Why arch linux install media is so big?

Hi all,
Yesterday I installed arch linux in my PC. My very first learning/questions regarding arch linux:
* Why is the install media 650 MB(so big) iso, when it doesnt contain any packages?
* From the https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Installation_guide page,
   Download
Download the most recent Arch Linux installation ISO image from the Arch Linux download page: this is a hybrid image that allows booting into an x86_64 or i686 live system, depending on the system's architecture and the user's choice.
Why the most recent Arch Linux installation ISO? The ISO which is downloaded one year before also will install the latest linux right because everything is downloaded from internet?
Can anyone please explain what is special about new install media??
Thanks
Mario

Mariappan wrote:
Download the most recent Arch Linux installation ISO image from the Arch Linux download page: this is a hybrid image that allows booting into an x86_64 or i686 live system, depending on the system's architecture and the user's choice.
Why the most recent Arch Linux installation ISO? The ISO which is downloaded one year before also will install the latest linux right because everything is downloaded from internet?
While you are correct that a netinstall will indeed install the latest linux version, it does not mean that an old install medium will boot on the newest hardware, or is up to date with the latest Arch specific packages etc. Using an old installation image can mean that your hardware is not supported, old bugs are included or that you are not at all able to install Arch because of outdated Arch specific packages on the install medium.
The install medium is merely a specific set of packages combined together in an image, not a special project to install Arch (you can install all packages via pacman). It needs updating, just like a regular Arch install.

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    You could setup your own local arch repo/mirror and just have the rest of the machines sync from that, it'd save a lot of bandwidth and make updates a bit faster.

  • Arch linux install and setup questions

    Personally it seems a bit to cumbersome to have to setup xorg etc and is proving to be difficult in getting it to work right. Do they have any arch forks that just auto detect the xorg settings like some of the other distros?
    I can't see myself having to setup several of these boxes and doing these install steps one at a time for each one.
    It would seem arch could just run a script once installed that would auto sync, download xorg, and setup xorg at the same time.
    it would be no different that following each step in the wiki by hand, just via script

    itsmeh wrote:Yup it was just an idea , sure people can still do it manual but maybe have something built in to at least take care of the first few steps that most users are going to use
    That's the whole point with arch. It's all up to you. Arch doesn't suggest anything for you (exept what you need to get a working linux enviroment).
    This is the reason i installed arch. I wanted control over my inviromet and learn more about what's under the hood.

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