Flash an SD card, set a hostname, and get your Pi on the network so it's ready for FD Commander.
Download Raspberry Pi Imager and install it. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. This is the official tool from the Raspberry Pi Foundation and it handles everything: downloading the OS, writing it to the card, and pre-configuring settings like hostname, user accounts, and Wi-Fi.
You could download an OS image and flash it manually with another tool, but Imager lets you set the hostname, create a user account, and configure Wi-Fi before the Pi ever boots. That means no monitor, no keyboard, and no extra setup steps.
1 Insert your micro SD card into your computer's card reader.
2 Open Raspberry Pi Imager.
3 Choose device. Select your Pi model (Pi 4, Pi 5, etc.). This filters the OS list to compatible options.
4 Choose OS. Select Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit) under "Raspberry Pi OS (other)." Pick the Lite version. It has no desktop environment, which is exactly what you want for a headless server. FD Commander doesn't need a GUI.
5 Choose storage. Select your SD card. Double-check you're picking the right drive. Imager will erase whatever you select.
6 Click Next. Imager will ask if you want to customize the OS settings. Click Edit Settings. This is where you configure everything.
The settings screen has two tabs that matter: General and Services.
Set hostname. This is the name your Pi will advertise on the network. Other devices can reach it at hostname.local instead of memorizing an IP address. Pick something short and descriptive, like fd-commander or fdpi. Use only lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens.
Set username and password. Create a user account you'll use to SSH in. The old default pi/raspberry login no longer works on new installs. Pick a username and a real password.
Configure Wi-Fi (if you're using Wi-Fi). Enter your network name (SSID) and password. Select your country under "Wireless LAN country" so the Pi uses the right regulatory channels. If you're only using Ethernet, skip this.
Set locale. Pick your time zone and keyboard layout.
Enable SSH. Check the box to enable SSH and choose "Use password authentication." This lets you connect to the Pi remotely from another computer without plugging in a monitor and keyboard.
If you use SSH key authentication, you can paste your public key here instead. But password auth is fine for a Field Day server on a local network.
Click Save, then Yes to apply the settings, and Yes again to confirm erasing the SD card. Imager will download the OS image (if it hasn't already), write it, and verify the card. This takes a few minutes depending on your internet speed and SD card.
1 Remove the SD card from your computer and insert it into the Pi.
2 Connect the network.
For Ethernet: plug an ethernet cable from the Pi to your router or switch. This is the most reliable option. The Pi will get an IP address automatically via DHCP.
For Wi-Fi: if you configured Wi-Fi in Imager, the Pi will connect automatically on boot. No cable needed.
3 Plug in power. The Pi will boot. Give it about 30–60 seconds for the first boot. It resizes the filesystem and applies your settings.
For a Field Day server, Ethernet is the better choice. It's faster, more reliable, and one less thing that can go wrong in a field environment. Use Wi-Fi when running a cable to the Pi isn't practical.
From another computer on the same network, SSH into the Pi using the hostname you set:
Replace your-username with the username you created in Imager, and fd-commander with whatever hostname you chose. Type yes to accept the host key the first time, then enter your password.
If .local doesn't resolve, the Pi may not have connected to the network. Check that the ethernet cable is plugged in, or that you entered the Wi-Fi credentials correctly in Imager. You can also check your router's admin page for a list of connected devices and find the Pi's IP address there. Then connect with ssh your-username@192.168.x.x using whatever IP the router assigned.
Once you're in, confirm the Pi is online:
The first command confirms your hostname. The second shows the Pi's IP address on the network. The third confirms internet access, which you need to run the FD Commander deploy script.
Before installing anything, update the OS packages:
This pulls the latest security patches and package lists. It can take a few minutes on a fresh install. Once it finishes, the Pi is ready for the FD Commander deploy script.
Your Pi is now online and accessible over SSH. From here, follow the Installation guide to deploy FD Commander.