Finally my RPi has been delivered! After unboxing it I really couldn’t image that is was that tiny. First thing I did, was grabbing my 8GB SanDisk SD-Card and copying the rootfs debian6-19-04-2012 onto it.
After plugging the sd card in the RPi and connecting power supply the problems came up…
This article is not a detailed guide how to set up your RPi. It just describes my second afford to get the RPi booting flawlessly in a few words I can refer to in the future.
Problems I had
- device didn’t boot at all
- no serial output on the GPIOs
- login failures with definitely correct password
- mouse/keyboard stopped working after startx
Workthrough
Prepare the SD-Card as described here: elinux.org/RPi_Easy_SD_Card_Setup After replugging it I used gparted on my laptop to resize the partitions to fill the card.
My card is an 8GB SanDisk Extreme class 10, which is too fast for the stock kernel and the RPi doesn’t boot. Therefor we need a newer kernel. Grab the tarball from github.com/raspberrypi/firmware/tree/master/boot and overwrite the files on the sd card.
Now plug the card into the RPi and boot it. At this time I saw it was alive, I got the kernel output on the serial interface!
You should be able to login with pi:raspberry Well, I wasn’t… So sd card back into my laptop. I just edited the last line in /media/xyz/etc/shadow to another password. Then the login worked for me.
If you want to be able to login as root (make sure to change pw) type
sudo -i
passwd
To get the right timezone type:
dpkg-reconfigure tzdata
Change the update server to one nearby:
vim.tiny /etc/apt/sources.list
Then upgrade your installation:
apt-get update
apt-get dist-upgrade
If I now try to start the GUI with startx mouse and keyboard stop working. Due to the incredible fast sd card we need a newer kernel one more time. Get rpi-update as shown at github.com/Hexxeh/rpi-update/blob/master/README.md Maybe you get dependency issues
apt-get install ca-certificates git-core
Another thing I noticed is that overscan is activated by default (maybe tv specific?). There are several things that can be set in the config.txt: elinux.org/RPi_config.txt For me it’s fine with these lines in /boot/config.txt
# create the file
vim.tiny /boot/config.txt
# insert the following
hdmi_force_hotplug=1
config_hdmi_boost=4
hdmi_group=1
hdmi_mode=32
disable_overscan=1
Update 22.07.2012: config.txt
Thanks to Patschi, he posted a link to a really nice description on the config.txt! You can read it here:
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################################################################################
## Raspberry Pi Configuration Settings
##
## Details taken from the eLinux wiki 2012/06/27
## For up-to-date information please refer to wiki page.
##
## Wiki Location : http://elinux.org/RPi_config.txt
##
################################################################################
################################################################################
## Standard Definition Video Settings
################################################################################
## sdtv_mode
## defines the TV standard for composite output
##
## Value Description
## -------------------------------------------------------------------------
## 0 Normal NTSC (Default)
## 1 Japanese version of NTSC - no pedestal
## 2 Normal PAL
## 3 Brazilian version of PAL - 525/60 rather than 625/50, different subcarrier
##
#sdtv_mode=0
## sdtv_aspect
## defines the aspect ratio for composite output
##
## Value Description
## -------------------------------------------------------------------------
## 1 4:3 (Default)
## 2 14:9
## 3 16:9
##
#sdtv_aspect=1
################################################################################
## High Definition Video Settings
################################################################################
## hdmi_safe
## Use "safe mode" settings to try to boot with maximum hdmi compatibility.
##
## Value Description
## -------------------------------------------------------------------------
## 0 Disabled (Default)
## 1 Enabled (this does: hdmi_force_hotplug=1, config_hdmi_boost=4, hdmi_group=1, hdmi_mode=1, disable_overscan=0)
##
#hdmi_safe=1
## hdmi_force_hotplug
## overrides the normal selection of composite if no HDMI is detected
##
## Value Description
## -------------------------------------------------------------------------
## 0 Disabled (Default)
## 1 Use HDMI mode even if no HDMI monitor is detected
##
#hdmi_force_hotplug=1
## hdmi_drive
## chooses between HDMI and DVI modes
##
## Value Description
## -------------------------------------------------------------------------
## 1 Normal DVI mode (No sound)
## 2 Normal HDMI mode (Sound will be sent if supported and enabled)
##
#hdmi_drive=2
## hdmi_group
## defines the HDMI type
##
## [rgh] I think values are 0 and 1 really, and the default 0 for CEA - at least with the latest firmware as of May 25th 2012.
