Setup the Hardware

After completing the steps from the Write the Raspberry Pi OS tutorial, insert the SD card into the Raspberry Pi.

Headless Mode

It is perfectly fine to run your Raspberry Pi without a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. A configuration known as ‘headless’.

If you know the IP address that the Raspberry Pi will use when it boots, then you do not need any additional hardware at this stage. If, however, you need to get the IP address from the device itself, then you will need a monitor, keyboard, and mouse connected to your Raspberry Pi during the installation. If you have a way to determine the IP address of the Raspberry Pi without logging into the console, then you will not need a monitor, keyboard, or mouse.

Make sure the power is connected to the Raspberry Pi and turn it on.

Monitor the Installation

Once the Raspberry Pi is powered on, it will automatically read from the SD card and begin the installation process. If you have a monitor connected, then you will see the screens below a few times as the installation continues and the system reboots a few times. The installation process will take a few minutes.

Access the Console

If you have a monitor, keyboard, and mouse connected, then you will see the console desktop display once the installation is complete. The Wi-Fi network should auto-connect if you provided that information during the write process and you should be automatically logged in with the username you provided.

To get the IP address that we can use to access the system via SSH, you need to open a Terminal.

Use the ipconfig -a command to show all network connections and identify the IP address you will use to connect via SSH.