Raspberry Pi devices are notoriously versatile little devices, but can they be used for crypto mining? The answer… yes! 

You can easily put your Raspberry Pi to use doing crypto mining if you want a way to make some extra money. The best part is, it is so much easier than you think. 

While every crypto mining process might be a little different, we are going to focus on Duino-Coin. This cryptocurrency can be mined by all kinds of tech, including Raspberry Pi, Arduinos ESP8266/32 boards, smartwatches, smartphones, Wi-Fi routers, and much more. 

The information we go through here is based on the Ubuntu server 20.04.3 long-term support (LTS) and a Raspberry Pi 3 (Model B revision 1.2). The 64- bit server can support Raspberry Pi 3 and 4, as well as 400.

What You Will Need

• Raspberry Pi
• Power Supply
• SD Card – 16GB+
• USB Keyboard
• USB Mouse
• HDMI Cable
• External Monitor

Getting Set Up For Raspberry Pi Crypto Mining

Simply follow the steps outlined below to get started. This will only take a few minutes and is very straightforward. 

Install Ubuntu on your Pi device (not sure how? There are instructions on the Ubuntu website)

Ubuntu has been installed and your Raspberry has booted, log in with SSH. You should get a screen with all kinds of information on it, including a welcome message, memory usage, processes, temperature, and much more. 

How To Set Up Your Cryptocurrency

Simply follow the below commands: 

# Update package repositories and install dependencies
$ sudo apt update
$ sudo apt install python3 python3-pip git python3-pil python3-pil.imagetk -y
# Update package repositories and install dependencies
$ sudo apt update
$ sudo apt install python3 python3-pip git python3-pil python3-pil.imagetk -y

Then you will need to clone the Duino-Coin repository by inputting the following:

# Clone Duino-Coin repository
$ git clone https://github.com/revoxhere/duino-coin 
# Install Python dependencies for Duino-Coin
$ cd duino-coin
$ python3 -m pip install -r requirements.txt

You Might Like: Raspberry Pi Rack Mounts Explained

Create A Crypto Wallet

In order for the money you make from mining to go somewhere, you need a crypto wallet! There are a few options to choose from, such as web wallet, command line interface wallet, or graphical user interface wallet.

Web wallet has some great additional features that you might find useful, such as the ability to calculate estimated profits and see miner statistics. 

Just follow the instructions on-screen for whichever option you choose.

Begin Crypto Mining With Your Raspberry Device

All you then need to do then is execute the below command to get started with running the miner! You can copy and paste this in and get started:

# Run Miner (inside duino-coin directory)

$ python3 PC_Miner.py

Configurations On The First Run

The script is going to ask you for a handful of configurations on the first run. These will be as follows:

• Mining Difficulty – opt for a low setting when you are using Raspberry Pi devices.
• Mining Intensity – you can go up to 100% if you are not going to be using your Raspberry device for anything else. Otherwise, it’s a good idea to opt for 95%.
• Developer Donation – decide if you would like to support the developer or not through a donation.
• Mining Threads – what you choose will be determined by the hardware in your Raspberry Pi. For example, if you have four cores, opt for four threads, and so on.
• Mining Rig Username – you don’t need to name your rig, but it will help when it comes to tracking your progress. Plus, who wouldn’t want to name their rig?

Once these configurations are done, the miner will start working. It’s so much easier than you thought, right?

Final Thoughts 

That’s all there is to it. In just a few simple steps, you can start crypto mining with your Raspberry Pi and make a little money on the side – nice, right? 

As long as you have the right materials and tech, you can get this done in just a couple of minutes, and anyone can do it. Good luck!

NetworkChuck has put together an awesome video to follow about mining cryptocurrency on a Raspberry Pi.  Check it out below.

READ NEXT: How To Set Up A Raspberry Pi AirPlay Receiver

Using a Raspberry Pi and Privoxy, a handy web proxy, you can set up a simple proxy server. With the help of this guide, you can easily set up this useful computer system.

What Is Privoxy?

Privoxy is a popular proxy that was first released in 2001. It gives users increased control over their browsing. This system offers a wide variety of benefits, such as:

• State-of-the-art filtering features.
• Customizable so that it can fit the needs of the user.
• Versatile configuration.
• Modifying data on web pages
• Ad blocking

As you can imagine, this system is ideal for setting up a proxy server with your Raspberry Pi. So let’s get into the technique.

How To Use Your Raspberry Pi As A Proxy Server With Privoxy

Equipment

If you want to complete this activity, you will need the following pieces of equipment:

• A Raspberry Pi: Though this may seem obvious, you will regardless need a Raspberry Pi. More modern models will be best suited to this tutorial.
• An ethernet cable or Wifi connection: An ethernet cable is a great tool for a Raspberry Pi, as it provides your device with an internet connection. Using an ethernet cable will ensure that your connection is stronger, but a Wifi connection should suffice.
• Micro SD card: A micro SD card is a cheap yet convenient tool that allows you to store and transfer information.
• Power supply: This will ensure that your Raspberry Pi has power. As you can imagine, this is pretty important!

Instructions

If you want to set up this Raspberry Pi proxy server, you simply need to:

1. Ensure that your Raspberry Pi has been set up, such as plugging in the ethernet cable.
2. Install Privoxy. To do this, run this simple command: sudo apt install privoxy.
3. Once you have installed this Privoxy software, you may need to alter your configuration. Otherwise, you may not transform your Raspberry Pi into a proxy server.
4. Firstly, you must adjust the software so that it accepts external connections. To modify the configuration, use this command: sudo nano /etc/privoxy/config.
5. You will now be met with a file, which will consist of large amounts of text. Find a portion of this text that begins with “listen-address”. You will need to adjust the numbers after this text with the line “8118”.
6. Save your edit. To do this, press the control key (Ctrl) and the X key. After that, press “Y” followed by the enter key.
7. After you’ve made these changes, it’s a good idea to restart the Raspberry Pi system. This will ensure that your changes have been kept.
8. Next, to utilize Privoxy, you will need to change your browser settings. The technique that you use will be slightly different for every browser.
9. Generally, you will need to go to the settings section and search for connections. From there, ensure that a proxy connection is enabled.
10. After the proxy configuration has been enabled, you must provide details about your Raspberry Pi. Namely, you will need to enter the Raspberry Pi’s IP address.
11. Next, enter the following address: http://config.privoxy.org/.
12. If this has been successful, you will see a message informing you that the connection has been enabled. If not, you should go back and ensure that your details are correct.
13. Once you’ve received this confirmation message, you can begin using your Raspberry Pi as a proxy server by using Privoxy. As a result, you can experience the advantages that this setup provides.
14. If you want to change the Privoxy settings, click “view & change the current configuration”. Press “Edit” to alter the settings individually.

What Are The Benefits Of Proxy Servers?

Now that you know how to set up this system, you may be wondering what advantages it has to offer. Though some of these features were mentioned earlier, here are just some of the ways in which a proxy server can prove fruitful:

• Content filtering. This feature is fantastic for employers, as it can be used to filter what online content employees have access to.
• There are often reduced loading times when using a proxy server.
• You can hide your IP address. Instead, the IP address of the proxy server will be registered in place of your device’s IP address.
• You will have access to restricted content, such as geo-blocked websites. Because your IP address is blocked, you will have wider access to restricted online material.
• They provide you with increased privacy.
• Using the system you can filter out potentially harmful websites, which will protect your device. For instance, if you know a website that features malware, you can use the server to block it.
• Referred to as caching, your computer can store copies of the web pages that you regularly frequent.
• As these instructions show, it can be quite simple to set up a proxy server. You don’t need to be a computer genius to follow these straightforward steps.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Final Thoughts

As this guide demonstrates, you can easily set up your Raspberry Pi as a proxy server. As a result, you can experience the numerous advantages that this system has to offer, such as masking your IP address.

So if this sounds appealing, why not give this method a go? You could end up with a phenomenal proxy server that’s powered by your Raspberry Pi.

The good news is that this guide can lead you through the entire process. As a result, you can use your Raspberry Pi to host a website that other users can access. So let’s dive in!

Can You Use A Raspberry Pi To Host A Website?

The short answer is yes, your Raspberry Pi device can be used for web hosting. It can act as a web server for both a local network and on a larger scale, making your Raspberry Pi rather versatile.

This will allow you to host whatever content you desire, for public or private access. Now let’s look into why you would want to use a Raspberry Pi to host a website, along with a step-by-step guide on how to do it.

Why Should You Host A Website On A Raspberry Pi?

Now that you know that it’s possible to host a website through this device, you might be wondering whether or not this approach is the best one for your circumstances.

