A Beginner's Guide to DIYing with the Raspberry Pi

8/14/2019 A Beginner's Guide to DIYing with the Raspberry Pi

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http://lifehacker.com/5976912/a-beginners-guide-to-diying-with-the-raspberry-pi

A Beginner's Guide to DIYing with the Raspberry Pi

The Raspberry Pi is a wonderful little computer that fits in the palm of your hand, yetpacks enough power to run your home media center, a VPN, and a lot more. Before you cando anything awesome, however, you need to configure it and install an operating system.ere!s how.

It's Raspberry Pi week at Lifehacker, and for the next five days we'll be showing you some cool DI

pro!ects you can put together with this little miracle of a device" If you haven't bought one yet,

check out the first section below to learn more about what it is, what you'll need, and the cool stuff

you can do with one"

Update: Raspberry Pi week is over! Check out these Raspberry Pi guides to see all the fun stuff wedid, and check out our Raspberry Pitag for more cool projects

his past week, we walked you through some of the common projects people tackle with theirRaspberry Pi, like:

"nstall Raspbian and get started with Raspberry Pi #"$ Build an %B&'(powered media center )et up a personal VPN for secure browsing anywhere you go 'reate an *irPlay receiver and stereo companion

What's a Raspberry Pi?
http://lifehacker.com/5976912/a-beginners-guide-to-diying-with-the-raspberry-pihttp://lifehacker.com/5976912/a-beginners-guide-to-diying-with-the-raspberry-pihttp://lifehacker.com/raspberry-pihttp://lifehacker.com/5976912/a-beginners-guide-to-diying-with-the-raspberry-pihttp://lifehacker.com/5929913/build-a-xbmc-media-center-with-a-35-raspberry-pihttp://lifehacker.com/5978098/turn-a-raspberry-pi-into-a-personal-vpn-for-secure-browsing-anywhere-you-gohttp://lifehacker.com/5978594/turn-a-raspberry-pi-into-an-airplay-receiver-for-streaming-music-in-your-living-roomhttp://lifehacker.com/5976912/a-beginners-guide-to-diying-with-the-raspberry-pihttp://lifehacker.com/5976912/a-beginners-guide-to-diying-with-the-raspberry-pihttp://lifehacker.com/raspberry-pihttp://lifehacker.com/5976912/a-beginners-guide-to-diying-with-the-raspberry-pihttp://lifehacker.com/5929913/build-a-xbmc-media-center-with-a-35-raspberry-pihttp://lifehacker.com/5978098/turn-a-raspberry-pi-into-a-personal-vpn-for-secure-browsing-anywhere-you-gohttp://lifehacker.com/5978594/turn-a-raspberry-pi-into-an-airplay-receiver-for-streaming-music-in-your-living-room


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The Raspberry Pi is a very capable mini computer that!s small enough to fit in your pocket+even though you!d probably never keep it there. -or about /0(12, you get a caselesscomputer with #&" and analog composite video output. $ou can add up to two 3)Bdevices +which, in most cases, will be a mouse and keyboard and connect it to the internet

via wired ethernet. The Raspberry Pi is powerful and ine4pensive, allowing you to create ahome media center, internet radio, or even your own VPN server on the cheap. That said, a

little setup and a lot of other parts are re5uired to get it up and running. "n this post we!lltake a look at how to get a Raspberry Pi set up so you can start using it for a variety ofpurposes.

What You'll Need

he Raspberry Pi may be a computer all on its own, but you"ll still need a lot of other things tomake it work:

A Raspberry Pi6 "f you!re not sure where to buy one, you!ll find links below to help

you out. An HDMI- or composite video-capable television or monitor6 "n this post we!llbe working with an #&"(capable monitor because it offers better resolution andbuilt(in sound. $ou can use analog if you want, however.

An HDMI or composite video cable6 $ou!ll need this cable to connect yourRaspberry Pi to your television or monitor.