##
## Value Description
## -------------------------------------------------------------------------
## 1 CEA (Default)
## 2 DMT
##
#hdmi_group=1
## hdmi_mode
## defines screen resolution in CEA or DMT format
##
## H means 16:9 variant (of a normally 4:3 mode).
## 2x means pixel doubled (i.e. higher clock rate, with each pixel repeated twice)
## 4x means pixel quadrupled (i.e. higher clock rate, with each pixel repeated four times)
##
## Value hdmi_group=CEA hdmi_group=DMT
## -------------------------------------------------------------------------
## 1 VGA 640x350 85Hz
## 2 480p 60Hz 640x400 85Hz
## 3 480p 60Hz H 720x400 85Hz
## 4 720p 60Hz 640x480 60Hz
## 5 1080i 60Hz 640x480 72Hz
## 6 480i 60Hz 640x480 75Hz
## 7 480i 60Hz H 640x480 85Hz
## 8 240p 60Hz 800x600 56Hz
## 9 240p 60Hz H 800x600 60Hz
## 10 480i 60Hz 4x 800x600 72Hz
## 11 480i 60Hz 4x H 800x600 75Hz
## 12 240p 60Hz 4x 800x600 85Hz
## 13 240p 60Hz 4x H 800x600 120Hz
## 14 480p 60Hz 2x 848x480 60Hz
## 15 480p 60Hz 2x H 1024x768 43Hz DO NOT USE
## 16 1080p 60Hz 1024x768 60Hz
## 17 576p 50Hz 1024x768 70Hz
## 18 576p 50Hz H 1024x768 75Hz
## 19 720p 50Hz 1024x768 85Hz
## 20 1080i 50Hz 1024x768 120Hz
## 21 576i 50Hz 1152x864 75Hz
## 22 576i 50Hz H 1280x768 reduced blanking
## 23 288p 50Hz 1280x768 60Hz
## 24 288p 50Hz H 1280x768 75Hz
## 25 576i 50Hz 4x 1280x768 85Hz
## 26 576i 50Hz 4x H 1280x768 120Hz reduced blanking
## 27 288p 50Hz 4x 1280x800 reduced blanking
## 28 288p 50Hz 4x H 1280x800 60Hz
## 29 576p 50Hz 2x 1280x800 75Hz
## 30 576p 50Hz 2x H 1280x800 85Hz
## 31 1080p 50Hz 1280x800 120Hz reduced blanking
## 32 1080p 24Hz 1280x960 60Hz
## 33 1080p 25Hz 1280x960 85Hz
## 34 1080p 30Hz 1280x960 120Hz reduced blanking
## 35 480p 60Hz 4x 1280x1024 60Hz
## 36 480p 60Hz 4x H 1280x1024 75Hz
## 37 576p 50Hz 4x 1280x1024 85Hz
## 38 576p 50Hz 4x H 1280x1024 120Hz reduced blanking
## 39 1080i 50Hz reduced blanking 1360x768 60Hz
## 40 1080i 100Hz 1360x768 120Hz reduced blanking
## 41 720p 100Hz 1400x1050 reduced blanking
## 42 576p 100Hz 1400x1050 60Hz
## 43 576p 100Hz H 1400x1050 75Hz
## 44 576i 100Hz 1400x1050 85Hz
## 45 576i 100Hz H 1400x1050 120Hz reduced blanking
## 46 1080i 120Hz 1440x900 reduced blanking
## 47 720p 120Hz 1440x900 60Hz
## 48 480p 120Hz 1440x900 75Hz
## 49 480p 120Hz H 1440x900 85Hz
## 50 480i 120Hz 1440x900 120Hz reduced blanking
## 51 480i 120Hz H 1600x1200 60Hz
## 52 576p 200Hz 1600x1200 65Hz
## 53 576p 200Hz H 1600x1200 70Hz
## 54 576i 200Hz 1600x1200 75Hz
## 55 576i 200Hz H 1600x1200 85Hz
## 56 480p 240Hz 1600x1200 120Hz reduced blanking
## 57 480p 240Hz H 1680x1050 reduced blanking
## 58 480i 240Hz 1680x1050 60Hz
## 59 480i 240Hz H 1680x1050 75Hz
## 60 1680x1050 85Hz
## 61 1680x1050 120Hz reduced blanking
## 62 1792x1344 60Hz
## 63 1792x1344 75Hz
## 64 1792x1344 120Hz reduced blanking
## 65 1856x1392 60Hz
## 66 1856x1392 75Hz
## 67 1856x1392 120Hz reduced blanking
## 68 1920x1200 reduced blanking
## 69 1920x1200 60Hz
## 70 1920x1200 75Hz
## 71 1920x1200 85Hz
## 72 1920x1200 120Hz reduced blanking
## 73 1920x1440 60Hz
## 74 1920x1440 75Hz
## 75 1920x1440 120Hz reduced blanking
## 76 2560x1600 reduced blanking
## 77 2560x1600 60Hz
## 78 2560x1600 75Hz
## 79 2560x1600 85Hz
## 80 2560x1600 120Hz reduced blanking
## 81 1366x768 60Hz
## 82 1080p 60Hz
## 83 1600x900 reduced blanking
## 84 2048x1152 reduced blanking
## 85 720p 60Hz
## 86 1366x768 reduced blanking
##
#hdmi_mode=1
## hdmi_force_hotplug
## Make RPi ignore hotplug signal from display and assume it is asserted.
##
#hdmi_force_hotplug=0
