After you download and boot?

Basic OS configuration is conducted at first boot. You are asked to set a root password, normal user and confirm your, automatically determined, language settings. If your hardware has internal media, you might want to transfer your OS to it. You can also choose to configure your OS first, setup applications, enable services and install to internal media later.

armbian-config

You can select different login shell (ZSH), enable 2FA for your SSH, enable virtual read-only file-system, switch to rolling releases, ... and more. Armbian config tool helps you configure your network (static, dynamic, enabling hotspot). Once you are done configurion your OS, you can proceed to software section. Armbian config provides clean and fast way of installing great selection of popular software titles. If you plan to use your board for running a home automation, file server, ad blocking, downloading media, ... we got you covered.

Distro	Variant	Extensions	Torrent	Integrity		Size
Ubuntu 24.04 (Noble)	Minimal / IOT			SHA	ASC	263 MB
* Minimal images have very small footprint. They come only with essential packages and build-in systemd-networkd. They are optimised for automation and production deployments.

Use armbian-config utility to adjust your system settings

Specifications

Amlogic S905W

* Specifications differ from hardware revision, model and software support level

FAQs

QUICK FACTS ABOUT ARMBIAN OS

Simple

BASH or ZSH shell, standard Debian/Ubuntu utilities. Features can be adjusted with menu-driven utility. Login is possible via serial, HDMI or SSH.

Universal

Minimal, server or Desktop. We work with XFCE, Gnome and Cinnamon but more is possible to build: Mate, KDE, Budgie, Deepin, i3, ...

Light

No bloatware or spyware. Special utilities are completely optional. Suitable for newcomers and professionals.

Optimized

Distributed images are optimized for flash media (SD/eMMC/SSD) and compacted to real data size.

Fast

Armbian is optimized on kernel and userspace level. ZRAM & ZSWAP support, browser profile memory caching, garbage commit delay.

Secure

Security level can be adjusted with the armbian-config. OS is reviewed by professionals within the community.

Supported

Maintainers and community have deep understanding how HW work. We are seniors with 30+ years of experience in Linux + embedded Linux.

Open

Armbian provides open source build framework to build a distribution of optimised Linux hardware interface for armhf, aarch64 and x86.

WHICH IMAGE SHOULD I DOWNLOAD?

We provide a selection of images that fits hardware best. If you need different image - use build framework and make whatever you need. Build framework relies on Debian and Ubuntu packages - you can build any combination - stable, old stable or rolling release.

HOW TO START?

Make sure you have a good & reliable boot media (SD card / USB key) and a proper power supply. Archives can be flashed with Etcher (all OS) directly. Insert the SD card into the slot, connect a cable to your network if possible or a display and power your board. (First) boot (with DHCP) takes a bit longer.

HOW TO CHANGE KERNEL FEATURES?

Armbian images and kernels can be made from scratch. Supported environment for build framework is any any X64 based Linux distribution. You can re-make live bootable image or just a kernel+dtb(hardware configuration) package which you transfer to your image and install with: dpkg -i linux-image-[branch]-family.deb linux-dtb-[branch]-family.deb. In that process you can enforce many customisation.

WHERE TO GET SUPPORT?

Support is provided in one of two ways:

• Free support is provided via general project search engine, documentation, community forums or IRC/Discord. Keep in mind this is mostly provided by our awesome community members in a best effort manner and therefore there are no guaranteed solutions.
• For commercial or prioritised assistance:
  • book a an hour of professional consultation,
  • consider becoming a project partner.
  • Reach us out at https://armbian.com/contact,

Current images doesn't work? Use old images from archive and report to forums exactly which image fails.