Contents

  1. Overview
  2. Installation Using Daily images
  3. Build your own Raspberry Pi Debian-based image
  4. Post-installation
    1. Set a root password
    2. Remote SSH login
    3. Update

Overview

/!\ The daily build service for images of all Raspberry Pi models is currently not working. This has been the case since sometime in 2024. While images produced until then can still be downloaded, please note that they are significantly outdated!.

/!\ Currently there is no support to Raspberry Pi 5 as it doesn't have enough support in upstream Linux.

More info in https://raspi.debian.net/ - please go there if you have trouble with the following instructions!

Installation Using Daily images

First, lets set up some environment variables matching your needs. First, the raspberry model — It can currently be 1(for 0 AND 1 family!), 2, 3 or 4. If it's a 4: 

export RPI_MODEL=4

Second, where is your SD card detected in your computer? Lets say, it's /dev/sdf: 

export SD_CARD=/dev/sdf

Third, which Debian release you want to use? Can be trixie for the current stable, and forky for the testing, upcoming release. Lets say, it's trixie: 

export DEBIAN_RELEASE=trixie

Now, get the image you need: 

wget https://raspi.debian.net/daily/raspi_${RPI_MODEL}_${DEBIAN_RELEASE}.img.xz

It is recommended to check the image was correctly downloaded by comparing its SHA256: 

wget https://raspi.debian.net/daily/raspi_${RPI_MODEL}_${DEBIAN_RELEASE}.img.xz.sha256
sha256sum -c raspi_${RPI_MODEL}_${DEBIAN_RELEASE}.img.xz.sha256

This should say something like, depending on the hardware version and release you chose:

raspi_4_buster.img.xz: OK

Now, write the image to your SD card! Make sure $SD_CARD is right! (you risk losing information otherwise!) 

xzcat raspi_${RPI_MODEL}_${DEBIAN_RELEASE}.img.xz | dd of=${SD_CARD} bs=64k oflag=dsync status=progress

Build your own Raspberry Pi Debian-based image

As an alternative to using a pre-built image, you can build and customize one yourself. Instructions on how to do this can be found here!.

Alternative Debian-based image building or installation

You may use this other shell script to create SD card images for all RPi models or perform an install straight to the SD card, from another running GNU/Linux machine.

This avoids problems with things like preset passwords, machine IDs, lack of random bytes/entropy, …

Post-installation

Set a root password

The built images are shipped with a *passwordless root*, which means, you can log in as root as long as you do it locally (either via a serial console or using a USB keyboard). You are encouraged to set a root password as early as possible!.

Remote SSH login

In order to log in remotely, create a non-root user; this user will be able to log in via ssh.

Update

You can update your installation using regular Debian commands (providing you have network access): 

# apt update && apt upgrade

When there is a new kernel, it will be upgraded too (tested with the Pi4 image), and the file /boot/firmware/config.txt will be edited automatically to reflect the change. You can simply reboot to activate it. :-)

The provided images use a very minimal installation. You may find it useful to run the following command to install some standard packages: 

# tasksel install --new-install standard