Creating a Debian image for the Beaglebone Black

14th April 2015

Debian is now the preferred Linux installation for the Beaglebone Black. Below are the basic steps for creating a fresh Debian SD card image using a Windows PC. To follow along you will need;

  • A Beaglebone Black
  • A 5v 2Amp power supply for the Beaglebone
  • An Ethernet cable
  • A spare micro SD card (with adapter)
  • 7 Zip
  • Win32 Disk Imager
  • Putty

Step 1. Download the Debian Image

Visit http://beagleboard.org/latest-images and download the latest Debian image to your windows PC/Laptop.

Step 2. Extract the image using 7 Zip

The file you downloaded will be a .img.xy file, which is compressed. Use the 7 Zip software to uncompress the file, which gives us a .img file ready for writing onto our SD card.

Step 3. Transfer the image onto the SD card using Win32 Disk Imager

Using the Win32 Disk Imager software we select the .img file that we just uncompressed. Insert the micro SD card into the adapter and then insert the adapter into your windows PC/Laptop. Note the drive letter that Windows assigned the SD card, and select this drive in the Win32 Disk imager. Be sure to select the correct drive, as writing the .img file to the wrong drive could result in damaging our windows installation. Finally click the 'Write' button and write the image to the SD card.

Step 4. Connect up and power on

Insert the micro SD card into the beaglebone. Connect the beaglebone to your home router using the ethernet cable. Plug the power supply into the Beaglebone and power it on.

Step 5. Remotely access your Beaglebone

Check in your router for attached wired devices and look for the Beglebone's IP address.



Use putty to SSH into your beaglebone.



Logging in with username root displays the following information;

We now have our Debian image ready to roll.

If you want to write the image to the on-board eMMC on the Beaglebone Black, you'll need to follow the instructions at http://elinux.org/Beagleboard:BeagleBoneBlack_Debian#Flashing_eMMC. When the flashing is complete, all 4 USRx LEDs will be steady on or off. The latest Debian flasher images automatically power down the board upon completion. This can take up to 45 minutes. Power-down your board, remove the SD card and apply power again to be complete.


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