Here are just some of the reasons why you may want to do this:

• It’s a very budget-friendly option.
• A Raspberry Pi consumes minimal power
• More control over your website when hosting it yourself. 
• It’s a fun learning process.

What Will You Need To Host A Website On A Raspberry Pi

Before we get into the how-to, here’s a quick list of all the things you will need to host a website on a Raspberry Pi.

• A Raspberry Pi: you can use any model from 2-4. However, you should opt for a Raspberry Pi 3 or 4, as these models have more advanced components.
  
• A second computer, either a laptop or desktop.
  
• A microSD card: at least a 16GB card is best suited for web hosting.

If you regularly use your Raspberry Pi for different computing activities, you will likely already own all of these pieces of kit. If not, they should be easy to obtain. 

How To Host Your Own Website On Raspberry Pi

Final Thoughts

Hosting a website through your Raspberry Pi can be a fun and beneficial activity if you own one of these devices.

Though this task will require a lot of time, effort, and patience, it can be worth it if you enjoy using your Raspberry Pi. With this guide, it can be surprisingly easy to host a website of your own!

While you’re here, check out this super useful video by Tony Teaches Tech, on how to host a website on a Raspberry Pi. Don’t forget to check out the frequently asked questions after the video.

If you liked this guide, make sure you have a look at some of our other articles like our advice on the best touchscreens for your Raspberry Pi, the ultimate guide to Raspberry Pi RAM, or our comparison of the most powerful Raspberry Pi alternatives.

Until next time, enjoy your Pi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Luckily, it’s incredibly simple to change the hostname of your Raspberry Pi. There are three quick and easy methods that you can use to achieve this goal.

This step-by-step guide will lead you through the entire process so that you can easily update the hostname of your Raspberry Pi.

What Is A Hostname?

A hostname refers to the name that a computer device will have on a network. This is a great way of labeling your device so that it’s more recognizable and personalized.

It’s important to know your hostname so that you can identify it on a network. 

How To Change Your Raspberry Pi’s Hostname

If you want to change the hostname of your Raspberry Pi, all you have to do is:

Method #1

If you are using a desktop device with your Raspberry Pi, you can replace the hostname by using these steps:

1. On a desktop device, open the Raspberry Pi Configuration function. You can do this by clicking the icon. 
2. You will then be presented with a menu of options. From there, locate the “Preferences” button. Hover over this menu so that you are met by another menu. Select “Raspberry Pi Configuration”.
3. Click on the “Systems” tab. From there, you will find your current hostname in a textbox. 
4. Simply click on this textbox and delete the current hostname. Type your new name into the textbox. Once you’re satisfied with it, press the “Ok” button at the bottom of this panel. If you’ve changed your mind and want to keep your previous hostname, click “Cancel”.
5. Once you leave this dialogue box, you will be prompted to restart your device. Click “Yes” to accept this reboot. Once you’ve done this, your new hostname will be updated. 

Method #2

If you aren’t using a desktop device, you can still easily alter your existing hostname by using this simple strategy:

1. Type “sudo raspi-config” to open raspi-config, the Raspberry Pi Configuration feature. 
2. You will then see a variety of different options. From this list, choose “Network Options”. 
3. Now you will see a whole host of options related to your network. From these options, enter “Hostname”. When you do this, you may get a warning informing you not to use any special characters. If this occurs, simply tap “Enter”. 
4. You will then be allowed to enter your brand-new hostname. Make sure that you type the letters in correctly. Once you’re happy with this new hostname, click “Ok”.
5. Next, click “Finish” if you’re satisfied with the changes. 
6. You will then be presented with the option to reboot your device. It’s recommended that you choose “Yes”, as this will confirm the change. If you select “No”, then you must manually reboot your Raspberry Pi if you want the hostname to be updated. 
7. After you’ve completed these steps, your hostname will be changed.

Method #3

Similar to the previous method, there is a slightly different way that you can adjust the hostname. It uses the same principles as the former method. To do this, simply:

1. Go to /etc/hosts file. Enter this command: sudo raspi-config. 
2. You will then be taken to the Raspberry Pi configuration tool. From this list, select the “Network Options” feature. To reach this function, use your arrow keys and press “Enter”.
3. From the list, choose “N1 Hostname”. Tap “Enter” to select this tool.
4. You will then receive information regarding your hostname. For instance, you will be forbidden from entering a blank space in your hostname. Tap on “Enter” once you have read this message. 
5. Now, you can change your hostname. After providing your new hostname, press “Enter” and click “Ok”. Finally, reboot your Raspberry Pi to confirm your changes.

How Can You Check Your Raspberry Pi’s Hostname?

Before you change the hostname of your Raspberry Pi, it’s best to check what the current hostname is.

This way, you can determine whether or not it needs to be changed. Fortunately, it can be super straightforward to check your current hostname by:

1. On your Raspberry Pi, enter the following command: $ hostname. 
2. You can then see the hostname of your device, which you can alter by following the steps above. 
3. If this doesn’t work, there are a few different commands that you can try. For instance, you can run the following command: $ hostnamectl status. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Final Thoughts

Hostnames are a wonderful way of distinguishing your Raspberry Pi from another device. By personalizing this hostname, you can make it much more recognizable.

Luckily, it is super simple to change a hostname so that you can better tell it apart from another Raspberry Pi.

Apache is among the most popular web servers that are available for Raspberry Pi. Overall, this web server actually makes up 44% of all the servers in the world!

Alone, this web server can serve HTML files over HTTPS and HTTP web protocols. It can serve dynamic content with various additional modules, like PHP, giving users great experiences.

In this article, we are going to cover everything you need to know about installing Apache on your Raspberry Pi, and also set it up fully.

How To Install Apache On Raspberry Pi

If you decide that you want to go ahead with installing Apache on your Raspberry Pi, great! Just know that we will not be covering how to set up MYSQL, PHPMyAdmin, or WordPress on your Raspberry Pi in this article – these will be covered in other posts. 

Let’s get started with installing Apache.

What You Will Need

To get the job done, you are going to need the following pieces of equipment:

• Raspberry Pi
• Power Supply
• Micro SD Card
• Wi-Fi or an Ethernet Cable

Additional equipment you might want to source to make your life easier include the following:

• Monitor
• USB Keyboard
• Raspberry Pi Case
• USB Mouse
• HDMI Cable

The Steps

1. Make Sure The Package List Is Up-To-Date

Before you can even think about installing Apache to your Raspberry Pi, you will need to make sure that the package list is fully up-to-date. This is straightforward and can be done in a moment. 

Run these two commands:

• sudo apt-get update
• sudo apt-get upgrade

2. Install Apache 2

If the package list is up-to-date, you can move on and install the Apache2 package to the device. All you need to do is input this command in the terminal:

• sudo apt install apache2 -y

3. Install PHP To Your Raspberry Pi

Now that Apache 2 has been installed, you will have a super basic web server running already. However, this server will be unable to provide HTML files and other dynamic content.

As such, we will need to extend the basic Apache web server. This is done by installing PHP to the device. 

You should check to make sure that Apache is running on your Raspberry. Do this by entering the IP address of the Raspberry Pi into a web browser. A webpage with some simple text should be returned on the server. 

Alternatively, if you don’t know your IP, the hostname command can be entered into the terminal so that you can retrieve it.

Type in this command:

• hostname -I

4. Enter The Raspberry Pi’s IP Address

You should now enter the IP address of the Raspberry Pi in a web browser. This should make the web connect and load a very simple default page, then you can move on. 

5. Set Up Your Permissions

You will need to set up a few permissions in order to make changes to the files in the /var/www/html. The first thing you need to do is add the user pi to the www-data group, which is Apache2’s default group.

Next, you will need to give the www-data group ownership of all the folders and files in the /var/www/html directory. 

Input the following commands to get his job done:

• sudo usermod -a -G www-data pi
• sudo chown -R -f www-data:www-data /var/www/html

After inputting the commands, make sure to log out, then log back in to ensure the changes happen.

6. Make The Required Changes To Your Default Page

Now you will be able to make necessary changes to the default web page. Use the nano text editor to modify the index.html file, and all files in the /var/www/html can be served by the web server.

Use this command to carry out this step:

• sudo nano /var/www/html/index.html

Set Up PHP7 For Apache

1. Make Sure You Are Running Raspberry Pi OS Bullseye AT LEAST

Installing the necessary packages is super quick and easy, but it is necessary before you go any further. 

