Install Raspberry Pi OS

This guide walks through installing Raspberry Pi OS using Raspberry Pi Imager with all necessary configuration for PiTrac.

Time Required: ~30 minutes (including imaging and first boot)

Difficulty: Beginner-friendly

OS Version Requirements

CRITICAL - OS Version Requirements

PiTrac requires Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit

Supported versions: Debian 12 (Bookworm) or Debian 13 (Trixie)

System: 64-bit (required)

Do NOT use:

32-bit versions - will not work with PiTrac

Desktop or Lite?

Both work fine:

Desktop: Has GUI, easier for first-timers
Lite: Command-line only, uses fewer resources

Choose based on your comfort level with Linux command line.

Installation Steps

1. Prepare Your Hardware

Before starting:

Pi powered off (unplugged)
Cat5/6 ethernet cable connected to your local network (recommended for faster downloads)
Micro SD card connected to your PC/Mac via USB adapter
Use 64GB card minimum (32GB may work but 64GB recommended)

2. Download Raspberry Pi Imager

Download from raspberrypi.com/software
Install for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Ubuntu)
Launch the application

3. Select Your Device

Click “CHOOSE DEVICE”
Select either “Raspberry Pi 4” or “Raspberry Pi 5” depending on your hardware
This optimizes the OS for your specific Pi model

4. Choose the Operating System

Click “CHOOSE OS”
Select ONE of the following 64-bit versions:
- “Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit)” - Desktop with GUI (Debian 13 Trixie)
- “Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit) Lite” - Command-line only (Debian 13 Trixie)
- “Raspberry Pi OS (Legacy, 64-bit)” - Desktop with GUI (Debian 12 Bookworm)
- “Raspberry Pi OS (Legacy, 64-bit) Lite” - Command-line only (Debian 12 Bookworm)

Both Bookworm (Debian 12) and Trixie (Debian 13) are fully supported.

Important: Must be 64-bit version. Do not use 32-bit versions.

5. Select Storage

Click “CHOOSE STORAGE”
Select your Micro SD card

WARNING: Triple-check this is your SD card and NOT your computer’s hard drive! Everything on this storage will be erased.

6. Configure OS Customization Settings

Click “NEXT”
When prompted “Would you like to apply OS customisation settings?”, click “EDIT SETTINGS”

GENERAL Tab

Set hostname:

Choose a descriptive hostname to identify your Pi on the network
Examples: pitrac, pitrac-main, rsp01, rsp02
This will be how you connect to the Pi (e.g., ssh pitrac.local)

Set username and password:

Username: Enter a username for your Pi account
- Recommended: pitrac or your preferred username
- This will be <PiTracUsername> throughout documentation
Password: Choose a strong password
- This is what you’ll use to log in via SSH or console
- Write this down securely - you’ll need it for first login
- Make sure “Password” checkbox is enabled

Configure wireless LAN (WiFi):

SSID: Your WiFi network name
Password: Your WiFi password
Wireless LAN country: Select your country (required for regulatory compliance)
Even if using ethernet, configuring WiFi provides a backup connection method

Set locale settings:

Time zone: Select your timezone (e.g., America/New_York)
Keyboard layout: Select your keyboard layout (e.g., us for US English)

SERVICES Tab

Enable SSH:

Check the box for “Enable SSH”
This allows you to remotely connect to your Pi
Select “Use password authentication”
SSH is required for headless operation and remote management
You can set up key-based authentication later for enhanced security

OPTIONS Tab

Eject media when finished:

Enable this option to safely eject the SD card after writing

Enable telemetry:

Optional - sends anonymous usage statistics to Raspberry Pi Foundation

7. Start the Imaging Process

Review all settings carefully
Click “SAVE” to save your customization settings
Click “YES” to apply OS customisation settings
Click “YES” again to confirm you want to erase the SD card
The imaging process will begin

Time estimate: 15-25 minutes depending on SD card speed and internet connection

The imager will:

Download the OS image if not cached
Write the image to your SD card
Verify the write was successful
Apply your custom settings
Eject the card (if enabled)

First Boot

8. Prepare for Boot

Once the SD card is written and verified:

Eject the SD card from your computer
Insert the Micro SD card into your Pi’s card slot
- Never insert or remove the SD card while the Pi is powered on
If you have keyboard, mouse, and monitor, connect them now
- Even for headless setups, having a monitor for first boot helps troubleshoot issues
Connect the ethernet cable (if using wired network)
Finally, connect the power supply to boot the Pi

9. First Boot Process

The first boot takes 2-3 minutes as the Pi:

Expands the filesystem to use the full SD card
Applies your custom settings (hostname, username, WiFi, SSH)
Generates SSH host keys
Connects to WiFi/network
Resizes partitions

The Pi will automatically reboot once during this process.

What you’ll see:

Desktop version: LXDE desktop after boot completes
Lite version: Login prompt at the console
Headless: Wait 3-4 minutes then try to SSH

10. Find Your Pi’s IP Address

For SSH connection, you need the Pi’s IP address:

Option 1 - If you have a monitor connected:

hostname -I

Option 2 - Check your router’s DHCP client list

Option 3 - Use hostname with mDNS (usually works):

ssh <PiTracUsername>@<hostname>.local
# Example: ssh pitrac@pitrac.local

Option 4 - Use a network scanner like nmap or “Angry IP Scanner”

Next Steps

OS Installation Complete!

Continue to: First Login & Updates

Or return to: Pi Setup Overview

Troubleshooting

Can’t find Pi on network:

Wait 5 minutes - first boot takes time
Check router for new DHCP clients
Try connecting monitor to see boot progress
Verify ethernet cable is connected
Check WiFi credentials if using wireless

Imager fails to write:

Try a different SD card
Check if SD card is write-protected
Run imager as administrator
Verify SD card is not corrupted

SD card won’t eject:

Safely eject from your OS before removing
On Windows: Right-click drive → Eject
On Mac: Drag to trash or use Eject button
On Linux: Use umount command