How to Install Armbian OS on Orange Pi Zero LTS

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Step 1: Prepare the Necessary

  1. Orange Pi Zero LTS board.
  2. A microSD card (at least 8GB; a Class 10 or higher is recommended).
  3. microSD card reader to connect the card to your computer.
  4. A power supply compatible with the Orange Pi Zero LTS (5V/2A recommended).
  5. Ethernet cable (optional, for headless setup).
  6. A computer for downloading and flashing the Armbian OS.

Step 2: Download the Armbian OS

  1. Go to the official Armbian website: https://www.armbian.com.
  2. Search for Orange Pi Zero LTS in the supported devices list.
  3. Download the recommended Armbian image (choose a version based on your preference: CLI-only or desktop).
    • Example: Armbian_XX_OrangePiZero_LTS_*.img.xz.

Step 3: Write the Armbian Image to the microSD Card

  1. Insert the microSD card into your computer.
  2. Download and install a disk imaging tool, such as:
  3. Flash the Armbian image:
    • Open the imaging tool.
    • Select the downloaded .img.xz file.
    • Choose your microSD card as the target.
    • Click Flash or Start to write the image.
  4. Wait until the process completes, then safely eject the microSD card.

Step 4: Insert the microSD Card into the Orange Pi Zero LTS

  1. Insert the prepared microSD card into the Orange Pi Zero LTS.
  2. Connect the power supply to the board to power it on.

Step 5: Access the Orange Pi Zero LTS

Option 1: Via SSH (Headless Setup)

  1. Connect the Orange Pi Zero LTS to your network using an Ethernet cable.
  2. Discover its IP address using:
    • Your router’s admin panel.
    • Tools like Advanced IP Scanner or Fing (see the section in the previous guide).
  3. Use an SSH client like PuTTY:
    • Hostname: The IP address of the Orange Pi.
    • Port: 22.
    • Username: root.
    • Password: 1234 (default).
  4. Upon first login, you’ll be prompted to change the root password and create a new user.

Option 2: Connect via Serial Console (Optional)

  1. Use the debug UART pins on the Orange Pi Zero LTS to connect via a USB-to-serial adapter.
  2. Access the serial console using a terminal tool like minicom or PuTTY.
    • Baud rate: 115200.

Step 6: Initial Configuration

  1. On first boot, complete the initial setup:
    • Set a new root password.
    • Create a non-root user.
    • Configure timezone, language, and other settings.
  2. Update the system
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y