Andersons Abroad

Step 2: Configure Raspbian OS on Raspberry Pi

Now that you’ve got a MicroSD card with the OS image on it, it’s time to connect everything and boot it up for the first time.

  1. Insert MicroSD card into rPi memory card slot
  2. Connect Ethernet cable to router/switch for access to the Internet for software installs and updates
  3. Connect Video out (HDMI or Composite, not both)
    • If using HDMI, ensure that the HDMI cable is connected at both ends and the TV/Monitor is on before you power on the rPi.   If the rPi does not detect an HDMI display on power up, it will output to the Composite port and HDMI will be disabled until it is powered off/on again
  4. Connect USB WiFi Dongle
  5. Connect USB Keyboard/Mouse
  6. Connect MicroUSB Power Cord and it will start to boot
  7. Watch startup process on screen
  8. It will boot to an X-Windows Desktop UI

To Start with, let’s configure some basics:

  1. Launch the Terminal by clicking the icon at the top that looks like a computer Monitor
  2. Update APT by running the following command: sudo apt-get update
  3. Next Launch Raspberry Pi Software Configuration Tool: sudo raspi-config
  4. Advanced Options -> Update tool to latest version
  5. Expand filesystem to full size of memory card
  6. Change ‘pi’ user password to your password of choice
  7. Reconfigure Locales, Keyboard Mapping, and Timezone  http://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=91&t=6907 
    1. Keyboard Mapping to PC104
    2. Locales to en_US.UTF-8
    3. Timezone to your local timezone
  8. Advanced Options
    1. May need to enable overscan (depends on monitor/tv)
    2. Set Hostname (to whatever you want to call your computer)
    3. Memory Split to 128MB (might need adjustment later)
    4. Enable SSH for remote access

Then Finish and Reboot

If screen is too big or small, you can adjust overscan again by re-launching the config tool..   sudo raspi-config

You can get the IP address of your Raspberry Pi by running the following command:  ifconfig –a

Once you have the IP address you can SSH into your Raspberry Pi from another computer on the network if you’d like using the command: ssh pi@ipaddress

 

Next Step: Step 3: Configure WiFi Access Point and Internet Gateway