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AstroPi3

This script is meant to automate the many setup steps involved with configuring a Raspberry Pi 3 or similar single board computer (SBC) running Ubuntu Mate, so that it can be an Astrophotography hub using INDI, KStars, and Ekos. I first developed the series of steps by research, trial, and error in 2016. Then several users on indilib.org, especially James Taylor ( u2pilotjt ), tested my steps and helped me revise them. James Taylor wrote a beginners guide which can be accessed here: http://www.indilib.org/support/tutorials/169-ekos-on-raspberry-pi-complete-guide.html In Fall 2017, I was configuring another PI, went back to my instructions and his guide and followed both. I revised my steps and then turned it into this script. Hopefully this is much easier to use.

Running KStars on Pi 3 Running Ekos on Pi 3 Running Ekos on 64 bit SBC

Before running the script, please be sure to do some research and read up on all that it will do to your Raspberry Pi or other SBC. You may want to use the script as is or add or remove certain lines before running it by adding or removing comment symbols from the front of the line (#).

When you are ready, you can follow these steps:

  1. Download latest version of Ubuntu mate https://ubuntu-mate.org/raspberry-pi/ (For Raspberry Pi)

  2. You will need to flash that img file to the SD card. The easiest way to do this is to download the free program Etcher (https://etcher.io)

  3. Drag and drop the disk image you downloaded into etcher along with the mounted SD card. Click to initialize the flash.

  4. Before you remove the SD Card, You should edit the config or ini files that are in the boot partition. The primary goal of this is to make sure that when an HDMI cable is not connected (a headless setup), the SBC doesn't shut down the GUI, so you can still access it over VNC. The secondary goal is to ensure that the screen resolution over VNC when headless is reasoable. You can also edit other settings such as overclocking etc, but read up on this first. For the Raspberry Pi, you should edit the following file in the Pi-boot partition:

    /boot/config.txt

    to make sure that your PI will have a decent resolution even when an HDMI display is not connected. Use the following options:

    hdmi_force_hotplug=1

hdmi_group=2

hdmi_mode=46 (1440 x 900@60Hz)

For the 3rd one, you can set your resolution to whatever you like.  I set it to option 46 (1440 x 900) since that is my laptop resolution.

  5. Insert the SD Card into the SBC, connect a mouse, keyboard, and display. Then turn it on. Often the SBC will reboot the first time to resize the partition.

  6. You should get a setup window if you are using a Raspberry Pi. Configure your SBC. If you are on the Pi, be sure to choose your login name and computer name carefully. This is difficult to change later. Note that it may say your name is unavailable at first, but when you enter your login name that may change. After the configuration, your pi will restart. You may need to restart it again to get your wifi network connection started.

  7. Copy the scripts in this GIT Repo to your SBC and Open a Terminal Window. You could type the following commands into Terminal to accomplish this goal.

    sudo apt-get install git

git clone https://github.com/rlancaste/AstroPi3.git

  8. Navigate to the Folder containing the script. Assuming you typed the above commands, you can type the following to do this:

    cd AstroPi3

  9. Make sure the script file is executable using one of the following two commands depending on your system.

    chmod +x setupAstroPi3.sh

chmod +x setupAstro64.sh

  10. Run one of the following scripts using sudo. Choose the right one for your system. The setupAstroPi3.sh is specifically for a Raspberry Pi 3 running Ubuntu-Mate in the armhf architecture. The setupAstro64.sh script is specifically for a 64 bit SBC system running Ubuntu-Mate in the aarch64/arm64 architecture.
    Be warned that right now the INDI SBIG driver does not compile in 64 bit. I am working on a third script that will install on a 64 bit system and install 32 bit INDI/KStars to support SBIG cameras.

    sudo ./setupAstroPi3.sh

sudo ./setupAstro64.sh

Here is a list of what the script does (If you want to disable or modify any of these, please edit before running the script):

  • Optionally Holds Firefox at its current level because if it gets updated it stops working (Raspberry Pi script only)

  • (DISABLED) Updates the Raspberry Pi Kernel (Raspberry Pi script only)

  • Updates/Upgrades the SBC

  • Sets the user account to auto-login

  • Installs Synaptic Package Manager (makes it easier to uninstall what you don't want)

  • Enables SSH which is disabled by default on Raspberry Pi. (Raspberry Pi script only, unless you enable it.)

  • Optionally gives the SBC a static IP address by editing /boot/cmdline.txt so that in the field you can connect via a direct Ethernet cable if desired

  • Optionally edits the /etc/network/interfaces file so that the static IP address does not interfere with DHCP

  • Installs RealVNC Server (Raspberry Pi Script) or x11VNC (64 bit script)

  • Makes a folder called utilties on the Desktop

  • Creates a shortcut/launcher for the UDev Script in utilities on the Desktop

  • Turns off powersave for Wifi so hotspots/adhoc networks don't shut down in the observing field

  • Creates a hotspot Wifi profile for the observing field

  • Makes a shortcut/launcher in utilities on the desktop to start the hotspot

  • Makes a shortcut/launcher in utitlies to restart nm-applet for NetworkManager which crashes sometimes

  • Sets up samba and caja filesharing so you can share any folder by right clicking

  • (DISABLED) Creates 2GB of Swap memory to increase the memory capacity of the SBC

  • Creates zRAM to get ~ 1.5x the current RAM capacity

  • Ensures Serial connections will not be disabled

  • Installs INDI and KStars

  • Installs GSC (Currently not in arm64)

  • Installs Astrometry.net

  • Installs PHD2

  • Puts Shortcuts for Kstars and PHD2 on the Desktop

  • Installs INDI Web Manager and enables the service on startup

  • Places a shortcut/launcher for INDI Web Manager on the Desktop