What can you actually do with a Pi server?
A Raspberry Pi is a small, cheap, low-power computer that runs Linux. Once it's set up as a server, it runs 24/7 in the background doing useful things. Here's a taste of what people run on them:
Blocks ads on every device in your house - phones, TVs, laptops - without installing anything on them.
Stream your own movie and music collection to any device at home - like your own private Netflix.
Your own cloud storage. Access files from anywhere, share folders with family, automatic photo backups.
Control all your smart home devices from one place - no cloud, no subscription, works without internet.
All of these run on a Pi that costs less than $80 and draws about as much power as a phone charger.
What you need to buy
To follow this guide, you'll need:
- Raspberry Pi 4 (4GB) or Pi 5 (4GB or 8GB) - this is your server. The 4GB Pi 4 handles most beginner projects comfortably. Pi 5 is faster and worth the extra cost if available.
- USB SSD - a Samsung 870 EVO or similar. Get at least 120GB. Don't use microSD as your primary storage for a server - it wears out too fast.
- USB 3.0 to SATA adapter - to connect the SSD to the Pi's USB port. UGREEN's cable is reliable.
- Official power supply - Pi 4 needs USB-C 3A; Pi 5 needs USB-C 5A. Don't use random phone chargers.
- Ethernet cable - your server should be on a wired connection, not Wi-Fi.
- A case with active cooling - the Argon ONE case for Pi 4, or the official active cooler for Pi 5.
That's it. No monitor, keyboard, or mouse - we'll set everything up headlessly over SSH from your regular computer.
This buys you a server that will run for years, costs pennies per day in electricity, and replaces dozens of paid cloud services. It's a one-time investment.
Install Raspberry Pi OS
Download the Raspberry Pi Imager on your regular computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux). Plug your USB SSD into your computer using the SATA adapter.
Open Raspberry Pi Imager and:
- Click Choose Device and select your Pi model
- Click Choose OS → Raspberry Pi OS (other) → Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit)
- Click Choose Storage and select your USB SSD
- Click the gear icon (the small settings cog) before writing - this is important
In the settings panel that opens:
- Set a hostname (e.g.,
rpiserver) - Set a username and password (don't use the default "pi")
- Configure your Wi-Fi only if you can't use ethernet initially - ethernet is always preferred for a server
- Enable SSH with password authentication
Click Save, then Write. The imager will download the OS and flash it to your SSD. This takes 3-5 minutes.
First boot and initial configuration
Plug the SSD into one of the Pi's USB 3.0 ports (the blue ones). Connect an ethernet cable. Plug in the power supply. The Pi will boot automatically - there's no power button.
Wait about 60-90 seconds for first boot to complete. Your Pi is now running and waiting for you to connect.
Connect remotely with SSH
SSH lets you control your Pi from a terminal window on your regular computer. No monitor needed on the Pi - ever.
On Windows: Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal.
On Mac/Linux: Open Terminal.
Type:
ssh yourusername@rpiserver.localReplace yourusername with the username you set in Raspberry Pi Imager, and rpiserver with the hostname you chose.
If it asks about the host key fingerprint, type yes. Enter your password. You're in.
First thing to do: update everything.
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -yThis takes a few minutes. Let it finish.
Some networks don't support mDNS (the technology behind .local addresses). In that case, log into your router, find the Pi in the DHCP client list, and use its IP address directly: ssh yourusername@192.168.1.xxx
What to install first
You've got a working, up-to-date Raspberry Pi server. Here's the recommended order for beginners:
From there, pick whatever interests you from our tutorials list. The order doesn't matter much - each guide is self-contained.