Run this command to install the required PHP packages onto the Raspberry Pi:

sudo apt install php7.4 libapache2-mod-php7.4 php7.4-mbstring php7.4-mysql php7.4-curl php7.4-gd php7.4-zip -y

2. Test To Ensure It’s Working Properly

Configuration is done automatically when Apache is detected, so you won’t need to worry about that.

You can quickly make sure PHP is working correctly by creating a file in the /var/www/html directory, which will allow it to be processed then displayed in a web browser.

We’ve labelled the file as “fileexample” here.

Run this command:

sudo nano /var/www/html/fileexample.php

3. Add In PHP Code

Next, add these lines of PHP code in the file:

<?php

echo “Today’s date is “.date(‘Y-m-d H:i:s’);

This will give you enough information to ensure the PHP is working properly – all it will do is print out the date.

4. Save The File

Now, you will need to save the file. Do this by pressing down CTRL + X, then press Y, and hit ENTER.

5. Go To The Web Browser

Go to http://192.168.1.103/example.php in your web browser, but ensure that you replace the numbers with your Raspberry Pi’s IP address. 

You should then get a display that will tell you the day’s date and time. That’s all there is to it!

Set Up The Apache VirtualHost

1. Run A Command To Get Started

Within the /etc/apache2/sites-available folder, create a simple host file – use a domain name if you have one or are planning on using one.

Type in this command:

sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/example.com.conf

2. Enter This Text In The File And Check The Coding

The coding should end up looking something like this: 

<VirtualHost *:80>

      ServerName example.com

      ServerAlias www.example.com

      DocumentRoot /var/www/example.com/public_html

      ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/example.com_error.log

      CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/example.com_access.log combined

</VirtualHost>

Make sure everything is in line with your chosen names and other personal information regarding your Raspberry Pi and Apache. 

Now, you will need to save the file. Do this by pressing down CTRL + X, then press Y, and hit ENTER. 

3. Create A Folder To Store HTML Files

Create a folder where you will store your HTML files, and take ownership of the file in the www-data group.

Run this command:

sudo mkdir -p /var/www/example.com/public_html

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/example.com/public_html

4. Activate VirtualHost

Now it’s time to activate VirtualHost. Do this by running this command:

sudo a2ensite example.com.conf

5. Reload Configuration

Finally, all you need to do now is reload the configuration for the file to be loaded in

Type in this command to do the job: 

sudo systemctl reload apache2

At this point, you can point a DNS to the public IP of the Raspberry Pi, but you will need to set up port forwarding. Other than that, you should now have Apache running on your Raspberry Pi, and you can enjoy it!

Apache Alternatives:

Apache isn’t the only web server you can use – another popular alternative is an Nginx web server. These are usually seen to be much quicker at some tasks than Apache, but they also have their cons too.

Consider the kinds of tasks you will be performing and do some additional research on both Apache and Nginx. Both can be good options – the final decision for what to use is completely up to you. 

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this article helps you to get up and running with Apache, PHP7, and VirtualHost. 

Good luck!

These compact and super-portable mini-computers are renowned for their customizability and how they can be used to learn coding and programming in a safe and cost-effective manner. 

Raspberry Pi computers are used in countless different ways, from building portable entertainment libraries to creating extra computational power that can assist a larger computer unit. 

Some coding and programming tasks on the Raspberry Pi are incredibly easy, while some are a little bit more difficult than others.

Today, we are going to take you through you everything you need to know about setting up your own Raspberry Pi DNS server. 

What Is A DNS Server?

In order to really tell what it takes to build the perfect DNS server, it is pertinent to remind ourselves of what exactly a DNS server actually is.

DNS stands for ‘Domain Name System’, and this is responsible for translating domain names that can be read by humans into IP addresses that can then be read by a computer to render a website on a web browser. 

This helps to greatly improve the efficiency of a website, and also makes it much easier to manage a website.

Let’s say an individual manages multiple websites under their own business, using a DNS server makes it much easier to manage all of the websites because they can simply remember the server name rather than having to remember the coded IP Address. 

What Do You Need To Set Up A DNS Server On The Raspberry Pi?

In order to set up a DNS server on your Raspberry Pi computer, make sure that you have access to the Raspberry Pi itself as well as a Micro SD card that is formatted to work with Raspberry Pi.

Aside from those, all you will need is a way to interface with the device, such as a mouse or keyboard, and a power supply and ethernet cord or wifi connection. 

How Do You Set Up A DNS Server On A Raspberry Pi?

Step 1 – Update Your Raspberry Pi

Any time you plan to make major changes to your Raspberry Pi, you should make a point of updating the operating system of the unit itself beforehand. 

It’s very easy to do this. Simply head to the command terminal on the Raspberry Pi and enter the code ‘sudo apt update’, and then on the line underneath that, enter the code ‘sudo apt upgrade’. This will update the system and then restart it to apply all update changes.

Step 2 – Download The DNS Set-Up Package

Once your Raspberry Pi is ready, it is time to download the package needed to install the DNS server. We recommend using DNSmasq.

To install DNSmasq, all you need to do is head to the command terminal and enter the code ‘sudo apt install dnsmasq’.

Step 3 – Start Configuring

Now that you have the necessary package to start setting up your DNS server, you can begin configuring it to get the most out of it. 

To get your Raspberry Pi to start working as its own DNS server, head to the command terminal and enter ‘sudo nano /etc/dnsmasq.conf’. 

Step 4 – Makes Some Changes

Now that you have run the DNS command you can begin looking through the code to make some changes to allow the Raspberry Pi to run more efficiently as a DNS server. 

Head to the command terminal and find the command ‘#domain-needed’, and change it to ‘domain-needed’.

Doing this will cause the DNS server to only pick out names that contain a ‘.com’ or similar names. This helps to keep the list of domains hosted on the DNS server much simpler and more organized.

If you want to ensure that your DNS server is incredibly safe and that none of your IP addresses get leaked, then you should head to the command terminal and find the command line that reads ‘#bogus-priv’, and then replace that line with ‘bogus-priv’.

Step 5 – Finishing Up

Now that you have the DNS server installed on your Raspberry Pi computer, there are countless other ways you can make changes and optimize the use of the platform for your personal needs to create the perfect DNS server for your websites and domain names.

Head online to have a look for other ways that you can make changes to your DNS server, there are so many ways to change it that we would have a troublesome time trying to recount them all here! 

To Wrap Up

There you have it. Setting up a DNS server on your Raspberry Pi computer is actually incredibly easy, and thanks to the simple command terminal on the Raspberry Pi, it is just as easy to make changes to the DNS server further down the line.

We hope that this guide proved enlightening and that you now feel ready to head out and set up your own DNS server to make your domain management tasks much simpler. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

This allows users to stay on top of all activities occurring on a specific network and even helps them to get Linux devices to integrate with Microsoft devices within the same network.

Such a program is incredibly useful for many computer users, and as such, it is an attractive program for many, including those that make use of small Raspberry Pi computers. However, setting up Samba to run on a Raspberry Pi is often easier said than done.

Read on as we take you through an easy workflow to set up Samba on your Raspberry Pi.

How Do You Set Up A Samba Server On A Raspberry Pi Computer?

In order to get a Samba server set up on your Raspberry Pi, you will need to make sure that you have access to the Raspberry Pi itself, a MicroSD card, plenty of free space, and an external hard drive.

You will want to make sure that you have access to all of these, as they will work together to ensure that the process works seamlessly.

Step 1 – Prepare Your Raspberry Pi

Before installing any new hardware or software to a Raspberry Pi, we strongly recommend ensuring that the device is operating on the latest version of the Raspbian OS.

This can easily be done by heading to the command terminal of your Raspberry Pi computer and typing in:

“sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade”

Simply hit enter, and then restart the Raspberry Pi. This will ensure that it is running on the latest and most secure version of the Raspbian OS.

Step 2 – Start Setting Up Samba

Now that your Raspberry Pi is ready, head to the command terminal again, and you can get started on installing the Samba platform. Open a new command line in the terminal and type in:

“sudo apt-get install samba samba-common-bin”

Hit enter and the Samba platform will begin downloading and installing to your device. You will want to make sure that you have a strong internet connection to install the platform fully.

Step 3 – Create A Folder To Share In Your Network

Next, you will want to create a folder where all of the information about your server will be held. Feel free to store this folder anywhere, but we recommend making sure that wherever you store it is very secure.

