Have Your Pi and Eat It!
 

In this post I’ll be documenting how I set up a Raspberry Pi 3 (you can also use a Pi 2) as a lightweight PC replacement, combining a fully-fledged desktop GUI (Raspbian), Media Center (Kodi), and video games console and computer emulation suite (RetroPie).

The Pi 3 actually makes for a very capable PC replacement; this, and recent, posts, including graphics work, have been undertaken solely on the machine.

Topics Covered in this Post

• A Little Background
• Considering the Options
• Undertaking the Installation: A Step by Step guide
• Obtaining and Installing Raspbian
  • Obtaining and Writing the OS Image to the SD Card
  • Post Installation – Update and Upgrade
• Configuring the Raspberry Pi
  • Setting Boot Options
  • Setting overscan
  • Setting Localisation
  • Setting the CPU/GPU Memory Split
  • Expanding the Filesystem
• Installing RetroPie
  • Obtaining RetroPie
  • Running the RetroPie Setup Tool
• Installing Kodi Media Center
  • Installing Kodi via the RetroPie Setup Tool
  • Launching Kodi
  • Handling Possible SSL Errors When Installing Kodi Add-ons
  • Exiting Kodi
• Building on the Foundations

A Little Background

I have a couple of older Raspberry Pi machines, each of which is limited to a single task. The Model 1 Pi has been doing duty for a couple of years as a media center, and is dedicated to running XBMC (named for XBox Media Center, showing the roots of the project which is now known as Kodi).

The Pi 2 is currently used for retro video gaming, running an installation of RetroPie 2; I ill-advisedly used the retropie_setup.sh script option to delete Raspbian files that were not directly needed by RetroPie, thereby removing the option of using the machine as a desktop replacement.

Having taken delivery of a shiny new Raspberry Pi 3 I was keen to take advantage of the increased power of the machine, along with a sizable 64GB SD Card, using it to perform multiple duties: a media center, a retro-gaming system, and PC workstation. I also wanted to avoid the need for swapping SD Cards, which is both a hassle and introduces needless wear and tear on the card port.

Considering the Options

One option for creating a Raspberry Pi installation capable of undertaking several roles is to use Noobs, which provides a boot loader allowing the selection and automatic installation of a range of different operating systems (including ones hosting Raspbian desktop and OSMC Media Center). At run-time the user can select which OS to run.

Whilst Noobs is a very handy, user-friendly approach it does have some limitations. Each selected package requires a full operating system, which consumes storage space; each OS is totally segregated; there is no control over the size of partition dedicated to each OS (the card is simply divided equally); once selected, it is not possible to add or remove the selected operating systems (at least, not via Noobs itself).

For my requirements, Noobs was unfortunately not viable; one issue was that OSMC (basically Kodi, underpinned by Raspbian) hadn’t yet been updated to work with the Pi 3; to be fair I was installing this the day the machine was released. Noobs also does not offer RetroPie as an installation option, although this emulator suite can be installed directly onto Raspbian (which is the route I chose to take).

I looked at an alternative multi-boot loader called Berryboot; unfortunately, whilst powerful, this had several similar limitations to Noobs, including a limited selection of operating system/packages to install, and no control over the individual partition sizes. Whilst it is possible to repackage installers (such as the image available from PetRockBlog for RetroPie), this really wasn’t the solution I wanted.

The breakthrough came after discovering that I could install RetroPie using the Raspbian‘s Advanced Package Tool (APT) system, and that Kodi could also be installed within an existing Raspbian system. In fact life was made even easier, as RetroPie itself offers a way to install Kodi into the operating system, and integrate it as an option in Emulation Station, the graphical front-end used by RetroPie.

