Connecting to the Pi

After unwrapping the Raspberry Pi (Model B - Rev 2), I realize that I missing a few things. Important things.

Things such as...

•  SD Card (4 GB+ / Class 4+)
•  USB Micro Cable
•  USB Wall Adapter (1A+)

SD Card (4 GB+ / Class 4+)

USB Wall Adapter (1A+)

USB Micro Cable

A bit of research showed that getting a USB Wall Adapter that is able to produce 1000 mA (1 Ampere), or more, is critical as the Raspberry Pi will consume about 750 mA.  Also important is an SD card with a minimum 4 GB of storage and minimum class 4 speed (4 within a circle).

A quick run to the local store, to pick up these commonly found items (check photo / cell phone departments), and I am ready to load my Pi.

Following the helpful Raspberry Pi Quick Start Guide, I download the "SD Formatting Tool" and then divert from the guide slightly by downloading a copy of the RAW Raspbian "wheezy" image, instead of the recommended NOOBS image, and the Win32DiskImager.  Using the Win32DiskImager, I write the "wheezy" image to the SD card, using a SD card reader that I keep with my camera.  Almost ready to boot my Pi for the first time.


Not wanting to hunt down a HDMI cable, I take faith that the Pi will just boot.  I intend to just watch the DHCP records of my router to determine the IP address of the Pi.

I connect the SD card to the SD slot, connect an available Ethernet cable to the Ethernet port, and attach the USB Micro Cable to the USB Wall Adapter.  Now I am truly ready to boot my Pi for the first time.

There is no "power button" on the Pi, so I simply connect the USB cable to the Pi, and then to the wall, and then watch the mini fireworks display on the tiny LEDs.  Things seem to be moving, and a few minutes later I am happily notified that the expected DHCP request hit my router.  I've got you now!

Putty is by far my most favorite SSH client, so of course I open Putty.  According to the Raspbian notes, the default user name is "pi" and the default password is "raspberry".  Obvious, no?  A few seconds later I am pleasantly presented with shell access to the Raspberry Pi.  Achivement Unlocked!