## config_hdmi_boost
## configure the signal strength of the HDMI interface.
##
## Value Description
## -------------------------------------------------------------------------
## 0 (Default)
## 1
## 2
## 3
## 4 Try if you have interference issues with HDMI
## 5
## 6
## 7 Maximum
##
#config_hdmi_boost=0
################################################################################
## Overscan Video Settings
################################################################################
## overscan_left
## number of pixels to skip on left
##
#overscan_left=0
## overscan_right
## number of pixels to skip on right
##
#overscan_right=0
## overscan_top
## number of pixels to skip on top
##
#overscan_top=0
## overscan_bottom
## number of pixels to skip on bottom
##
#overscan_bottom=0
## disable_overscan
## set to 1 to disable overscan
##
## Value Description
## -------------------------------------------------------------------------
## 0 Overscan Enabled (Default)
## 1 Overscan Disabled
##
#disable_overscan=1
################################################################################
## Framebuffer Video Settings
################################################################################
## framebuffer_width
## console framebuffer width in pixels. Default is display width minus overscan.
##
#framebuffer_width=0
## framebuffer_height
## console framebuffer height in pixels. Default is display height minus overscan.
##
#framebuffer_height=0
## framebuffer_depth
## console framebuffer depth in bits per pixel.
##
## Value Description
## -------------------------------------------------------------------------
## 8 valid, but default RGB palette makes an unreadable screen
## 16 (Default)
## 24 looks better but has corruption issues as of 2012/06/15
## 32 has no corruption issues but needs framebuffer_ignore_alpha=1 and shows the wrong colors as of 2012/06/15
##
#framebuffer_height=16
## framebuffer_ignore_alpha
## set to 1 to disable alpha channel. Helps with 32bit.
##
## Value Description
## -------------------------------------------------------------------------
## 0 Enable Alpha Channel (Default)
## 1 Disable Alpha Channel
##
#framebuffer_ignore_alpha=0
################################################################################
## Test Settings
################################################################################
## test_mode
## enable test sound/image during boot for manufacturing test.
##
## Value Description
## -------------------------------------------------------------------------
## 0 Disable Test Mod (Default)
## 1 Enable Test Mode
##
#test_mode=0
################################################################################
## Cache Settings
################################################################################
## disable_l2cache
## disable arm access to GPU's L2 cache. Needs corresponding L2 disabled kernel.
##
## Value Description
## -------------------------------------------------------------------------
## 0 Enable L2 Cache (Default)
## 1 Disable L2 cache
##
#disable_l2cache=0
################################################################################
## Boot Option Settings
################################################################################
## disable_commandline_tags
## Stops start.elf from filling in ATAGS (memory from 0x100) before launching kernel
##
#disable_commandline_tags=0
## cmdline (string)
## Command line parameters. Can be used instead of cmdline.txt file
##
#cmdline=""
## kernel (string)
## Alternative name to use when loading kernel.
##
#kernel=""
## kernel_address
## address to load kernel.img file at
##
#kernel_address=0x00000000
## ramfsfile (string)
## ramfs file to load
##
#ramfsfile=""