A 4GB Class 4 SD card+or better and a card reader+if you don!t have one builtinto your computer6 &ost )# cards will work, but some aren!t compatible and willtherefore cause issues. $ou can find out which cards are compatible, or locate a place to

buy a compatible card with an operating system pre(installed, on this page. A USB eyboard and mo!se6 *ny standard 3)B keyboard or mouse will do.

7ireless +non(Bluetooth peripherals worked for me, but " had to unplug them andplug them back in after the Raspberry Pi booted. $ou!ll have fewer issues with fully

wired keyboards and mice. An et"ernet cable6 *ny standard ethernet cable will do. $ou only need this to

connect to your network and the internet, however, so you can leave this item out ifdesired.

A #ood $!ality% micro USB po&er s!pply t"at can provide at least'((mA at )*6 &ost modern smartphone chargers supply 822m* at 0V, but not all do.'heck the bottom of your charger and look for a block of te4t. $ou!ll see its output

values in that te4t which may read 2.8* instead of 822m*. "f it offers at least thatmuch power, you!re probably good to go. 9ust don!t use a poor 5uality chargeror you

may run into problems. A +,)mm stereo a!dio cable6 $ou only need this if you!re using analog video and

want to connect your Raspberry Pi to a set of e4ternal speakers or internal ones on yourtelevision or monitor.

Raspberry Pi Model B Reision !"# $%&!MB

#ou can find the majority of those items pretty much anywhere, but Raspberry Pi units are difficultto come by due to popular demand $ere are a few places to try that often have a few in stock:
http://www.amazon.com/Raspberry-Pi-Model-Revision-512MB/dp/B009SQQF9C?tag=lifehackeramzn-20&ascsubtag=%5Breferrer%7Clifehacker.com%5Btype%7Clink%5BpostId%7C5976912%5Basin%7CB009SQQF9C%5BauthorId%7C5760613250696714512http://elinux.org/RPi_SD_cardshttp://updates.lifehacker.com/post/34723084079/tests-show-why-you-should-stay-away-from-knockoff-usbhttp://www.amazon.com/Raspberry-Pi-Model-Revision-512MB/dp/B009SQQF9C%3FSubscriptionId%3D11V4BFFP7Y247FYTQ882%26tag%3Dkinjamod-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB009SQQF9C&ascsubtag=%5BpostId%7C5976912%5Basin%7CB009SQQF9C%5BauthorId%7C5760613250696714512%5Breferrer%7Clifehacker.com%5Btype%7Cmod-titlehttp://www.amazon.com/Raspberry-Pi-Model-Revision-512MB/dp/B009SQQF9C%3FSubscriptionId%3D11V4BFFP7Y247FYTQ882%26tag%3Dkinjamod-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB009SQQF9C&ascsubtag=%5BpostId%7C5976912%5Basin%7CB009SQQF9C%5BauthorId%7C5760613250696714512%5Breferrer%7Clifehacker.com%5Btype%7Cmod-imagehttp://www.amazon.com/Raspberry-Pi-Model-Revision-512MB/dp/B009SQQF9C?tag=lifehackeramzn-20&ascsubtag=%5Breferrer%7Clifehacker.com%5Btype%7Clink%5BpostId%7C5976912%5Basin%7CB009SQQF9C%5BauthorId%7C5760613250696714512http://elinux.org/RPi_SD_cardshttp://updates.lifehacker.com/post/34723084079/tests-show-why-you-should-stay-away-from-knockoff-usbhttp://www.amazon.com/Raspberry-Pi-Model-Revision-512MB/dp/B009SQQF9C%3FSubscriptionId%3D11V4BFFP7Y247FYTQ882%26tag%3Dkinjamod-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB009SQQF9C&ascsubtag=%5BpostId%7C5976912%5Basin%7CB009SQQF9C%5BauthorId%7C5760613250696714512%5Breferrer%7Clifehacker.com%5Btype%7Cmod-title


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*dafruit+the kitis almost always in stock if the singular unit isn!t *ma:on+almost always in stock, but through third parties at a premium *llied ;lectronics+only available in North *merica

%nce you"ve got your Raspberry Pi, you can start setting it up!

