Simple

Powerful menu driven configuration tool along with stock Debian utilities. BASH shell and lightweight XFCE based desktop.

Lightweight

Standard boot, config and update methods with minimal user-space footprint. Special config utilities are optional.

Optimised

A distributed image is compressed to its real data size which starts below 1G. Login is possible via serial, HDMI/VGA or SSH.

Fast

Boot loader and kernel optimisations, memory caching, ZRAM swap and video acceleration where applicable.

Secure

Images are made fully automatised from sources. Releases are PGP signed and code is regularly inspected by community.

Supported

Long term support, quick security fixes, documentation and community based end user support.

How to Install/Boot/Login

Archives can be written with Etcher or USBimager (all OS).

Insert SD card into a slot and power the board. First boot takes up to 30 seconds with an average SD Card and on the cheapest board.

First root login on HDMI or serial console is automatic. If you connect via SSH login as root password 1234. You will be prompted to change the password. Next, you will be asked to create a normal user account that is sudo enabled (beware of QWERTY keyboard settings at this stage).

Type sudo armbian-config and change timezone, reconfigure language, locales, network. Manage OpenSSHD settings, freeze kernel upgrades, toggle hardware settings. Install Armbian to internal or external memory, a desktop, 3rd party software, ...

Visit the Armbian project website here:

https://www.armbian.com/

Donate to the Armbian project here:

https://www.armbian.com/donate/