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🥧 Raspberry Pi Systems

Raspberry Pi devices and edge computing in the homelab

Overview

Documentation of Raspberry Pi systems providing edge computing, IoT services, and specialized workloads.

Hardware Inventory

Raspberry Pi 5 (Primary)

  • Model: Raspberry Pi 5 8GB
  • CPU: Broadcom BCM2712 (Quad-core ARM Cortex-A76)
  • RAM: 8GB LPDDR4X
  • Storage: 128GB microSD + USB SSD
  • Connectivity: Gigabit Ethernet, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.0
  • Ports: 2x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0, 2x micro-HDMI

Raspberry Pi 4 (Secondary)

  • Model: Raspberry Pi 4B 4GB/8GB variants
  • CPU: Broadcom BCM2711 (Quad-core ARM Cortex-A72)
  • Use Cases: Legacy services, testing, development

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W

  • Model: Ultra-compact form factor
  • Use Cases: IoT sensors, minimal services
  • Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth

Deployment Locations

Edge Computing Nodes

  • Network monitoring: Distributed monitoring points
  • IoT gateways: Sensor data collection
  • Local services: Reduce latency for local users

Specialized Roles

  • Pi-hole DNS: Network-wide ad blocking
  • VPN endpoints: Remote access points
  • Environmental monitoring: Temperature, humidity sensors

Operating Systems

Raspberry Pi OS

  • Base: Debian-based official OS
  • Use Cases: General purpose, desktop applications
  • Management: Standard APT package management

Ubuntu Server

  • Version: Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS ARM64
  • Use Cases: Container workloads, server applications
  • Benefits: Long-term support, enterprise features

Specialized Distributions

  • DietPi: Lightweight, optimized for Pi hardware
  • OpenWrt: Network appliance functionality
  • Home Assistant OS: Dedicated home automation

Container Orchestration

Docker Deployment

  • ARM64 containers: Native ARM architecture support
  • Resource constraints: Memory and CPU optimization
  • Storage optimization: Minimize SD card wear

Service Categories

Monitoring Services

  • Node Exporter: System metrics collection
  • Prometheus: Metrics storage and alerting
  • Grafana: Visualization dashboards

Network Services

  • Pi-hole: DNS filtering and ad blocking
  • Unbound: Recursive DNS resolver
  • Tailscale: Mesh VPN connectivity

IoT Services

  • Home Assistant: Home automation platform
  • Zigbee2MQTT: Zigbee device integration
  • InfluxDB: Time-series data storage

Performance Optimization

Storage Optimization

  • USB SSD boot: Faster than microSD
  • Log2RAM: Reduce SD card writes
  • Swap optimization: Minimize swap usage

Thermal Management

  • Heatsinks: Passive cooling solutions
  • Fan control: Active cooling when needed
  • Thermal throttling: Prevent overheating

Power Management

  • Quality power supplies: Stable 5V/3A supply
  • UPS integration: Uninterruptible power supply
  • Power monitoring: Track consumption

Network Configuration

Ethernet Connectivity

  • Gigabit Ethernet: Primary network connection
  • VLAN support: Network segmentation
  • Static IP assignment: Consistent addressing

Wireless Configuration

  • WiFi 6 support: High-speed wireless (Pi 5)
  • Multiple SSIDs: Network isolation
  • Mesh networking: Extended coverage

Monitoring & Management

System Monitoring

  • Temperature monitoring: Prevent thermal issues
  • CPU/memory usage: Resource utilization
  • Storage health: SD card/SSD monitoring

Remote Management

  • SSH access: Secure remote administration
  • VNC/RDP: Graphical remote access
  • Ansible automation: Configuration management

Health Checks

  • Service availability: Monitor running services
  • Network connectivity: Ensure network access
  • Storage space: Prevent disk full issues

Maintenance Procedures

Regular Updates

  • OS updates: Security patches and improvements
  • Container updates: Keep services current
  • Firmware updates: EEPROM and bootloader

Backup Strategies

  • SD card imaging: Complete system backups
  • Configuration backups: Service configurations
  • Data synchronization: Important data backup

Hardware Maintenance

  • Cleaning: Dust removal from heatsinks
  • Connection checks: Ensure secure connections
  • Storage replacement: SD card/SSD replacement

Use Cases

Home Automation

  • Home Assistant: Central automation hub
  • Device integration: Zigbee, Z-Wave, WiFi devices
  • Automation rules: Smart home logic

Network Infrastructure

  • DNS services: Pi-hole ad blocking
  • VPN services: Remote access solutions
  • Network monitoring: Traffic analysis

Development & Testing

  • CI/CD runners: Lightweight build agents
  • Testing environments: Isolated test systems
  • Prototyping: Hardware/software development

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

  • SD card corruption: Use quality cards, minimize writes
  • Power issues: Ensure adequate power supply
  • Thermal throttling: Improve cooling solutions

Recovery Procedures

  • Boot issues: Recovery mode procedures
  • Network problems: Reset network configuration
  • Service failures: Container restart procedures

Status: All Raspberry Pi systems operational with monitoring coverage