## device_tree_address
## address to load device_tree at
##
#device_tree_address=0x00000000
## init_uart_baud
## initial uart baud rate. Default 115200
##
#init_uart_baud=115200
## init_uart_clock
## initial uart clock. Default 3000000
##
#init_uart_clock=3000000
## init_emmc_clock
## initial emmc clock. Default 50000000 (50mhz default. increasing this can speedup your SD-card)
##
#init_emmc_clock=50000000
## boot_delay
## Waits for given number of seconds in start.elf before loading kernel.img.
##
#boot_delay=0
################################################################################
## Overclocking Settings
################################################################################
## arm_freq
## frequency of ARM in MHz. Default 700.
##
#arm_freq=700
## gpu_freq
## Sets core_freq, h264_freq, isp_freq, v3d_freq together.
##
#gpu_freq=250
## core_freq
## frequency of GPU processor core in MHz. Default 250.
##
#core_freq=250
## h264_freq
## frequency of hardware video block in MHz. Default 250.
##
#h264_freq=250
## isp_freq
## frequency of image sensor pipeline block in MHz. Default 250.
##
#isp_freq=250
## v3d_freq
## frequency of 3D block in MHz. Default 250.
##
#v3d_freq=250
## sdram_freq
## frequency of SDRAM in MHz. Default 400.
##
#sdram_freq=400
################################################################################
## Voltage Settings
##
## WARNING: Setting any of the parameters which over volt your Raspberry Pi
## will set a permanent bit within the SOC and your warranty is void. So If
## you care about the warranty do not adjust voltage.
##
################################################################################
## over_voltage
## ARM/GPU core voltage adjust.
##
## Value Description
## -------------------------------------------------------------------------
## -16 0.8 V
## -15 0.825 V
## -14 0.85 V
## -13 0.875 V
## -12 0.9 V
## -11 0.925 V
## -10 0.95 V
## -9 0.975 V
## -8 1.0 V
## -7 1.025 V
## -6 1.05 V
## -5 1.075 V
## -4 1.1 V
## -3 1.125 V
## -2 1.15 V
## -1 1.175 V
## 0 1.2 V (Default)
## 1 1.225 V
## 2 1.25 V
## 3 1.275 V
## 4 1.3 V
## 5 1.325 V
## 6 1.35 V
## 7 1.375 V
## 8 1.4 V
##
#over_voltage=0
## over_voltage_sdram
## Sets over_voltage_sdram_c, over_voltage_sdram_i, over_voltage_sdram_p together
##
## Value Description
## -------------------------------------------------------------------------
## -16 0.8 V
## -15 0.825 V
## -14 0.85 V
## -13 0.875 V
## -12 0.9 V
## -11 0.925 V
## -10 0.95 V
## -9 0.975 V
## -8 1.0 V
## -7 1.025 V
## -6 1.05 V
## -5 1.075 V
## -4 1.1 V
## -3 1.125 V
## -2 1.15 V
## -1 1.175 V
## 0 1.2 V (Default)
## 1 1.225 V
## 2 1.25 V
## 3 1.275 V
## 4 1.3 V
## 5 1.325 V
## 6 1.35 V
## 7 1.375 V
## 8 1.4 V
##
#over_voltage_sdram=0
## over_voltage_sdram_c
## SDRAM controller voltage adjust.
##
## Value Description
## -------------------------------------------------------------------------
## -16 0.8 V
## -15 0.825 V
## -14 0.85 V
## -13 0.875 V
## -12 0.9 V
## -11 0.925 V
## -10 0.95 V
## -9 0.975 V
## -8 1.0 V
## -7 1.025 V
## -6 1.05 V
## -5 1.075 V
## -4 1.1 V
## -3 1.125 V
## -2 1.15 V
## -1 1.175 V
## 0 1.2 V (Default)
## 1 1.225 V
## 2 1.25 V
## 3 1.275 V
## 4 1.3 V
## 5 1.325 V
## 6 1.35 V
## 7 1.375 V
## 8 1.4 V
##
#over_voltage_sdram_c=0
## over_voltage_sdram_i
## SDRAM I/O voltage adjust.
##
## Value Description
## -------------------------------------------------------------------------
## -16 0.8 V
## -15 0.825 V
## -14 0.85 V
## -13 0.875 V
## -12 0.9 V
## -11 0.925 V
## -10 0.95 V
## -9 0.975 V
## -8 1.0 V
## -7 1.025 V
## -6 1.05 V
## -5 1.075 V
## -4 1.1 V
## -3 1.125 V
## -2 1.15 V
## -1 1.175 V
## 0 1.2 V (Default)
## 1 1.225 V
## 2 1.25 V
## 3 1.275 V
## 4 1.3 V
## 5 1.325 V
## 6 1.35 V
## 7 1.375 V
## 8 1.4 V
##
#over_voltage_sdram_i=0
## over_voltage_sdram_p
## SDRAM phy voltage adjust.
##
## Value Description
## -------------------------------------------------------------------------
## -16 0.8 V
## -15 0.825 V
## -14 0.85 V
## -13 0.875 V
## -12 0.9 V
## -11 0.925 V
## -10 0.95 V
## -9 0.975 V
## -8 1.0 V
## -7 1.025 V
## -6 1.05 V
## -5 1.075 V
## -4 1.1 V
## -3 1.125 V
## -2 1.15 V
## -1 1.175 V
## 0 1.2 V (Default)
## 1 1.225 V
## 2 1.25 V
## 3 1.275 V
## 4 1.3 V
## 5 1.325 V
## 6 1.35 V
## 7 1.375 V
## 8 1.4 V
##
#over_voltage_sdram_p=0