A brief aside: When running emulators, such as those provided by RetroPie, the more power your machine can muster the better the performance will be. Please see the following posts for details on how to overclock the Raspberry Pi to obtain additional speed, for free:

• Part 1: Overclocking the Raspberry Pi
• Part 2: Stress testing the CPU with mprime
• Part 3: Stress testing the RAM with Memtester
• Part 4: Stress testing the SD card storage with the Stability Test Script
• Overclocking the Raspberry Pi 3: Thermal Limits and Optimising for Single vs Multicore Performance

Undertaking the Installation: Step by Step

Please note: once Raspbian has been installed, nearly everything else is added using the Advanced Package Tool (APT). Prior to installing software packages using APT, ensure the repositories are up-to-date, by issuing the following command:

sudo apt-get update

For details on using the APT, please see my post: Don’t Fear The Command Line: Raspbian Linux Shell Commands and Tools – Part 1

Obtaining and Installing Raspbian

Raspbian is the core of the Raspberry Pi system – it comprises the Linux Operating System, the Command Shell, and the X-Windows GUI Desktop environment. All of the other components build on top of Raspbian, and hence it must be installed first.

• Download Raspbian (full, not Lite) from RaspberryPi.Org. At time of writing the current version is Raspbian Jesse. Please note that this is the standalone installer for Raspbian, not the Noobs package.
• Instructions for this step can be found in the Installation guide from the site.
• Post Installation – Update and Upgrade
  After installing the Raspbian image the system should be connected to the internet, and a couple of commands run to ensure that the operating system is completely up to date. The commands also update all installed software packages, and the repository information used when installing packages in the future.

  

  • First, start a Terminal (a.k.a Command Line or Shell). From the Menu, select Accessories, then Terminal
  • Type:
    sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
    Once the process has completed, close the Terminal

Configure The Raspberry Pi

The Raspberry Pi is highly configurable; initially we need to adjust a handful of settings, although many others can be changed at a later stage (for example should you choose to apply overclocking to eke more speed from the machine).

Set Boot Options

Older releases of the Raspbian OS booted directly into the text-mode Command Line / Shell; more recent versions start the desktop GUI by default. Although booting direct to the Raspbian desktop GUI is handy, selecting this option also removes the ‘Exit to Command Line’ option from the Shutdown menu; this is a problem as Emulation Station / RetroPie cannot be launched from within the GUI environment.

For ease of use on a multipurpose system firstly we configure the machine to boot directly to the command line. This can be done from either the raspi-config tool (from the command line or the a command shell on the desktop), or the graphical Raspberry Pi Configuration tool on the desktop.

To use the Raspberry Pi Configuration tool to set boot options using the graphical user interface tool on the desktop:

• From the Desktop’s Menu, Select Preferences, then Raspberry Pi Configuration

  

• On the System tab, set the Boot option as To CLI
• Depending on your security preferences, you can set the Pi to log in automatically by selecting the Auto Login option; this is also located on the System tab.

To use the raspi-config tool to set boot options, run the configuration tool either from the text-mode command line, or from a Terminal window launched on the desktop (Menu, Accessories, Terminal)

• At the command line type:
  sudo raspi-config
  
  

• Select one of the two options to boot to Console (select autologin if you’re not overly concerned with security of your Pi)

Setting Overscan

Overscan is a holdover from the days of CRT monitors; due to limitations in the technology used to produce the image on screen, it was not possible to guarantee the exact amount of usable space on any given monitor (or television). To compensate, an unused border area surrounding the display was defined.

The Raspberry Pi has an overscan setting, with definable widths for the borders; when using modern pixel-mapped displays (LCD / Plasma / OLED) the overscan setting should be switched off to prevent unnecessary wastage of screen real-estate.

• Using the Raspberry Pi Configuration Tool, on the System tab, set the Overscan option to Disabled.
• Alternatively use the raspi-config tool, select Advanced Options, then select the Overscan sub-menu and choose Disable.

Setting Localisation

There are various Localisation values which should be set, especially if you are planning to make use of the various RetroPie emulators:
Locale (Language, Country, and Character Set), Timezone (Area and Location), Keyboard (Country and Variant), and Wifi Country.

• Using the Raspberry Pi Configuration Tool, on the Localisation tab, set the Locale, Timezone, Keyboard, and Wifi Country as required.
• Alternatively use the raspi-config tool, select Advanced Options, then select the Internationalisation Options sub-menu, and set the Localisation options from the nested sub-menus.

Setting the CPU/GPU Memory Split

The Raspberry Pi contains memory which is shared between the main CPU and the graphics processor (GPU). The amount of ram assigned to each component can be set via the Memory Split.