You can create your folder by entering:

“mkdir/home/pi/shared”

Step 4 – Move Your Folder To Samba

Now that you have created the folder, you can add it to Samba by heading to the configuration menu for Samba. To find this, enter the following into your command terminal:

“sudo nano/etc/samba/smb.conf”

This will open up a file that contains all of the configuration information of the Samba platform. In order to implement your chosen changes, simply open up a new command line and type in:

“[raspianshare]
path = /home/pi/shared
writeable=Yes
create mask=0777
directory mask=0777
public=no”

Each of these will allow for maximum security of your server, while also making it accessible to multiple users

Once you have entered the new command to the bottom of the configuration file, you can go ahead and save those changes by typing in “‘ctrl’ + ‘x’ and ‘Y’” and then hit the ‘Enter’ key.

Step 5 – Connect Your Raspberry Pi

You will want to create a unique user for your Samba server so that you can keep it secure. In order to create a password for your Samba account, simply head to the Raspberry Pi’s command terminal and type in:

“sudo smbpasswd -a (type in your chosen password here)”

Once you have done this, it is best to restart the server to verify that your changes have been implemented, by entering the command:

“sudo systemctl restart smbd”

Now, you can go ahead and connect your Raspberry Pi to Samba Share, which will allow you to control your server via your Raspberry Pi.

Step 6 – Connect Your Other Devices To Samba

Now that your Samba server is up and running, you can connect your PC or MAC devices to the network. Let’s find out how to do it!

PC

Head to the file storage on your PC and click on the “Computer” menu option. From there, you will see the button marked “Map Network Drive”, click on this option.

This will open up a dialog box, in which you must enter some information.

Within the “Folder” textbox, you will want to enter:

“\raspberrypi(X)” (In this case ‘(X)’ should be replaced by whatever you named your Samba folder earlier. From there, you can simply click “Finish” to implement your changes.

You may be prompted to enter your Samba login details now. Make sure to do so.

At this point, your PC will now be connected to your Samba server!

MAC

Head to the Finder application, where files and other information are stored on the computer.

Once the application is open, look to the toolbar at the top of the computer, and click on the ‘Go’ button, which will present you with the ‘Connect to Server’ button.

The new dialog box will allow you to then enter the details of your server:

“smb://(X)/raspianshare” (In this case ‘(X)’ will be replaced with the IP address of your server).

Once this is done, simply hit the ‘Connect’ button. Once again, you will be asked to log in to your Samba account, at which point you can hit ‘Connect’ once again.

Frequently Asked Questions:

While some might like to stick to the more budget-friendly options like a Raspberry Pi Zero or Model A, you can expect to get the best results with something like the Raspberry Pi 3 or 4.

Some models will be able to offer superior performance compared to others, you can get great results with just about any available model.

These pieces of tech offer a low-power, compact, and overall affordable option for those looking to use it as a media center.

However, it’s so secret that the process of setting up your Raspberry Pi can be a painful one. If you want to learn how to set up your Raspberry Pi to be a media server, just keep reading.

We are going to cover what you need to know in the sections below.

6 Ways To Set Up A Raspberry Pi Media Server

1. Use Your Raspberry Pi Media Center As A Kodi Media Center

While Kodi’s best days might be behind it, it can still serve as a decent media server.

There are a number of Kodi builds available for Raspberry Pi, including some distros like OSMC and LibreElec, which can both be installed on all models.

Kodi can also be manually installed onto a pre-existing Pi operating system by using ‘sudo apt install kodi’.

Now, you might be thinking ‘won’t you just get a media center by installing Kodi, not a media server?’ Well, by downloading Kodi, you actually get both functionalities!

This is all thanks to the inclusion of DLNA/UPnP.

You won’t need a media server if you are already using a Kodi-based distro, since you will already have one.

If this is the case, you will need to enable it by opening: Settings > Services > UPnP, then enable “Share video and music libraries through UPnP”.

2. Use Plex As Your Raspberry Pi Media Server

Plex is another popular choice for creating a media server. From iOS and Android to Smart TVs, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV, Plex is used.

In order for Plex to work as a media server, it is crucial for you to understand that it will demand specifically-formatted files.

Doing this will allow the software to pull the necessary metadata and provide any details about the media files.

You can find out more about this by watching this video. Plex’s support page will also help with naming and organization.

Overall, Plex should be the top choice when it comes to picking a media server for Raspberry Pi.

3. Use ReadyMedia To Build Your Raspberry Pi DLNA Server

DLNA was formerly known as MiniDLNA, and it needs to be installed on the Raspberry Pi standard operating system.

You can start by mounting the disk drives that have the media data on them, and then use the following standard installation command: sudo apt install minidlna.

Following this, you will need to do some manual configuration. If you need some help with this task, check out this video that goes through everything you need to know.

After installation, MiniDLNA/ReadyMedia will be compatible with DLNA.UPnP-AV and any compatible device will be able to detect our Pi.

4. Pair Your Raspberry Pi Music Server With Mopidy

You achieve an audio-only media server using Mopidy, a powerful music server. Mopidy comes with support from JavaScript APIs, JSON-RPC, and Python, and can play tracks from any of the following:

• YouTube
• Spotify
• Mixcloud
• Soundcloud
• TuneIn
• A disk-based library

You can watch this video to learn how to make the most of Mopidy and Raspberry Pi.

5. Use HiFiBerryOS To Build Your Raspberry Pi Music Server

Designed to run on Raspberry Pi 3 and 4 devices, HiFiBerryOS is a reliable music streaming option. Once HiFiBerryOS is installed, you can add Bluetooth, Airplay, Spotify, and many more options to listen to your music.

You can get a great hi-fi experience, and enjoy a smooth interface that is based on Bang & Olufsen Beocreate. You can download HiFiBerryOS easily right here.

6. Use OpenMediaVault To Build Your Raspberry Pi Streaming Server

Although this is more similar to a NAS, OpenMediaVault is a good choice if you want to access your media files from any device on the same network.

The setup process is time-consuming but very simple (see the video below on how to do it).

You will get to enjoy features with a EXT3/EXT4/XFS/JFS file system support, UPS, and RAID. Not only that, but RSync, TFTP, SSH, SMB, and FTP are all supported for OMV device direct connection.

To sweeten the deal, you can get a number of plugins, and have a great home media server to use.

Bonus Set-Up Method: Pair Your Raspberry Pi with Emby To Use As A Media Server

As a bonus, you can download Emby to use as a media server for your Raspberry Pi. You can find out how to use Emby to create a media server in Raspberry Pi here.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Final Thoughts

There are a number of great routes to go down if you want to create a media server using your Raspberry Pi. You can use any of the following software options to get the job done:

• Kodi
• Plex
• ReadyMedia
• Mopidy
• HiFiBerryOS
• OpenMediaVault
• Emby

Are you experiencing difficulty in setting up a Raspberry Pi FTP Server? Don’t worry, we have you covered. 

Raspberry Pi has become a beloved tool among DIY enthusiasts, who leverage its affordability, robust capabilities, and seamless setup process to bring their creative projects to life – be it a media center, home automation, or otherwise.

However, even the most seasoned pi tinkerers can find the setup of the Raspberry Pi FTP server a challenge. 

With our expert tips, the installation process will become a whole lot easier, regardless of your proficiency level.

Let’s see what it takes!

How to Create a Simple Raspberry Pi FTP Server

For the purpose of transferring files from one device to another, the most fitting network protocol is FTP. 

And while setting up a Raspberry Pi FTP server is relatively straightforward, following our steps will get you there faster.

The protocol doesn’t have data encryption, so you must ensure you don’t transfer sensitive data. That way, you will prevent your data from exposure to other dangers.

Are there any accessories you will need?

Yes, to set up the Raspberry Pi FTP server on your device, you will need the following:

• Your Raspberry Pi needs a network cable to connect to your local network
• A computer plus a keyboard
• Power supply
• An SD card with 8+GB storage space 
• A monitor with an HDMI provision and a display cable to connect your  Raspberry Pi

The best way to install an operating system on your SD card is using a Raspberry Pi imager. It downloads the image and installs it automatically to the SD card.

Can You Use Raspberry Pi from Another Raspberry Pi?

Using a Raspberry Pi from another is possible. You can do that by downloading a terminal using the following command.

Once the installation is complete, connect an SD card reader with an SD card. 

After that, open the Raspberry Pi imager then pick the needed OS from the list presented to you.

Then, choose an SD card where you want to write your image. You can click “write,” and it will begin writing your data to the SD card once you have reviewed your selections.

If you have Windows 10, the process may fail. So here is a workaround.

1 – If you use the Raspberry Pi imager on Windows 10 with a “controlled folder access,” you will first allow the  Raspberry imager to write  the SD card. 

2 – Insert the SD card into Raspberry Pi and power it. You can log in manually if you are using the formal Raspberry Pi OS. 

