Troy's Tech Corner

Welcome to your home lab journey! This guide will walk you through setting up your Raspberry Pi from scratch, preparing it to become the foundation of your home server infrastructure.

What You'll Need

Hardware

Raspberry Pi 4 (4GB or 8GB RAM recommended)
MicroSD card (32GB minimum, Class 10 or better)
USB-C power supply (official Raspberry Pi adapter recommended, 5V/3A)
Ethernet cable (optional but recommended for servers)
Case with cooling (fan or heatsinks)
MicroSD card reader for your computer

Software

Raspberry Pi Imager (free download from raspberrypi.com)
Your computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux)

Step 1: Download Raspberry Pi Imager

Head to the official Raspberry Pi website and download the Raspberry Pi Imager for your operating system. This tool makes installing the operating system incredibly easy.

Why we use the Imager: It handles everything automatically - downloading the OS, writing it to the SD card, and even pre-configuring settings like WiFi and SSH access.

Step 2: Prepare Your MicroSD Card

Insert your microSD card into your computer's card reader.
Open Raspberry Pi Imager.
Click "Choose Device" and select your Raspberry Pi model.
Click "Choose OS" and select "Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit)" - use the full version, not Lite.

For server use: While Raspberry Pi OS Lite is tempting for servers, the full version gives you more flexibility when you're starting out. You can always switch later.

Step 3: Configure Advanced Settings

Before writing the OS, click the gear icon (⚙️) or press Ctrl+Shift+X to open advanced options:

Essential settings to configure:

Set hostname: Give your Pi a memorable name (e.g., "homelab-pi")
Enable SSH: Check "Enable SSH" and select "Use password authentication"
Set username and password: Create a secure username and password
Configure WiFi: Enter your network name and password (if not using Ethernet)
Set locale settings: Choose your timezone and keyboard layout

Security tip: Use a strong, unique password. This device will be on your network 24/7.

Step 4: Write the OS to Your SD Card

Click "Choose Storage" and select your microSD card.
Double-check you've selected the correct drive.
Click "Write" and confirm.
Wait 5-10 minutes for the process to complete.

Warning: This will erase everything on the selected drive. Make absolutely sure you've selected your SD card, not another drive.

Step 5: First Boot

Remove the SD card from your computer.
Insert it into your Raspberry Pi.
Connect an Ethernet cable (recommended for initial setup).
Connect the power supply - the Pi will boot automatically.

No power button: Raspberry Pis start as soon as you plug them in. You should see red and green LEDs light up. Give it 2-3 minutes to complete the first boot and connect to your network.

Step 6: Connect to Your Pi via SSH

Now you'll connect to your Pi remotely from your computer.

On Windows:

Open Command Prompt or PowerShell.
Type: ssh username@homelab-pi.local (replace with your username and hostname).
Enter your password when prompted.

On Mac/Linux:

Open Terminal.
Type: ssh username@homelab-pi.local.
Enter your password when prompted.

If .local doesn't work: You may need to find your Pi's IP address in your router's admin panel, then use ssh username@192.168.1.xxx.

Step 7: Update Your System

Once connected, run these commands to update your system:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y

This may take 10-15 minutes on the first run. It's updating all the software packages to their latest versions.

Why this matters: Security patches and bug fixes are critical for a device that will run 24/7 on your network.

Step 8: Configure Basic Security

Let's add a few security improvements:

Change the default SSH port (optional but recommended):

sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config

Find the line #Port 22 and change it to Port 2222 (or another number between 1024-65535).

Set up automatic security updates:

sudo apt install unattended-upgrades -y
sudo dpkg-reconfigure -plow unattended-upgrades

Select "Yes" when prompted.

Install fail2ban to prevent brute force attacks:

sudo apt install fail2ban -y
sudo systemctl enable fail2ban

Step 9: Set a Static IP Address

For a home server, you want a consistent IP address:

sudo nano /etc/dhcpcd.conf

Add these lines at the bottom (adjust for your network):

interface eth0
static ip_address=192.168.1.100/24
static routers=192.168.1.1
static domain_name_servers=192.168.1.1 8.8.8.8

Save and reboot: sudo reboot

Note: Choose an IP outside your router's DHCP range to avoid conflicts.

Step 10: Install Essential Tools

Let's install some tools you'll use frequently:

sudo apt install htop tmux git curl wget vim -y

What these do:

htop: Better system monitor than top
tmux: Run processes that survive disconnection
git: Version control for your projects
curl/wget: Download files from the command line
vim: Powerful text editor (or stick with nano if you prefer)

Verification Checklist

Before moving on to installing services, verify:

[ ] You can SSH into your Pi reliably
[ ] Your Pi has a static IP address
[ ] System is fully updated
[ ] Basic security measures are in place
[ ] You can access the internet from your Pi (ping google.com)

Next Steps

Your Raspberry Pi is now ready to become a home server! Here's what you can do next:

Set up Docker - The foundation for running containerized services
Create a file server - Share files across your network with Samba
Install a media server - Stream your content with Plex or Jellyfin
Add network-wide ad blocking - Set up Pi-hole for cleaner browsing

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Can't connect via SSH:

Verify SSH was enabled in advanced settings
Check your Pi's IP address in your router
Try using the IP address instead of .local hostname
Ensure you're on the same network

Pi won't boot:

Verify the power supply is adequate (5V/3A minimum)
Try re-flashing the SD card
Check for a solid red LED (power) and blinking green LED (activity)

Slow performance:

Ensure your Pi has adequate cooling
Check if you're running thermal throttling: vcgencmd measure_temp
Consider a case with active cooling if temps exceed 70°C under load

Tips for Success

Create regular backups: Once you have services running, back up your SD card periodically. SD cards can fail.
Use a UPS: An uninterruptible power supply prevents corruption from unexpected power loss.
Document your setup: Keep notes about what you've configured. Your future self will thank you.
Join the community: Reddit's r/homelab and r/selfhosted are excellent resources for questions and inspiration.

Complete Raspberry Pi Setup Guide for Home Lab Beginners