Whilst there is an option for this within the Raspberry Pi Configuration Tool, I have found that the entry which it places in the /boot/config.txt file is effectively ignored. This appears to be due to the fact that there are now multiple variants of the Raspberry Pi, with either 256MB, 512MB, or 1GB ram; there are corresponding configuration entries for these different systems, but they are not set via the tool.

To set the memory split, I prefer to directly edit the /boot/config.txt file, using the Nano text editor.

• Launch an instance of the Terminal, and open the config.txt file in the Nano.
  Note: it is necessary to run Nano as a super user, via the sudo command, to allow changes to be saved. Type:
  sudo nano /boot/config.txt
• Locate the block of entries controlling the GPU Memory Split at the end of the file
  N.b. these entries may not already be present; if they are not, simply add the values to the config file.
  gpu_mem_256=128
gpu_mem_512=256
gpu_mem_1024=256
• On a 1GB system (Pi 2 or 3), set the memory split to allocate 128MB to the GPU; it can be handy, but is not necessary, to comment out the original line (‘#’).
  #gpu_mem_1024=256
gpu_mem_1024=128
gpu_mem=128
• Note: The gpu_mem=128 value is added if you use the tools to set the memory split; I’m leaving the entry in the file as a ‘belt and braces’ measure.
• Use Control + ‘X’ to leave the editor; this will prompt a warning regarding saving changes – press Y to commit updates to the filesystem

Expand the Filesystem

Update – June 2016: It may no longer be necessary to manually run the Expand Filesystem tool. During testing using the Raspbian Jessie image dated 27/5/2016, the system automatically expanded the root filesystem during the setup phase upon first boot

The Raspbian operating system image which was installed at the start of this guide is generally smaller than the Micro SD memory card onto which it is placed. To access the rest of the storage, use the Expand Filesystem tool. This is available from both raspi-config and the Raspberry Pi Configuration Tool.

• If using the Raspberry Pi Configuration Tool, on the System tab, click the Expand Filesystem button.
• If using raspi-config, select the first entry on the first menu Expand Filesystem.

Following the above steps, reboot the Raspberry Pi for the changes to take effect. After rebooting, the Pi should bring you to the text-mode console.
If you wish to access the desktop at any time, type: startx.
To return to the console, use the Menu, select Shutdown, then Exit to Command Line

Installing RetroPie

Installation of RetroPie on an already extant Raspbian system is relatively straightforward. First, after completing the steps listed, ensure that the Raspberry Pi has been rebooted.

Obtaining and Installing RetroPie

• At the console, install support for accessing GitHub code repositories by typing the following command:
  sudo apt-get install -y git dialog
• set the working directory by typing:
  cd
• Download the RetroPie setup script by issuing the following command:

  git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup.git

• Change the working directory to the newly downloaded RetroPie-Setup directory:
  cd RetroPie-Setup
• Allow the setup script to be executed (run) by changing a file attribute:
  chmod +x retropie_setup.sh

Running the RetroPie Setup Tool

• To launch the RetroPie setup script, type:
  sudo ./retropie_setup.sh

  As RetroPie is continually under development, the setup system is subject to change. Prior to the development release on 7th June 2016, running the setup script presented a screen similar to the following:

  

• If this is the case with your system, select the Binary-based installation (recommended) option, which will begin downloading and installing the components which comprise RetroPie.
• If your menu appears similar to the image, below, please take a look at my expanded installation guide:
  RetroPie Manual Installation Guide, including the Version 4 Setup Script Revised Menu Structure



On a fast internet connection, with a Raspberry Pi 3, this generally takes about 20 minutes in my experience. Your mileage may vary…

During installation the in-built power-saving feature may blank your monitor – press any key to restore the display (I tend to use shift as it’s less likely to interfere with anything).

• Once the installation completes, reboot the Raspberry Pi. Generally it’s never a good idea to simply switch the power off as the filesystem can become corrupted. To reboot cleanly from the command line:
  sudo reboot
  If you wish to shut down the Pi from the command line:
  sudo shutdown -h now
• When the Pi has rebooted, to launch RetroPie, issue the following command:
  emulationstation
  (this is the name of the graphical user interface used by RetroPie)

A comprehensive first-time usage guide for RetroPie can be found here.