Important to remember: the default username and password are “pi” and “raspberry”, respectively. But, to be safe, change the default password immediately.

How to Set up Raspberry Pi FTP Server

To set up a Raspberry Pi FTP server, there are essential components you must have and other things you should do. They include

• Changing some configurations
• Server utility
• Step up the server directory
• Modify permissions for the server user

Follow the steps below to set up a simple Raspberry Pi FTP server:

 1. Update the Systems Packages

Make sure to refresh the system package database prior to installing the FTP tool and run an upgrade thereafter. 

To accomplish the two, follow this command:

Top Tip: To confirm the upgrade, click “Y” and enter on the keyboard. Wait for the upgrade process to be complete.

2. Install the FTP Server

While there are many utilities for setting up the Raspberry Pi FTP server, opting for “vsftpd” is ideal since it will cost nothing (it’s an open source licence).

To get the “Vsftpd” software running on your Raspberry Pi, employ these specific commands:

Don’t go to the next step until the installation process is complete.

3. Configuration File Editing

Before accessing the Raspberry Pi FTP server, make sure to make some necessary adjustments to the settings.

As a starting point, alter the configuration file for vsftpd.

A nano text editing tool can help. Follow the command below.

Take out the hash symbol [#] in order to activate the lines below.

Find (CTRL +W).

Then find the line below;

After that,  change it to;

Remember to use this specified line of code at the end of the configuration file.

By executing the steps outlined above, you will restrict the server users to accessing only the FTP folder within the home directory.

Top Tip: To confirm your action, click [CTRL+X]  followed by Y before you exit. Do that once the above processes are complete.

4. FTP Directory Creation  

To transfer files successfully, you need to come up with an FTP directory. However, the root is not authorized to write permissions.

As such, you will require the files subfolder. The syntax below will help you.

Replace <user > with an appropriate user. The one on Raspberry Pi is “pi.”

Do that to [Subdirectory_name] with a name you like.

See below:

The -P argument mentioned above instructs the mkdir to generate the entire directory structure for both the FTP and Files directories.

5. Modify Permissions

Now that the directory has been established, it is important to remove write permissions on the FTP directory to prevent users from uploading files. 

The following syntax should be considered::

Also, ensure you replace <user > with the name you think is appropriate. Below is an example.

6. Start the Vsftpd Daemon Again

Run this to let the Vstfpd start again successfully.

After that, the FTP will reboot and run on your Raspberry Pi.

FTP Server Test

To validate the FTP setup, you can utilize a remote device and the widely-used FileZilla FTP client, which supports all operating systems. 

Adhere to these guidelines for a successful evaluation:

1. Install FileZilla on a remote machine. Run the command below on Obuntu.

Confirm by clicking Y, then wait for the process to be complete.

2. Get the Pi’s Ip address. Use the terminal on the Raspberry Pi to run the command below.

3. On a separate machine, launch FileZilla and enter the IP address of the Raspberry Pi. Input the username and password of the desired connection. Note that the default username is “Pi”, the password is “raspberry” and the port number is 22.

Once you have done that, click on “quickconnect” to establish a connection. If you succeed with the connection, a message saying “connection established” will pop up.

4. Drag and drop some files from the source to the directory on FileZilla on the remote device. If everything works, FileZilla will let you know with a confirmation.

The steps remain the same if you want to do local transfers and other cases.

Conclusion

If you follow our process above, you’ll have a cost-effective way of setting up a Raspberry Pi FTP server. You can also use it when transferring files between two computers.

Turning your Raspberry Pi into a reliable FTP server takes some persistence – but can be achieved with just a few essential tools and a bit of technical know-how. 

With a few tweaks to the configuration file and a password change, you’ll have a secure and functional FTP server ready to serve your file transfer needs. 

So, go ahead and unleash the full potential of your Raspberry Pi with a brand new FTP server today!

If you’re needing a bit more help with setting up a Raspberry Pi FTP server, check out this great video from RaspberryTips.

Next: Read How To Use Raspberry Pi Cluster Cases [The Complete Guide]

Unfortunately, pfSense is only available on AMD64 architecture so it is unable to operate on the Raspberry Pi. This may change in the future but until then, in this article, we’ll see how to get all the same features as pfSense on your Raspberry Pi.

What Does PfSense Do? 

Any good server needs a firewall to help prevent unwanted or unauthorized access from those that might seek to harm it in some way. But there are many firewall programs that can be found across the web, each of which promises to offer a very different experience 

One of these is pfSense, an open-source BSD-Based network security solution, that can help you easily control and manage your own firewall settings.

Having strong firewalls is incredibly important for anyone that plans to use their Raspberry Pi computer as a portable server to connect to the greater internet through.

Can PfSense Run On Raspberry Pi?

Unfortunately, PfSense cannot currently operate on any model of Raspberry Pi computer. This is particularly disappointing news to anyone planning to use their own Raspberry Pi computer as a private server.

The reason why PfSense cannot run on Raspberry Pi computers is because of the processor that Raspberry Pi computers are designed to operate on. Raspberry Pi computers make use of arm64 architecture, while the BSD Kernel of pfSense has only been developed for the amd64 architecture.

Even if you were to find a workaround to get pfSense operating on your Raspberry Pi, it would not be able to run optimally and would provide very low-quality defense to your private server. 

Are There Any Alternatives To pfSense That Operate On Raspberry Pi?

At this point, you may be feeling very disheartened upon learning that pfSense does not operate on Raspberry Pi computers. Luckily, there are a few alternative options that you can turn to in order to access a perfect firewall for your Raspberry Pi personal server.

Let’s take a look at two of the best options now.

OpenWrt

OpenWrt is one of the very best solutions for Raspberry Pi owners to access a firewall. The reason for this is that it operates entirely on a Linux-based operating system, which perfectly aligns with Raspberry Pi’s own Linux-based OS. 

OpenWrt is incredibly easy to install onto a Raspberry Pi, and once it is installed, it is just as easy to control and customize as you see fit, allowing you to easily cater your experience of the platform.

Controlling OpenWrt can all be done entirely from the command terminal on your Raspberry Pi computer. 

OpenWrt is incredibly easy to get started with, and once you have gotten started with it, it is just as easy to stay in total control of it.

IPFire

IPFire, similar to pfSense, is totally open source, which means that it is easy to implement into your Raspberry Pi computer, and even easier to seize its benefits for yourself.

It is incredibly easy to change your settings at any time while using IPFire, so you can easily alter the settings of your firewall to work perfectly with your unique private server.

As well as offering you a firewall service, IPFire also gives you access to a VPN and proxy that can help you to mask your identity when browsing the internet on your Raspberry Pi computer.

This makes IPFire a truly great all-in-one platform that can help to make you much safer every single time you head online on your Raspberry Pi computer.

Installing the app is also incredibly easy, as you can simply load the install image into the SD card of your Raspberry Pi, and then it will be able to easily run right from there!

To Wrap Up

As you can now see, unfortunately, PfSense cannot run on a Raspberry Pi computer because the arm64 architecture cannot operate such a program.

Luckily, there are a number of alternative options that you can turn to that offer a very similar and secure experience, so make sure to try them out!

Network Chuck has put together an awesome video that outlines how he built a super secure Raspberry Pi-based router. Check it out after the FAQ below!

Frequently Asked Questions

UniFi is a range of networking equipment made by Ubiquiti, with various models of routers, switches, WAPs (wireless access points), security cameras, VoIP phones, and more!

The UniFi range sits between enterprise-grade and more cost-effective home networking equipment. It offers users more flexibility and features but lacks the expense and complexity of true enterprise solutions.

In this article, we cover everything you need to know to learn how to install the UniFi Controller on the Raspberry Pi, and have created a step-by-step process for you to follow.

What You Need Before You Get Started

• Your Raspberry Pi ready to use
• A Micro SD Card
• A trustworthy Power Supply
• A capable Ethernet Cable or Wi-Fi adaptor

Optional Things To Make Your Life Easier

• A Raspberry Pi Case to keep the device safe
• A USB Keyboard to input commands
• A USB Mouse to properly use the device
• A HDMI Cable

How To Install UniFi Controller On A Raspberry Pi

Follow this in-depth but simple and step-by-step guide to installing the UniFi controller on your Raspberry Pi and you will be up and running in no time!

