Choosing an Image¶
HaLOS images are built along three axes: hardware platform, desktop environment, and software stack. This page helps you pick the right combination.
Decision guide¶
Do you have a HALPI2? Use a HALPI2 image — it includes drivers for CAN bus, RS-485, I2C, and power management. Otherwise, use an RPI image for any Raspberry Pi 4 or 5.
Do you need a desktop? Most users don't — the headless images give you full control through the web interface. Choose a Desktop image only if you plan to connect a monitor and use graphical applications directly on the Pi.
Do you need marine apps? If you're installing HaLOS on a boat, choose a Marine image. It includes the Marine App Store with Signal K, InfluxDB, Grafana, AvNav, and other marine applications.
Hardware platform¶
| Platform | Target hardware | Extras |
|---|---|---|
| HALPI2 | Hat Labs HALPI2 | CAN bus, RS-485, I2C, power management drivers |
| RPI | Raspberry Pi 4 or 5 | No hardware-specific drivers |
Desktop environment¶
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Headless (default) | No desktop GUI. All management through the web interface. SSH available. |
| Desktop | Includes XFCE desktop environment for local monitor use. |
Software stack¶
| Stack | What's included |
|---|---|
| Standard (default) | Cockpit web management, container store, Traefik, Authelia, Homarr |
| Marine | Everything in Standard, plus the Marine App Store with Signal K and other marine apps |
Image comparison table¶
| Image | Hardware | Desktop | Marine Apps |
|---|---|---|---|
Halos-HALPI2 |
HALPI2 | No | No |
Halos-Desktop-HALPI2 |
HALPI2 | Yes | No |
Halos-Marine-HALPI2 |
HALPI2 | No | Yes |
Halos-Desktop-Marine-HALPI2 |
HALPI2 | Yes | Yes |
Halos-RPI |
Generic RPi | No | No |
Halos-Desktop-RPI |
Generic RPi | Yes | No |
Halos-Marine-RPI |
Generic RPi | No | Yes |
Halos-Desktop-Marine-RPI |
Generic RPi | Yes | Yes |
Access point variant¶
All headless images include a built-in WiFi access point for initial setup without Ethernet. On first boot, the device creates a WiFi network named Halos-XXXX (XXXX is unique to your device, password: halos1234) that you can connect to immediately.
For desktop images, only one variant includes the access point:
Halos-Desktop-Marine-HALPI2-AP— Same asHalos-Desktop-Marine-HALPI2but with the WiFi access point pre-configured.
Stock Raspberry Pi OS variants¶
These images include HALPI2 drivers but not the HaLOS web stack (no Traefik, Authelia, Homarr, or Cockpit). Use them if you want a standard Raspberry Pi OS with HALPI2 hardware support.
| Image | Description |
|---|---|
Raspios-lite-HALPI2 |
Headless Raspberry Pi OS with HALPI2 drivers |
Raspios-HALPI2 |
Desktop Raspberry Pi OS with HALPI2 drivers |
Download¶
All images are available on the HaLOS releases page.
Once you've chosen your image, proceed to Quick Start for flashing instructions, or First Boot for what happens next.