Installing Kodi Media Center

Installation of Kodi Media Center on an existing RetroPie system is made simple by the RetroPie Setup tool.

Installing Kodi via the RetroPie Setup Tool

• Run the RetroPie Setup Tool as detailed in the previous section.

As noted previously, the menu system changed radically in June 2016. If the menu which appears is the older format:

• Select Option 4: Experimental Packages (these are potentially unstable)
• From the sub-menu, select the entry Kodi – Kodi open source home theatre software
  

  

If the menu is in the newer format, Kodi is installed from the Optional Packages sub-menu. Please see my expanded installation guide for details: RetroPie Manual Installation Guide, including the Version 4 Setup Script Revised Menu Structure

Launching Kodi

• From within Emulation Station (the RetroPie GUI), Kodi can be launched from the Ports sub menu.
  N.B. A previous build of RetroPie provided Kodi with a standalone sub menu, however at time of writing this has been removed for technical reasons.
  When launched from within Emulation Station, Kodi benefits from RetroPie‘s automatic support for external USB storage devices
• From the Raspbian Console, launch Kodi by typing:
  kodi
  When run from the console (outside of the Raspbian Desktop) there is no native support for externally attached USB storage, although it is possible to install packages, or manually add entries to the fstab file, to provide this.
• From the Raspbian Desktop, launch Kodi from the Menu. Select the main Menu, then select the Sound & Video sub menu, then the Kodi entry.

Handling Possible SSL Errors When Installing Kodi Add-ons

In a post on the retropie.org.uk forum user wetriner notes:

…there’s some SSL verification problems when you try and run some addons through the stock RetroPie image. It’s a pretty quick fix though.

sudo apt-get install --reinstall ca-certificates
sudo update-ca-certificates --fresh


I personally did not experience any SSL issues when installing the Twitch TV and BBC iPlayer add-ons, however Kodi may have been launched via the Terminal or Raspbian desktop at the time.

Exiting Kodi

Kodi provides a power menu, with options to Shutdown, Reboot, or Exit. When using the Exit option, control is returned to wherever Kodi was launched from, however sometimes this leaves the user facing a blank screen. There is a workaround for this issue:

• Press Control + Alt + F2, then Control + Alt + F1. This switches between the 2nd and 1st of Raspbian‘s virtual consoles, which restores the display.

Building on the Foundations

In the continuation of this post, Multipurpose Raspberry Pi – Part 2: Adding a Menu to Access RetroPie, Kodi, and the Raspbian Desktop, I cover in detail the process of adding a menu to allow selection between the application suites installed in this guide.

The menu automatically loads after the Pi boots to the Bash shell, and is re-displayed whenever the user exits one of the suites, using either Kodi‘s Power button, Emulation Station‘s Quit submenu, or Raspbian desktop’s Shutdown option. The menu has been designed to prevent automatic loading within terminal windows launched under Raspbian, or SSH session consoles.

In a future post I aim to cover various useful tools, configuration and setup changes, and software packages, covering a range of items including: providing a Bluetooth manager GUI package, installing the FireFox web browser, accessing TwitchTV streams from the desktop and from Kodi, changing the console font style and size, and setting a static IP address for ethernet and wireless adaptors.

A Labour of Love

Retro Resolution is entirely a labour of love. Please consider offering a donation if the information here has helped illuminate, enlighten, or otherwise assisted you!

Related Posts

• Links: Raspberry Pi and Gaming Emulation via RetroPie
• Multipurpose Raspberry Pi – Part 2: Adding a Menu to Access RetroPie, Kodi, and the Raspbian Desktop
• Don’t Fear The Command Line: Raspbian Linux Shell Commands and Tools – Part 1: Just the Basics
• Navigating the Raspberry Pi’s File System. Raspbian Linux Shell Commands and Tools – Part 2

Overclocking and Stability Testing the Raspberry Pi

• Part 1: Overclocking
• Part 2: Stress testing the CPU with mprime
• Part 3: Stress testing the RAM with Memtester
• Part 4: Stress testing the SD card storage with the Stability Test Script
• Overclocking the Raspberry Pi 3: Thermal Limits and Optimising for Single vs Multicore Performance

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