Step 1 – Getting Your Pi Ready For The UniFi Controller

Make sure the Raspberry Pi is running all the correct, up-to-date packages. Update all the packages with this command:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Install rng-tools to improve the UniFi controller software startup speed. This package will be utilized:

sudo apt install rng-tools

The rng-tools configuration needs to be changed slightly. Start editing by running this command:

sudo nano /etc/default/rng-tools-debian

Inside this file, find this line:

#HRNGDEVICE=/dev/hwrng

and replace it with:

HRNGDEVICE=/dev/hwrng

After the change has been made, you will need to save the file. Do this by pressing CTRL + X then Y, followed by ENTER

Restart the rng-tools service. Do this by running this command:

sudo systemctl restart rng-tools

After the service has completed the restarting process, you’re ready to move onto Part 2.

Step 2 – Installing LibSSL 1.0

Becuase of the version of Mongo DB that you will be using, you will need to download a pervious release of LibSSL.

You can download this release by using the typing the below into command terminal.

wget http://ports.ubuntu.com/pool/main/o/openssl/libssl1.0.0_1.0.2g-1ubuntu4_arm64.deb -O libssl1.0.deb

Once the package has been downloaded, install it by running the below command.

sudo dpkg -i libssl1.0.deb

You Might Like: Set Up A Raspberry Pi AirPlay Receiver

Step 3 – Installing MongoDB

In order to use the UniFi Controller, you will need to install MongoDB, the database server that UniFi uses to store their data.

First, downloand the latest version of Mongo DB 3.6 to your Pi.

wget https://repo.mongodb.org/apt/ubuntu/dists/xenial/mongodb-org/3.6/multiverse/binary-arm64/mongodb-org-server_3.6.22_arm64.deb -O mongodb.deb

Install it by running the follwing command.

sudo dpkg -i mongodb.deb

Set MongoDb to start when your Raspberry Pi boots.

sudo systemctl enable mongod

Then run the following command to start MongoDB.

sudo systemctl start mongod

Step 4 – Installing The UniFi Controller On Your Raspbery Pi

Now, we are going to need to install the UniFi Controller! Follow the steps laid out below to do this easily.

First, we will need to add the UniFi repository to the sources list. Do this by typing in the following command:

echo 'deb [arch=armhf signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/ubiquiti-archive-keyring.gpg] https://www.ui.com/downloads/unifi/debian unifi-7.4 ubiquiti' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/100-ubnt-unifi.list

Add the repositories GPG key. Use this command to do it:

curl https://dl.ui.com/unifi/unifi-repo.gpg | sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/ubiquiti-archive-keyring.gpg >/dev/null

Update the repository by running this command.

sudo apt update

Now you can install version 8 of the OpenJDK runtime, along with the UniFi software. Do this using this command.

sudo apt install openjdk-11-jre-headless unifi

You Might Like: Is Crypto Mining Possible On A Raspberry Pi?

Step 5 – Booting Up The UniFi Controller

This section will focus on all the important initial configuration that you will need to do, step by step. Let’s go through what you need to know:

The first thing you are going to need to do is to retrieve Your Raspberry Pi’s local IP address.
You can use the following command if you have terminal access to the terminal.

hostname -I

Once you have your Raspberry’s IP address at hand, you will need to go to this web address in the browser of your choosing.

 https://[YOURIPADDRESS] : 8443

Don’t worry if you run into a certificate error, as you already know which device you are connecting to.

Name your Raspberry Pi powered UniFi controller, agree to the terms and conditions, and end-user license agreement, then click the checkbox.

Click “next” to continue.

Now, you need to sign in to your Ubiquiti account or register at the official Ubiquiti website. After this is done, click “next”.

Make any changes to the settings page so that it suits your needs, and you are happy with it. Once done, click “next”.

On this screen you can connect your Pi UniFi Network controller to any of the other devices on the network, then click “next”.

Name your new Wi-Fi network and give it a strong password to make it secure. Once this has been done, click “next”.

On the last screen, you will see all of your settings and be able to review them. Make sure that you set the country and timezone before you do anything else.

Final Thoughts

In this article, we have learned how to install and configure the Unifi controller on a Raspberry Pi, a low-cost and energy-efficient device that can manage multiple Unifi devices on your network. We have followed these steps:

We have also seen how to access the web interface of the Unifi controller and how to update it when needed. By installing the Unifi controller on a Raspberry Pi, you can enjoy a powerful and flexible network management tool without spending too much money or resources.

To get more of a look at setting up the UniFi controller on a Raspberry Pi, check out the video below by the guys over at CrazyLogic.

READ NEXT: Raspberry Pi Or Jetson Nano. What’s The Difference?

If that’s the case then you’ve probably already heard about Kubernetes and the wonders it can do, but if you don’t know how to install Kubernetes on Raspberry Pi then don’t worry! I’m here to guide you through the process every step of the way.

Let’s get into it!

What Even Is Kubernetes?

Author, and technology evangelist at Red Hat, Gordon Haff describes Kubernetes as:

“… an open source platform that automates Linux container operations. It eliminates many of the manual processes involved in deploying and scaling containerized applications.”

In other words, you can cluster together groups of hosts running Linux containers, and Kubernetes helps you easily and efficiently manage those clusters.

Anything that helps you stay on top of your projects as they become more complicated is good news in our books, and Kubernetes is winning over the hearts and minds of IT professionals and hobbyists around the world.

What You Need To Run Kubernetes On A Raspberry Pi

First things first, to install Kubernetes on Raspberry Pi, you’ll need a few things before getting started:

1. A Raspberry Pi with at least 2GB RAM
   
2. USB power supply for your Raspberry Pi device
   
3. An SD card with a storage capacity of at least 8GB or more
   
4. Docker Desktop if you’re planning on building your own images
   
5. Some basic command line know-how

Top Tip: Kubernetes writes to SD cards a lot and can increase the chances of killing a card, so it’s best to buy multiple smaller cards than just a few excessively large ones.

First You Need To Flash The Initial OS

Once you’ve got everything ready, the first step is to flash the initial OS image onto your Pi’s SD card.

This can be done by flashing a standard ISO image file like the official Ubuntu ISO file for Pi on your device through Etcher.io or Raspberry Pi Imager.

You can also use the desktop version of Ubuntu if you have a USB keyboard and an HDMI cable lying around to pair up your Pi with desktop peripherals. However, for the purpose of this post, we’ll be focusing on using Ubuntu Server for installing Kubernetes on Raspberry Pi.

For Ubuntu Server on Raspberry Pi, after flashing your SD card, enable SSH by adding a blank file named ssh (without any extension) to the root directory of your SD card. This step is crucial as it allows you to connect to your Raspberry Pi remotely without requiring a monitor and keyboard for initial setup.

Alternatively, for the Desktop variant of Ubuntu, if you prefer a direct setup or need to initially configure your system with a GUI, connect your device to a monitor and keyboard. Then, enable SSH through the terminal or settings menu by following the steps provided in the Ubuntu documentation or settings interface to allow remote connections.

• Update packages using the commands

• Install OpenSSH

• Enable SSH

• Place the SD card in the SD slot on the Raspberry Pi, then turn on your devices
• Then, using the nmap code or the router’s administrative console, find out the IP addresses of all Raspberry Pis. To prevent IP addresses from changing in the future due to restarts, it is advised to set the router to reserve the IP address for each Raspberry Pi.

• Lastly, use the default password to ssh into your Raspberry Pi devices and replace the default password with a safer one of your chosing.

Install And Configure K3

In this section, we’ll be using the original ansible template and a few extra playbooks to configure and install k3. So be sure to clone the following repositories before getting started:

Ansible Playbook – k3

Ansible Playbook – Pi Configuration

Prepare Docker Container

As a prerequisite you’ll also need to download and run docker. Follow the steps outlined below to get started:

• Start the Docker container by opening up a terminal window and cd into the directory.
• Make a copy of the as
• Initiate kube-tools by running the following code

• Then approve the container by using the following command

• After validating the container, SSH into it by running

• Finally, validate ansible

Setup Playbooks

Follow the steps outlined below to set up your playbooks:

• cd into the copied ansible repository 

• Edit with the IP addresses you’ve found previously using the nmap command above and the Pis’ preferred hostname in the format shown below.

• cd into the copied k3 repository

• Make a new directory

• Add the IP addresses acquired above to in the following structure:

• Finally, set ansible_user to in.