(ow to )et *p Your Raspberry Pi with a Basi+ ,perating)yste-

#ou can use the Raspberry Pi for all sorts of different things&some of which may re'uire their ownspecial operating systems&but to start out, it"s a good idea to get ac'uainted with the Pi byinstalling Raspbian, a Raspberry Pi(focused version of )inu* $ere"s what you need to do

)tep ,ne. Prepare Your )D /ardP

+irst things first, we need to prepare your - card for the Raspberry Pi his involves formatting itproperly and putting Raspbian, the standard Raspberry Pi operating system, on it he steps varydepending on whether or not you"re on a .ac, )inu*, or /indows PC, so just follow theinstructions for your operating system below

Windows
http://www.adafruit.com/products/998http://www.adafruit.com/products/1014http://www.adafruit.com/products/1014http://www.alliedelec.com/lp/120626rasohttp://www.adafruit.com/products/998http://www.adafruit.com/products/1014http://www.alliedelec.com/lp/120626raso


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#ownload the lastest version of Raspbianand un:ip the .img file inside. +"t!s almost022&B so it may take a little while to download.

1. >pen up your Dinu4 terminal emulator of choice. "f you don!t have one, try ourfavorite.

2. "nsert your )# card. "f it mounts automatically, unmount it but make note of its

location +e.g. EdevEdisk=sF"&GF-"D; with the path to the .img file andP*TFT>F)#F'*R#F&>3NTFP>"NT with the path to the )# card mount point.+The bsH) % who are using this method. Type it and press enter.

0. "t!ll take some time for the dd command to copy everything over to your )# card.

7hile that happens, it!ll probably look like the Terminal fro:e up. #on!t worry, it!sstill working and will likely take longer than an average =GB copy to an )# card +so

be patient. 7hen it finishes, the command prompt will return and your )# cardwill be ready. ;?ect it safely and stick it in your Raspberry Pi.

)tep 0wo. (oo1 *p Your Raspberry Pi
http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloadshttp://lifehacker.com/5858676/the-best-terminal-emulator-for-linuxhttp://lifehacker.com/5858676/the-best-terminal-emulator-for-linuxhttp://www.raspberrypi.org/downloadshttp://lifehacker.com/5858676/the-best-terminal-emulator-for-linuxhttp://lifehacker.com/5858676/the-best-terminal-emulator-for-linux


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Connecting everything to your Raspberry Pi is pretty easy tart by connecting the $-.4 cablefrom the unit to your television 1or monitor3 4f you"re using the analog composite video connectioninstead, connect it to your television 1or monitor3 and plug in a set of speakers to the 56mm audio

jack 4f you want your Raspberry Pi to connect to your network and7or the internet, use an 8thernetcable to connect it to your router 4f you"ve set up a computer before, this should all seem familiar

+inally, you need to connect your Raspberry Pi with a micro U9 power adapter 0s mentionedearlier, you need an adapter that can provide at least ;;m0 at 6ote: it may say ;0 1or higher3 instead of ;;m03 /hen you have a compatible poweradapter on hand, connect it to a micro U9 cable and then connect that cable to the micro U9 porton your Raspberry Pi unit 4t"ll turn on all by itself and you should see it boot for the first time

)tep 0hree. /on2igure Your Raspberry Pi


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%nce your Raspberry Pi boots for the first time you"ll need to configure a few things #ou"ll knowit"s ready for you when you see a Raspi-configwindow with a pretty big list of settings #ou canmess with the others if you feel so inclined, but the only thing you really need to do is e*pand thefile system so you can use up all the space on your - card o do so, follow these steps:

1. )elect epand.root/s+the second option and press enter.=. 'onfirm that you want to e4pand the file system and let Raspbian do its thing.

