I received a request to compile an easy manual to install the Debian OS (Bullseye) on a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B. You asked for it and here is the manual/guide.
Download the PDF file that contains the manual/guide HERE
This guide will show you how to set up Bullseye on a Raspberry Pi computer. It is today very easy to get your Pi up and running. This guide assumes that you have limited knowledge of the Linux based Raspberry Pi OS. We will install the Debian operating system to the Raspberry Pi. Yes I know there are hundreds of videos and examples of how to install and setup a PI. I am going to explain what worked for me that resulted in a successful installation and working setup.
Please note this setup worked for me and I have a fully working PI up and running on a Raspberry Pi 3 (b) with Debian version: 11. (Bullseye)
To write the OS to an SD Card for the Raspberry Pi I used a very nice and versatile piece of software called Raspberry Pi Imager. Using the imager is a simple way to image your microSD card with Raspbian, the official Raspberry Pi operating system, and other operating systems.
Note: You will need to be connected to the Internet the first time for the Raspberry Pi Imager to download the OS that you choose.
Download and install Raspberry Pi Imager to a computer with an SD card reader. Put the SD card you'll use with your Raspberry Pi into the reader and run Raspberry Pi Imager. Watch this 45-second video to learn how to install an operating system using Raspberry Pi Imager. Take note that I changed the settings of Pi Imager to include the following:
Image customization options - to always use
Enable SSH (Use Password authentication)
Let username and password - Username: pi Password: xxxxxx (you choose)
Set locale settings – Time Zone: You choose Keyboard Layout: You choose
Note: I did not configure wireless LAN as I use the Ethernet connection.
Persistent Settings
Play sound when finished
Eject media when finished
Enable telemetry
All selected.
Click Save
You are now ready to write the image to the SDCard. Ensure that you selected the correct storage (SDCard) as choosing the wrong drive will erase everything on that drive. Click on write. The image will now be written to the selected SDCard. After writing, it will verified the firmware and then you will get a message that the write is completed and you can remove the SDCard.
Before continuing install the following two programs to your windows computer:
PuTTY – Use to access the Raspberry Pi
Advanced Port Scanner -Use to obtain the IP address of the Raspberry Pi
I take a short cut route and do not install a keyboard, mouse or HDMI screen to the Raspberry Pi. However I would advise beginners to connect a keyboard, mouse and HDMI screen to the PI. You have a choice to use the keyboard, mouse or HDMI screen or running the Pi Headless and excess the unit via VNC or PuTTY
Lets continue. Insert the Ethernet cable to the Ethernet port.
You can now insert the SDCard into the slot of the Raspberry Pi. Boot up the Pi and wait till its finished. If you attached the keyboard, mouse and HDMI screen you do not have to use VNC. The Pi should bootup with the OS on the screen and you can use the mouse and keyboard to do further setup of the OS. Your IP address will also be displayed on the main screen. Write it down as you will need it to configure a static IP address as explained later in the script. Skip the two following paragraphs and continue – “At the command prompt type............”
For those who is brave enough lets setup the OS headless. Ensure that your Windows computer is on the same Router as the Raspberry Pi. Open the Advanced Port Scanner program and set the correct IP scanning range just below the Scan button. Leave other settings as is. Click the Scan Button. The scanning will start. Wait till the program stops scanning. Now look for the columns Manufacturer and MAC Address. Under the Manufacturer column you will see Raspberry Pi Foundation and the MAC Address next to it. To the left in the IP column will be your raspberry pi’s IP address. Write it down as you will need the address for PuTTY to access the Pi headless.
Now open PuTTY and enter the IP address in the slot named Host Name or IP Address. Leave the port setting 22 and click Open. You will be greated with a new screen asking for your Login as: and Password. Enter the Username and Password that you set in settings of the Raspberry Pi Image. Once you logged in we can now change a few settings for the Raspberry Pi.
At the command prompt type: sudo raspi-config
The configuration menu will open. I only make changes to two headings. You can always later again access the config menu and make changes. The two headings are Interfaces and Localisation. I selected the following settings:
Interfaces
Select VNC
Remote GPIO or Serial depending on how you going to interface your radio, if you want to interface the PI to a radio.
Localisation
Change -
Set Locale
Set Timezone
Set Keyboard
Set WLAN Country
The above settings is straight forward and I am not going to go into detail here.
Click OK and the menu will close. Now open a terminal and type: sudo reboot This will reboot the raspberry pi.
It is now time to access the Pi via VNC client from your Windows computer.
I use VNC Connect by Real VNC. Once installed open the program and a VNC viewer screen will appear. Right click and select New Connection. A new window will open. Just add your Raspberry Pi IP address in the VNC Server column. Leave the other setting as is. Click OK. A new window will open asking for your Raspberry Pi Username and Password. This is the same username and password that you used in PuTTY. Click OK. Another screen either Red or yellow warning screen will open just click OK and you will see your Raspberry Pi main screen on you Window Computer.
But the resolution and screen size of the Pi might not be correct. Lets fix this quickly.
Set VNC resolution for the Raspberry Pi
Step 1:
sudo nano /boot/config.txt
as this file needs root permission to edit we use sudo. Nano is used for editing.
Pi headless using
standard VNC server and I change this in the boot config file.
# uncomment to force a console size. By default it will be display's size minus
# overscan.
framebuffer_width=1900
framebuffer_height=1024
Step 2:
With the framebuffer set comment the following line out:
#dtoverlay=vc4-kms-v3d
Commenting out then save, exit and reboot got me full resolution on VNC. Use “ctrl+x” “y” “enter” to exit nano and save your changes. Now reboot the Pi.
Once rebooted it is not a bad time to set a static ip-address for the Pi.
Set Static IP-Address (Optional - Need not be set if your router use dhcp allocation.)
Open a new Terminal window. We will setup a static ip address by editing the dhcpcd.conf file. See the example in the bottom of the file. You can use "nano" editor. To save and exit the editor, press ctrl-x and answer Y to save:
sudo nano /etc/dhcpcd.conf
# Example static IP configuration:
interface eth0
static ip_address=192.168.0.10/24
#static ip6_address=fd51:42f8:caae:d92e::ff/64
static routers=192.168.0.1
static domain_name_servers=192.168.0.1 8.8.8.8
Enter the IP address allocated to the PI by your router under {static ip address=}
Enter your routers IP address under {static routers =}
Enter you routers IP address under {static domain_name_servers=}
Now is a good time to reboot your Raspberry.
sudo reboot
enter
Your Raspberry PI is now ready to use once the reboot has been completed.
However it is always a good thing to keep your OS up to date. On the top right side of you Pi screen an icon will show up from time to time to inform you that there are updates for your Pi. Click on the icon and install the updates. However you can also use a terminal
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade ;( Optional - You going to need a big cup of coffee for this one to finish.)
enter
Updates / Upgrades will start. Reboot once finished.
sudo reboot
enter
Congratulations you should have a working Raspberry Pi with Bullseye OS installed. Enjoy!
I trust that this “manual” will be of use to newcomers to the wonderful world of Linux and Raspberry Pi.
Compiled by Johan ZS1I
Mossel Bay
28 November 2022
