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¶
Halos-Desktop-Marine-HALPI2-AP— Same asHalos-Desktop-Marine-HALPI2but with a WiFi access point pre-configured. Use this when you don't have wired Ethernet for initial setup — the device creates a WiFi network namedHalos-XXXX(password:halos1234) that you can connect to immediately.
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.