd or udev packages, allowing it to mount the necessary pseudo file systems. This tool offers a streamlined approach compared to manually creating the chroot environment yourself, which requires a deeper understanding of system administration.

It is important to ensure that the necessary files and libraries are present within the target directory for the commands executed within the chroot to function correctly. Incorrectly configured chroot environments can lead to unexpected behavior or system instability. If using within containers, ensure all systemd components work as expected.

• Enter a chroot environment in /mnt: arch-chroot /mnt
  
• Execute a command within a chroot: arch-chroot /mnt pacman -Syu
  

arch-chroot typically relies on the procps, util-linux, and systemd or udev packages to function correctly, allowing it to mount the necessary pseudo file systems.

arch-chroot was created to ease the process of entering a chroot environment for Arch Linux systems. Traditional chroot commands often require manual setup of mounts (proc, sys, dev). arch-chroot automates these mount operations, making the process simpler and less error-prone, especially when working with Arch Linux systems. Its popularity grew alongside the increasing use of Arch Linux as a desktop and server operating system, particularly for tasks like system administration and package building.

chroot(8), pivot_root(8)