Create RSA Key

• cd into the copied ansible repository

• Create RSA key by executing the following playbook

• Alternatively, you can generate RSA key manually by executing the following commands:

• Run the following playbook to duplicate RSA keys to all Pi devices

• Alternatively, the following command can be used to manually copy each Pi’s RSA key as well

Update Host Name

• Run the playbook below to change the hostnames on your Raspberry Pi devices

• Hostnames can also be updated manually by individually ssh’ing into every Pi device and editing the names in and , and then performing the command

Install Kubernetes On Raspberry Pi

• cd into the copied k3 repository

• Start the cluster’s provisioning using the following code

• Get kube config from the master node

• Then validate the nodes by running

How To Install Kubernetes Dashboard

The Kubernetes Dash is a web-based, general-purpose UI for controlling Kubernetes clusters. Here’s how you can install it on your Pi devices:

• cd into directory

• Initiate the dashboard from the official source

• Confirm the pod status 

• Create a read-only and an admin user for Kubernetes dashboard by typing the following commands

• Get secret for dashboard admin user by executing the following lines of code

• Launch proxy for linking to the dashboard

• Go to the following URL to open the Kubernetes dashboard in your web browser.

Source: Kubernetes.com

• Now the kubernetes dashboard and cluster should be up and running in your Pi device ready to execute applications

Top Tip: If you ever need to delete the kubernetes dashboard for any reason, open a terminal window and cd into the directory, and run the following command:

Example Kubernetes Cluster Uses For The Raspberry Pi

Once you’ve got a Kubernetes cluster up and running on your Raspberry Pi devices, there are plenty of different applications that you can use it for. 

From setting up distributed systems to creating IoT networks, and even hosting web services, the possibilities are quite literally endless.

Here are a few amazing examples of some of the most popular Raspberry Pi Kubernetes cluster uses:

• Building your own homelab and hosting your private GitHub system
• Self-hosting your private cloud
• Using it as a NAS storage solution at home or at the office
• Home automation
• Hosting your own web server
• Hosting your Minecraft game server

So, what are you waiting for? Start building your own Kubernetes cluster today!

If you’re someone who is more of a visual learner, make sure you check out this video from Andrew Malkov for his run down on how to install Kubernetes on a Raspberry Pi.

If so, you might be aware that managing and controlling a bunch of Pi devices can be a real challenge without the proper know-how. 

That’s why in this blog post, we will share some expert tips and tricks on how to effectively manage multiple Raspberry Pi devices, including how to connect them and how to keep them organized. 

So, whether you are running a home automation system (e.g. Z-wave), a media center, or any other project that requires multiple Raspberry Pi devices, this post will provide you with the knowledge you need to manage them efficiently.

Let’s dive right in!

How To Manage Multiple Raspberry Pi Devices Using Ansible

One of the best ways to control and monitor multiple Raspberry Pi devices is to use a tool called Ansible. 

Ansible Raspberry Pi is a popular open-source automation software that can help you easily manage and configure your Raspberry Pi devices. 

And the best part? Because it only uses Python and SSH, it doesn’t need you to install any additional software either!

To use Ansible with your Raspberry Pi, you will need to first install it on a computer that will serve as your Ansible control machine. Then, you can add the IP addresses of your Raspberry Pi devices to your Ansible inventory file.

Once your Raspberry Pi devices are added to the inventory file, you can use Ansible commands and playbooks to manage and configure them. 

For example, on your devices, you can use Ansible Raspberry Pi to install & manage software, receive online security & firmware updates, configure settings, and runs necessary scripts.

How To Manage Multiple Raspberry Pi Devices Using A Raspberry Pi Cluster

Another option for managing multiple Raspberry Pi devices is to use a Raspberry Pi cluster. 

In simple words, a Raspberry Pi cluster is a group of Pi devices that are connected together to work as a single computer. 

This can be useful for projects that require a lot of computing power, such as running large data analysis tasks or hosting a web server.

To create a Raspberry Pi cluster, you will need to connect your Raspberry Pi devices using a network switch and configure them to work together. There are a few different ways to do this, but one popular method is to use a tool called Kubernetes. 

Kubernetes is an open-source platform that can help you easily set up and manage a Raspberry Pi cluster.

Once your Raspberry Pi cluster is set up, you can use it just like you would use a single Raspberry Pi device. You can access the cluster using SSH, run programs on it, and even use it to run a web server or other network services.

But it’s important to note that even though Raspberry Pi clusters can allow you to manage and control all of your devices from a single location, it can still be complex to set up and requires a decent level of technical expertise and coding knowledge.

Organizing And Labeling Your Raspberry Pi Devices

In order to effectively manage multiple Raspberry Pi devices, it’s also important to keep them well-organized and labeled. This will make it much easier to keep track of your Pi devices and find the specific device you need when you need it!

One simple approach to organizing your Raspberry Pi devices is to use labels or markers to write the device’s hostname, IP address, or any other important information such as the software it is running on the case. 

You can also use stickers or labels to color-code your devices, which can be helpful if you have multiple devices with similar names or IP addresses.

Lastly, it’s also a good idea to store your Raspberry Pi devices in a dedicated container or case. This will keep them organized and protected and will make it easier to transport them if needed.

Managing and Accessing Your Raspberry Pi Devices Remotely

Once you have your Raspberry Pi devices connected and organized, the next step is to manage and access them remotely. 

This will allow you to control and configure your devices from anywhere and will make it easier to run complex projects that require multiple Raspberry Pi devices.

One common tool for managing and accessing Raspberry Pi devices remotely is SSH (Secure Shell). 

SSH is a secure protocol that allows you to remotely connect to your Raspberry Pi devices over a network and run commands on them. 

To use SSH, you will need to enable the SSH server on all of your Raspberry Pi devices and install an SSH client like PuTTY on your computer to send commands and receive data from your devices.

Alternatively, another tool that can be useful for managing multiple Raspberry Pi devices is VNC (Virtual Network Computing). 

VNC is a remote desktop software that allows you to access your Raspberry Pi devices from another computer using a graphical user interface (GUI).

This can be especially useful for remotely running programs or accessing the desktop interface of your Raspberry Pi devices.

The Takeaway: How To Manage Multiple Raspberry Pi Devices

Setting up and monitoring multiple Raspberry Pi devices can feel like a bit of a challenge for some – especially if it’s your first time or a big project. But with the right tools and techniques, it doesn’t have to be too difficult. 

Whether you are using Ansible for Raspberry Pi or setting up a Raspberry Pi cluster with Kubernetes, with some practice and patience, you can manage your devices like a pro! 

Just remember that no matter what method you choose to manage multiple Raspberry Pi devices, keeping them labeled is an essential step. 

There’s nothing worse than spending hours creating a complex project only to lose track of which device is running what and waste another few trying to figure it all out! 

To see how far this idea can be taken, have a look at this video from Gary Explains where he makes a Raspberry Pi Supercomputer!

If you are at all familiar with Raspberry Pi at all, you will be more than aware that the level of security needed for your Raspberry Pi completely and utterly depends on how you intend on using it.

So, for example, when you connect your Raspberry Pi to the internet, you should at least take the bare minimum security procedures to ensure that only the ports you need to be open are the ones that are open.

Firewalls are pieces of software that monitor and manage incoming traffic as well as outgoing network traffic.

They can allow, drop, or reject traffic altogether. Your Raspberry Pi will be functional and well-connected without a firewall in place at all.

However, they can also be made even more secure if you implement a firewall that will only allow the traffic types you permit to have.

Interested in having this kind of setup securing your Raspberry Pi (see also ‘How To Set Up Raspberry Pi Remote Desktop On Windows/ Linux/ Mac‘)? We aren’t surprised! So, let’s look at how you can do this!

Installation

Uncomplicated Firewall, otherwise known as UFW, is a frontend used for managing firewall rules on Linux (see also ‘How To Update RetroArch‘).

This is a firewall tool of configuration that will run on top of iptables.

Since iptables have a fairly complicated syntax, using something like UFW to perform this kind of configuration without being too low-key is a priortiy when it comes to being security conscious.

However, before you start up, you should always update or upgrade all of the packages you have existing on your Raspberry Pi operating system.

You can install the firewall package in one of two different ways.

Firstly, you could use the graphical package manager which is available automatically with Raspberry Pi operating systems.

You can open this through the navigation system of:

• Menu > Preferences > Add/ Remove Software

Then search for “UFW” and highlight the package to install and confirm installation via the ‘OK’ button.

As an alternative, you could also choose to install your UFW package quickly and very easily by using a command line, if you want to use the APT package manager.

You can use the command: “sudo apt install UFW”.

Managing Your Raspberry Pi Firewall Via UFW

Once you have UFW installed, you are already part way there. Now you need to turn it on, however, first, check that it is enabled.

To do this, run the command:

• “Sudo ufw status verbose”

Ensure You Allow Connections

Perhaps you are connecting your Raspberry Pi through a remote location before you end up enabling the UFW firewall.

If this is the case then it is better if you can explicitly allow for incoming SSH connections via the port 22, which is the well-known default SSH port.

