What is RPi?
Raspberry Pi [https://www.raspberrypi.org/] is a single-board computer, which means that, like a cellphone, the processor, memory, and other components are integrated into the motherboard.
The picture above shows the Model 4B with 4GB of RAM. The only missing component is a hard drive, which is replaced by a micro SD card. It is slower than a traditional hard drive, but keeps the device affordable, compact, and energy-efficient.
Hardware description of this model:
Processor: Broadcom BCM2711, Quad-core 64-bit Cortex-A72 (ARM v8) SoC @ 1.5GHz
RAM: 1GB/2GB/4GB LPDDR4-3200 SDRAM
Wi-Fi: 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz IEEE 802.11ac + Bluetooth 5.0
Ethernet: Gigabit RJ45
USB: 2x USB 3.0 ports; 2x USB 2.0 ports
Video: 2x micro-HDMI ports (up to 4Kp60)
I/O: Standard 40-pin GPIO header
I/O: Two-lane MIPI DSI display port
I/O: Two-lane MIPI CSI camera port
Audio: 4-pole stereo audio and composite video port
Codecs: H.265 (4Kp60), H.264 (1080p60, 1080p30)
Card Reader: Micro SD card slot for operating system and data storage
Power: 5V DC via USB-C or GPIO connector (minimum 3A)
Operating temperature: 0 to 50 degrees C ambient
For more details, see the official website at [https://www.raspberrypi.org/…/raspberry-pi-4-model-b]
This tiny quad-core processor with 4GB of DDR4 RAM can outperform many modern budget laptops. Keep in mind, however, that it uses a different architecture (ARM) than regular computers (x86), so software built for x86 systems, such as Windows 7, will not run on it. Other operating systems are available for this architecture in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.
Operating Systems:
Two operating systems are officially supported: Raspberry Pi OS (based on Debian Linux) and NOOBS, which is the same but with a simplified setup for beginners.
Third-party operating systems are also available, such as Ubuntu (Mate, Core, and Server), Microsoft Windows IoT Core, and others. The selection of available applications is more limited than on a standard PC, so expect to do some research before committing to a project.
All options are available at: [https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/].
What can I do with RPi?
The possibilities are nearly endless and depend only on your creativity.
As a Computer:
- Full Desktop: simply connect two monitors, a keyboard, and a mouse. It is designed for this use case.
- Mini Touchscreen Computer: a 7″ touchscreen like this one can be used for projects such as store or restaurant surveys, queue ticket dispensers based on service type, or a home control and surveillance panel.
- Portable Security Testing Tool: build your own device for network security testing using Kali Linux (Kali-Pi).
As a Network Device:
- NAS / Local Cloud Server: a headless device connected via wired or wireless network that shares files and folders with computers, TVs, and other devices. The picture above shows it connected to two USB 3.0 external hard drives, which can easily exceed 2TB each, or alternatively four 64GB USB drives.
- Print Server: turn an old local printer into a network or Wi-Fi printer. Instead of leaving a computer running at over 200 watts, the Raspberry Pi can handle print jobs using less than 15 watts. The Pi does not need to be dedicated to printing either; it can run other tasks while waiting for a print request.
- VPN Server: host your own VPN to securely connect to your private network from anywhere, access your files and documents, print remotely, or monitor cameras, sensors, and alarms over an encrypted connection.
- LAMP Web Server with WordPress: LAMP stands for Linux + Apache + MySQL + PHP, a popular stack that together provides a full web server with PHP scripting and SQL database support. WordPress, the most popular website platform, runs well on this setup.
- Media Center / Smart TV Box: connect directly to a TV and home theater system to play movies, music, streaming content, and more. It works with remote controls or an air mouse.
As a Gaming Station:
- Retro Gaming Console: if you grew up in the eighties and nineties, this can provide thousands of hours of fun. It is easy to build thanks to the many available kits and controllers.
As a Robotics Platform:
- Educational applications were actually the original reason the Raspberry Pi was created. It is designed to develop creativity and technical skills for solving real-world problems. The possibilities are unlimited, and a new generation of designers and makers is already getting started.
See [https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/raspberry-pi-for-dummies/].
Run the following command periodically to keep the firmware up to date.
sudo rpi-update