/. 7hen you!re returned to the configuration list, go all the way to the bottom andselect the -inish option.

1. "t!ll ask you if you want to reboot. 'hoose yes.

#our Raspberry Pi will reboot and take a little longer this time because it needs to e*pand the filesystem 0fter a about a minute you"ll be asked to log in #ou"ll need to use the default username and

password:

Username: piPassword: raspberry

%nce you"ve logged in, you"ve got yourself a working Raspberry Pi Congratulations!

%f course, this is far from the end #ou can use your Pi as much more than just a tiny computer, socheck out )ifehacker all week at ?:;; 0. P for how(tos on some of the coolest things you can dowith it omorrow we"ll show you how to turn that tiny little board into a killer @9.C mediacenter

Dis+uss
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Patrick -rawley3*dam #achis

>kay, "!ll play the role of the non(tech(head interloper +which " am here6

his sounds like a lot of fun ( 4 love the -4# factor and the farmer"s(market pricing ( but can a Piconceivably function as a normal desktop computer replacementA /ill it function as an effective

/eb browser and office(software platform, which is B6 of what 4 and most other people do with acomputer anywayA 1Could it maybe even be better than crapware(heavy consumer productsA3

his of course leads to concerns about what software e*actly would be best here 1is there even%ffice for )inu*A iunesA3 but just curious about the core ideaD7ED7D5 ?:EDam

tvguy?ohn3Patrick -rawley

Patrick, the system is still relatively new, and it!s based on *R& architecture. This meansthat many programs that run on other chips +say, 4@(based, won!t run on the Pi.

hat being said, programmers are indeed busy either porting programs over, re(compiling them1where applicable3, or just writing new software

4t already has a new Fapp storeF ( like iunes or the Ubuntu market ( although it"s a little limited interms of number of apps 1think less than a hundred3

9ut to answer your 'uestion ( it does run )ibre%ffice 1a great .icrosoft(%ffice replacement suite3,as well as 0udacity 1an audio editing program3

4f you use the Rasbian %, it"s based off of a flavor of )inu* called -ebian, and it comes pre(loaded

with a bunch of cool software, including a fully(functional web browser and others

4 actually got mine up and running last night, and was pretty impressed with it /ith additionalmedia licenses 1less than GD;3, it"ll play back full($- media without any problems

o if you"re just typing emails, browsing the web, and working on office documents ( yes, it wouldserve as a desktop replacement

$owever, 4 wouldn"t e*pect it to edit $- video or render 5d graphics 'uickly 1though, with its on(board HPU, someone might port 9lender over to it, so we"ll see3D7ED7D5 ?:55am

7hitson Gordon3Patrick -rawley

" haven!t tried to use it as a regular computer. "t could, but " don!t know if you!d really wanttoJit!d be pretty darn slow. The Acore ideaA isn!t to use the Raspberry Pi as a day(to(daycomputerK instead, the core idea is to use it for numerous #"$ pro?ects that would normallyre5uire a computer, but that don!t really re5uire apowerfulcomputer. 7e!ll show off someof those pro?ects over the coming weekK this was a bit more about getting oriented andgetting inspiration for things you could do with it using Dinu4Jnot necessarily setting it upas your day(to(day desktop computer.


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"!m T more than two 3)B devices if you plug in a 3)B hub. )econd, one of thecommenters said that you can!t read te4t on composite video. " do it all the time and haveno problem. "!m blogging about my adventures. 'heck it out athttp6EEraspberrypikid.wordpress.com


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*udi022239'B0


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or su to root and don"t sudo if you preferD7ED7D5 B:Dam

)moak on the 7ater3*dam #achis

This is the e4act type of series " need for my #reamplug. " have a device, and " had an ideafor it ( using it as a /GE1GE7i-i gateway for video conferencing e5uipment ( only to watch

TPDink make the same thing for

Documents

A Beginner's Guide to DIYing with the Raspberry Pi