Should you not do this beforehand, you will end up locking yourself out and will end up physically needing to connect a monitor and a keyboard to give yourself terminal access to your Raspberry Pi, which is the absolute last thing anyone wants to end up doing!

So, to properly configure your UFW firewall to allow for any incoming SSH connections, you can use a command:

• “Sudo UFW allow 22”

If you want to allow incoming connections which are connecting from a specific IP address, you will have to involve a directive “from” to specify the connection’s source.

So, if you wanted to allow access to port 22 from your work laptop with an IP address that was something like 184.169.4. 200 use to any port, then follow this with the port number.

This would look something like this as a command:

• “Sudo UFW allow from 184.199.4.200 to any port 22”

Know How To Turn On Your Raspberry Pi Firewall

Once you have configured your Raspberry Pi firewall successfully to allow for any incoming SSH connections, you then enable it through typing the following command:

• “Sudo UFW enable”

Do note, you will likely receive a warning that by enabling the firewall you may experience disruptions in any existing SSH connections you have. Simply type in “y” and press enter after this.

Check The Status & Rules Of The Firewall

If you use the command:

• “UFW enable”

Then this will turn on UFW and any applicable rules.

You can also then verify that UFW is running as you can issue the following command to check:

• “Sudo UFW status verbose”

As well as this, the command will also end up showing you any and all active firewall rules.

So, it is very useful when you want to do a full checkup on the system.

Don’t Forget To Deny Connections

While it is equally as important to allow port access, it is just as vital to deny port access as well.

The default on the policy for all incoming connections will be set automatically to “Deny”.

If you have not changed this, then UFW will automatically block any and all incoming connections, unless, of course, you specifically allow for connection to this port.

So, if you had opened port 22, but the server for your Raspberry Pi is being attacked, you will need to deny all of the connections to this port.

To do this, you can use another command such as this:

• “Sudo UFW deny 22”

While we hope this is not something you need to do, it is vital to know how to just encase the worst.

You Can Delete Existing Rules Too

In order to delete any existing rules, you will need to know the rule number for the one you want to delete.

In order to get the list you which you can get this information from, you can run the command:

• “Sudo UFW status numbered”

This command will show you the list of rules that have been made for your Raspberry Pi firewall, this means each and every identified via a unique number.

As an example, if you wanted to delete the rule there for SSH communication i.e. number 1, this command could easily be executed through this command:

• “Sudo UFW delete 1”

You will usually be requested to confirm before deletion. If you are sure to delete this then type in “Y” and then press the enter key.

This would cancel SSH communication in IPv4, however, it would not cancel the one for IPv6.

If you want to delete the rule IPv6, be sure to consult the existing rule listing once more since the ID code will have been altered.

You Can Also Disable The Firewall If You Want

Should you have a connectivity issue, you will want to disable the Raspberry Pi firewall, and then you will need to retreat to test if you can connect again.

In order to disable the UFW firewall, you will need to use the following command:

• “Sudo UFW disable”

This command would fully disable the firewall for UFW on your Raspberry Pi.

Obviously, it is best not to have to do this, but should you end up needing to, it is best to know exactly how to go about doing so.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Final Thoughts

Having UFW is a powerful piece of software that can bring about massive improvements in the overall security of your Raspberry Pi software when it is properly configured.

If you enable the UFW firewall, all of the communications running to and from your Raspberry Pi to pass-through this specific piece of software, it protects you from unwanted attacks, and any attempted connections from anyone who is unauthorized to be using your device.

Whatever the reason, it’s relatively easy to set up and manage multiple users on a Raspberry Pi.

In this article, we’ll go through everything you need to know about how to manage users in Raspberry Pi, so be sure to read it till the end!

Raspberry Pi User Management: How To Add A New User

Adding a new user to your Raspberry Pi is a simple process. Just open up a terminal window via the desktop and type the following command:

• sudo adduser <username>

Replace <username> with the username you want to use and press the Enter key. Once you hit Enter, you’ll be prompted to enter and confirm a password for the new user.

After that, you’ll be asked to provide some additional information, like the user’s full name. You can just keep hitting Enter to skip these questions and just go with the default values.

Once the process is complete, the new user will be added to your system and you can start using it right away.

The new user will also have an account-specific folder created automatically in the Home Folder. To access this new subfolder, e Manager from the Applications Menu under Accessories or from the TaskBar, and search for it under the Home Folder.

How Do I Create A Sudo User?

If you’ve followed all the steps above correctly, you should be able to log in to the new user account.

However, it’s important to note that this new user most likely won’t have sudo privileges and user permissions set up by default.

If you want to replace your old default Pi user account entirely and give this new user account sudo privileges, you can do so by adding the new user to the sudo group.

It’s quite straightforward, all you have to do is open up a terminal and type the following command:

• sudo adduser <username> sudo

And that’s about it, your new account should now be able to use the sudo command.

How To Add Users To A Group?

Another thing you might need to do after creating a new user in your Raspberry Pi is to add it to a few groups.

Again, this process is fairly simple, all you have to do is use the terminal and type the following add user command:

• sudo adduser <username> <groupname>

Replace <username> with the username of the user you want to modify, and <groupname> with the name of the group you want to add them to. Remember, you can add a user to multiple groups by just running the command multiple times.

There are a few groups that you might want to consider adding your new user to. For example, as mentioned previously, the sudo group will give them the ability to run commands with sudo, while the gpio group will let them access the GPIO pins on your Raspberry Pi.

You can confirm which groups a specific user is a part of by using the command:

• $ groups <username>

After inputting the command, you should get a response like this:

• newuser: newuser sudo gpio adm dialout cdrom

How Do I Remove A User From Raspberry Pi?

If you ever feel the need to delete users from Raspberry Pi, you’ll be glad to know that deleting a user is just as easy as creating a new one. Just open up a terminal and type the following command:

• sudo deluser <username>

Just remember to replace <username> with the username of the user you want to delete. Once you hit Enter, the user will be removed from your system, however, the user’s Home Folder will remain intact.

If you want to clear up space and delete both the user and their home folder, add the –remove-home option to the command like this:

• sudo deluser –remove-home <username>

With this option, everything associated with the user will be deleted, including the user’s Home Folder so use it with caution.

How To List Users In Raspberry Pi?

If you’ve already created a bunch of users on your Pi and are now wondering how to list users in Raspberry Pi and figure out how many of them are active, then you’re in luck.

Listing all the users is a simple process. Just open up a terminal and type the following command:

• cat /etc/passwd

Because all the users on the same system are stored in the /etc/passwd file, this will print out a list of all the active users on your system, along with some additional information like their user ID, home directory, and shell.

If you just want to see a list of the user names, you can use the grep command to filter the output:

• cat /etc/passwd | grep -v ‘/bin/false’

This will print out a list of all the users on your system, without any additional information cluttering up the terminal.

How Do I Change A User’s Raspberry Pi Login Password?

If you need to change a user’s Raspberry Pi login password, you can do so using the passwd command. Just open up a terminal and type:

• passwd <username>

Replace <username> with the username of the user whose password you want to change.

You’ll be prompted to enter and confirm the new password. Once you’re done, the user’s password will be updated.

Alternatively, you can also change the password using the desktop interface. Just go to Menu > Preferences > Raspberry Pi Configuration> System. Then, click on the “Users” tab and select the user whose password you want to change.

How To Set Up Automatic Login?

Lastly, if you don’t want to enter a password every time so you can quickly boot up or log in to your Raspberry Pi , you can set up automatic login.

To do this, open up the Raspberry Pi Configuration tool by going to Menu > Preferences > Raspberry Pi Configuration. Then, go to the “System” tab and select the “Boot” option. From there, you can choose to either boot into Desktop or CLI.

If you want to automatically login to the desktop, select “Desktop / Auto login to desktop” and enter the username of the user you want to login as.

If you want to automatically login to the command line, select “CLI / Auto login to CLI” and enter the username of the user you want to login as.

Once you’ve made your selection, click “OK” and reboot your Pi for changes to take effect. You’ll now find that the system will always automatically log you in as the selected user after every reboot.

The Takeaway

As you can see, managing users on Raspberry Pi can be a simple process, especially if you use the appropriate terminal commands.

With just a few commands, you can add, delete, and change passwords for any user on your system. You can also set up automatic login to make things even easier.

Just remember to be careful when giving users sudo access or access to GPIO pins, as they could potentially damage your system if not used correctly or responsibly!

Note: If you are more of a ‘visual learner, the great video below will take you on a simple step-by-step walkthrough on how to easily setup and manage users: