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RevPi base modules are delivered with a pre-installed RevPi Image. The RevPi Image is based on Raspberry Pi OS, which in turn is based on Debian. Adjustments were made to the Raspberry Pi OS for the RevPi Images: unnecessary packages were removed, APT repositories were retrofitted and packages from KUNBUS were installed.

Compatibility #

Device Image

RevPi Connect 5

Bookworm

RevPi Connect 4

Bullseye, Bookworm

RevPi Connect S/SE

Buster, Bullseye, Bookworm

RevPi Connect+

Jessie, Stretch, Buster, Bullseye, Bookworm

RevPi Connect

Jessie, Stretch, Buster, Bullseye, Bookworm

RevPi Core S/SE

Buster, Bullseye, Bookworm

RevPi Core 3

Jessie, Stretch, Buster, Bullseye, Bookworm

RevPi Core 3+

Wheezy, Jessie, Stretch, Buster, Bullseye, Bookworm

RevPi Core 1

Wheezy, Jessie, Stretch, Buster

RevPi Compact

Stretch, Buster, Bullseye, Bookworm

RevPi Flat S

Bullseye, Bookworm

RevPi Flat

Buster, Bullseye, Bookworm

License Terms and Conditions #

A RevPi Image is derived from Raspberry Pi OS, whose components are subject to different open source licenses. In addition, proprietary software packages and software are supplied with the image. KUNBUS owns the copyrights for the following packages:

  • cockpit-revpi

  • cockpit-revpi-apache

  • cockpit-revpi-redirect-apache

  • mqtt-revpi-client

  • noderedrevpinodes-server

  • opcua-revpi-server

  • picontrol

  • picontrol-6.6.0-revpi*-rpi-v8

  • picontrol-common

  • pictory

  • pictory-apache

  • piserial

  • pitest

  • revpi-base-files

  • revpi-bluetooth

  • revpi-cert-wizard

  • revpi-modbus-client

  • revpi-modbus-server

  • revpi-nm-config

  • revpi-nodered

  • revpi-nodered-proxy-apache

  • revpi-pam-faillock

  • revpi-repo

  • revpi-sos-report

  • revpi-tools

  • revpi-ui

These packages, including the components for which KUNBUS holds the copyrights, are subject to the GNU General Public License, Version 2.

A RevPi Image also contains open source components that have been created or modified by KUNBUS. The source codes of these open source components are made available at gitlab.com/revolutionpi. In accordance with the license conditions, these source texts are also made available by KUNBUS on data carriers, which are available on request at support@kunbus.com for a processing fee.

The license conditions of the components taken from Raspberry Pi OS are listed in the package directories under /usr/share/doc/ in the copyright text files or can be downloaded for the respective image release on https://packages.revolutionpi.de/bookworm/sources/.

Query Device Information #

▷ Log in to the RevPi via a terminal.

▷ Enter one of the following commands to query device information:

Command Function

revpi-device-info

Outputs the device information such as product name, product version, and serial number. Only for devices with HAT EEPROM.

cat /etc/revpi/image-release

Returns the name of the most recently installed image version (.img).

cat /etc/os-release

Displays the name and version of the Debian operating system used.

Installing Updates #

Important

▷ Check at regular intervals whether updates are available.

▷ Install updates promptly to close security gaps.

From the RevPi Bookworm Image (10/2024), updates can be installed directly via Cockpit:

▷ Start Cockpit.

▷ Open the Cockpit menu Software updates.

▷ Select Check for updates (arrow) top right.

▷ Select Install all updates to perform the available updates.

▷ Reboot the RevPi.

Installing Updates via Terminal

Alternatively, install updates via the terminal:

▷ Log in to the RevPi via a terminal.

▷ Enter the following command to read and update all available package lists:

sudo apt update
Note

From the RevPi Bookworm Image (08/2025), all commands with sudo must be confirmed with the device password.

▷ Enter the following command to install all available updates:

sudo apt full-upgrade

▷ Enter the following command to restart the RevPi:

sudo reboot

Saving the Image #

This chapter describes how to save an existing image of your RevPi under Windows on an external data carrier.

You require:

✓ A cable USB-2.0 type A to micro-USB or USB-C

✓ A data carrier with sufficient storage space, e.g. USB stick or hard disk

✓ An imaging tool e.g. Win32 Disk Imager

✓ The USB boot utility rpiboot

Note

▷ Always use the latest version of rpiboot to ensure that the current hardware versions are supported.

▷ After installation, several versions of rpiboot may be available in Windows. Open the program folder and select the version that is suitable for your RevPi (e.g., CM5 for RevPi Connect 5).

▷ Deactivate the watchdog if necessary.

▷ Shut down the RevPi and disconnect it from the power supply.

▷ Connect the RevPi to your PC via the micro-USB or USB-C socket.

▷ Start rpiboot on your PC.

▷ Connect your RevPi to the power supply.

❯ With the micro-USB or USB-C cable connected to your computer, the RevPi will enter bootloader mode.

❯ rpiboot will then detect the device and load the necessary files until the RevPi appears as a removable disk.

▷ Select Action for removable disk › No action.

❯ A drive letter is assigned to the RevPi as a removable disk, e.g. (D:\).

▷ Start the Win32 Disk Imager.

▷ Under Image file, select the prepared data carrier, e.g. the USB stick.

▷ Enter a name for the image. The name must have the file extension .img.

▷ Select the drive letter of the RevPi under Data carrier.

▷ Select read.

❯❯ The backup of your image will be created. This process may take a few minutes.

Installing a New Image #

This chapter describes how to install a new image under Windows on the RevPi.

✓ Make sure you have saved a backup of the current image.

▷ Download the new RevPi Image.

▷ Unpack the image package (.zip).

The package contains:

  • image file (.img)

  • MD5 file (.md5sum.txt)

  • image signature file (.img.asc)

  • release notes

  • license terms

Checking the MD5 Checksum

You require:

✓ MD5 checksum checker, e.g. WinMD5Free

▷ Start WinMD5Free.

▷ Select the image file (.img) for the check.

❯ The checksum is calculated.

▷ Open the MD5 file (.md5sum.txt) in an editor.

▷ Copy the contained checksum as original md5 value into WinMD5Free.

▷ Select Verify.

❯❯ The checksum is being verified.

❯❯ If Matched! is displayed, the unpacked image corresponds to the published checksum.

❯❯ If NOT Matched! is displayed, the image package must be downloaded and checked again.

Checking the Signature

You require:

✓ GPG suite, e.g. gpg4win (incl. Kleopatra)

✓ RevPi GPG-Release-key

▷ Start Kleopatra.

▷ Generate a new key pair if one does not already exist.

▷ Unzip, import and certify the GPG-Release-key (.asc) in Kleopatra.

▷ Select Decrypt/Verify.

▷ Select the image signature file (.img.asc) from the image package.

❯❯ The signature is being verified.

❯❯ If Valid signature is displayed, KUNBUS is verified as the publisher of the image.

❯❯ If The files could not be verified is displayed, the image package must be downloaded and verified again.

Installing Checked Image

You require:

✓ A cable USB-2.0 type A to micro-USB or USB-C

✓ An imaging tool e.g. Win32 Disk Imager

✓ The USB boot utility rpiboot

Note

▷ Always use the latest version of rpiboot to ensure that the current hardware versions are supported.

▷ After installation, several versions of rpiboot may be available in Windows. Open the program folder and select the version that is suitable for your RevPi (e.g., CM5 for RevPi Connect 5).

▷ Deactivate the watchdog if necessary.

▷ Shut down the RevPi and disconnect it from the power supply.

▷ Connect the RevPi to your PC via the micro-USB or USB-C socket.

▷ Start rpiboot on your PC.

▷ Connect your RevPi to the power supply.

❯ With the micro-USB or USB-C cable connected to your computer, the RevPi will enter bootloader mode.

❯ rpiboot will then detect the device and load the necessary files until the RevPi appears as a removable disk.

▷ Select Action for removable disk › No action.

❯ A drive letter is assigned to the RevPi as a removable disk, e.g. (D:\).

▷ Start Win32 Disk Imager.

▷ Under Image file , select the new, checked image file (.img).

▷ Select the drive letter of the RevPi under Data carrier.

▷ Select Write › Yes.

❯ The new image is installed on the RevPi. This process may take a few minutes. The message Writing was successful appears.

▷ Disconnect the RevPi from the power supply.

▷ Remove the USB cable.

Note

As long as the micro-USB plug / USB-C plug is connected, the RevPi is in bootloader mode and can only be brought into operating mode by rebooting.

▷ Connect the power supply to the RevPi.

❯ The RevPi boots with the new image.

▷ After a new installation, log in with the Raspberry Pi default user pi and the default password raspberry.

Note

At this point, the English keyboard layout is active when entering the password, i.e., y and z are swapped.
Note

For RevPi base modules without HAT EEPROM, the RevPi device configuration must be started manually after reinstalling the image (e.g., for RevPi Connect S/SE):

▷ Use sudo bash /etc/profile.d/revpi-factory-reset.sh to manually load RevPi device configuration.

▷ Reboot the RevPi.

▷ Log in with user name pi and the device password.
You will find the device password on the sticker on the side of the housing of the RevPi base module.

Changing Device Password #

Important

▷ Change the default device password after the first login to the device to prevent unauthorized access.

▷ Use a strong password.

Use Password Management in Cockpit or change password via terminal:

▷ Log in to the RevPi via a terminal.

▷ Enter the command passwd and confirm with Enter.

▷ Enter the current password.

▷ Enter the new password twice and confirm each time with Enter.
The password is not displayed under Linux.

❯❯ Password updated successfully appears in the terminal. The device password for user pi has been changed.

Further Resources #