Setting up the Raspberry Pi

Setting up the Raspberry Pi

The Raspberry Pi is a highly versatile microcomputer widely used across numerous IoT applications. Setting up your Raspberry Pi is the initial step toward harnessing its capabilities in conjunction with Zoho IOT for a variety of use cases, such as monitoring room climate or tracking soil moisture.

In this guide, we will walk you through the basic setup of your Raspberry Pi. You’ll learn how to prepare your microSD card with the necessary operating system, connect your device to peripherals, and perform the initial software configuration.

What you'll need

  • Raspberry Pi (version 4 or version 5)
  • Power adapter
  • Mac or PC
  • Micro SD card
  • Card Reader
  • Jump Wires
  • Internet connection (WiFi or Ethernet)
  • Monitor (optional)
  • Keyboard (optional)
  • Mouse (optional)

Setting up the raspberry pi

Note: You need an uninterrupted and reliable internet connection to complete this step properly.
  1. Go to https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/  and download the Raspberry Pi imager for Mac, Windows, or Linux as required. For this illustration, Mac is considered.

  2. Install the Raspberry Pi imager in your machine
    1. For Mac, click on the downloaded file and then drag and drop it to the application folder.
    2. For Windows, double click the downloaded file and click install.
    3. For Linux, open the terminal, then copy and paste the code and press enter.

  3. Insert the MicroSD card into your machine, use a card reader if required.

  4. Open the Raspberry Pi imager application.

    For Mac, press command + space bar > type "Raspberry Pi" > click on the raspberry image icon that appears.



    For Windows, press the Win key > type "Raspberry Pi" > click on the raspberry image icon that appears.
Note: Click Open or Proceed if any confirmation pop-up occurs.
  1. Click on Choose Device > select Raspberry Pi 4 or Raspberry Pi 5 based on the raspberry pi hardware you have. For this illustration, Raspberry Pi 4 is selected.



  2. Click on OS > select Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit).



  3. Click on Choose Storage > select the inserted micro SD card. For this illustration, the Mass Storage Device is selected; for you, the drive name will be different.


  4. Click Next.



  5. Click Edit Settings in the use OS customization tab.



  6. Provide the following details in the GENERAL tab. 

Set hostname

myrpi 

(you can provide a hostname of your choice)

Set username and password

username : rpiuser 

(you can also provide a username of your choice)

password: provide a password of your choice.

Configure wireless LAN

SSID: name of the WiFi network your raspberry pi must connect to.

Password: password required to connect with the WiFi.

These wifi credentials are mandatory if you want to connect to your raspberry pi remotely using SSH and VNC

Set locale settings

Time Zone: choose the time zone of where you are from.

Do not forget the credentials from the configuration; they are essential for logging into your Raspberry Pi at various stages of the process
  1. Select the SERVICES tab and check Enable SSH and the option to use password authentication.



  2. Click Save.



  3. Once you have updated the settings as instructed above, click YES in the Use OS customization pop up.



  4. Click YES in the data will be erased warning tab.

Note: Provide your Mac/Pc password and click Okay, if prompted to continue with action.

The imager will start writing the operating system to your micro SD card. This will take several minutes. Once completed, please click 'Continue'. The operating system has been successfully flashed onto the microSD card. You can now safely remove the SD card from your computer.

Powering up the Raspberry Pi

With the operating system loaded to the micro SD card, you can make the necessary connections and power on the raspberry pi.
  1. Insert the microSD card into its slot in the backside of the Raspberry Pi.
  2. Connect the monitor (micro HDMI), keyboard (USB), mouse (USB), and power chord (Type C) in their respective ports.
  3. Power on the Raspberry Pi.
If you don’t have a monitor, keyboard, or mouse available, you can still remotely access your Raspberry Pi by using SSH and a VNC viewer. This allows you to control your Raspberry Pi remotely and easily manage your projects.

Next Step:  Configuring remote access of the Raspberry Pi (or) if you have a monitor, mouse, keyboard connected
                                                                                                            Connect the DHT22 Sensor to the Raspberry Pi.