Ready-to-use image with no graphic interface and SSH on

[babolivier]

Hi there,

Here's the thing. I just received my Pine64 but only a few weeks after the only screen I had died (and my finances aren't in the mood for buying a new screen just now).
I just wanted to get a Pine to use it as a server and host some stuff on it anyway, so I'd like to know if there's any image available with just minimal setup, no graphic and SSH turned on so I can just boot my Pine on it and administrate it through SSH. And if there's no such image, is there some resources available somewhere on how to create one?

Thanks 

[jl_678]

Hi,

Yes, there is a such thing. I have two Pine's running. The first has Mate and does the desktop while the second is a minimal build used strictly for Python coding. The best place to find the various images is at Pine64 Pro: https://www.pine64.pro/getting-started-linux/

As an FYI, my preference is for Lenny's Debian builds. (You would want "Debian Base") Once you create the image, be sure to update uboot, update the kernel and then run resize FS.

[babolivier]

Oh, I actually already visited this page but didn't get that SSH was turned on by default. I'll go try this out right now, thanks!

[ubuntuGuy]

You can also use longsleep's build if you like Ubuntu : http://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=376
I have been using it as server for a while now and it is great.

[babolivier]

Thanks people, everything is working fine

[wanthalf]

I installed the image, bit it won't run without some display attached to HDMI :-(

[wanthalf]

Hmm. The display connection was just a coincidence. The pine64s (or the debian?) have actually some problem activating ethernet port or detecting carrier - or maybe they just do not like my cables and/or switches?

[rallar8]

Using the ubuntu image should be fine with no graphical interface.

on first boot just run the commands:
sudo systemctl stop graphical.target
sudo systemctl disable graphical.target
sudo systemctl set-default multi-user.target <- stops systemd from initializing the system as gui

1st one stops the GUI, 2nd one makes it stop loading at boot <- it isn't needed to turn it off - but who wants to waste cpu cycles on a gui you aren'y using.

to reverse
sudo systemctl enable graphical.target && sudo systemctl reboot

^^ some distros and GUIs don't like it when you try to load the gui mid session - so this command just saves it for reboot and reboots
__________________________________________________________________

the image defaults to 192.168.1.11 on my net - for instance trying to boot two newly imaged pine64's causes havoc on my net - so I boot one, set it to statically be on some open ip on my network - restart and add the next-- one repeat

I believe you can decompress the image - mount it on your system. go into rootfs etc > network > interfaces.d > eth0

and set it up for your subnet and specs - by default it is dhcp

Also I had a problem (though i forgot what it was) with the image that was on pine64's official download page so make sure you downoad the image linked below - the one that is hosted by longsleep

https://www.stdin.xyz/downloads/people/l...es/ubuntu/

EDIT: I messed up and had to edit how systemd loads the gui

[lovenemesis]

Armbian is the one you're looking for: http://www.armbian.com/pine64/

SSH On by default
Lightweight
No display required

[pfeerick]

Armbian is the one you're looking for: http://www.armbian.com/pine64/

SSH On by default
Lightweight
No display required

DietPi is another good option. Both DietPi and Armbian are perfect for headless / SSH boxes, and are both well configured out of the box. DietPi is nicer if you want a GUI later, as you can easily install your preferred desktop environment from the DietPi launcher. Longsleeps Ubuntu build is the other one I'd recommend - I don't know off the top of my head if SSH is enabled out of the box but I would suspect it is.