Before you begin
Follow these 7 steps to turn a Raspberry Pi into your own DigiNode. Tick off each step as you go - each one links to a more detailed guide if you get stuck. For help, ask in the DigiNode Tools Telegram group.
No screen needed: a DigiNode runs "headless" - you don't need a display, keyboard or mouse on your Raspberry Pi. Everything is done from your computer.
Assemble your Raspberry Pi
Fit the M.2 board and case, and connect the NVMe SSD to your computer.
1aFit an M.2 board for the NVMe SSD: the official Raspberry Pi M.2 HAT+ (the M.2 HAT+ Compact fits inside the official Pi 5 case), or use an Argon ONE V3 M.2 NVMe case. Use the official 27W power supply.
1bPut the NVMe SSD in a USB NVMe dock or enclosure and plug it into your computer (Mac or Windows) - you'll put Raspberry Pi OS on it in step 3, then fit it in step 4.
Raspberry Pi M.2 HAT+ images: Raspberry Pi Ltd, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Put the Raspberry Pi in its case, and connect the SSD to your computer.
1aAssemble the Raspberry Pi in its case (see the case's instructions).
1bConnect the SSD to your computer (Mac or Windows) - you'll set up the Pi's operating system on it in step 3.
Which cable do I need?
An external SSD usually comes with a cable that plugs straight into your computer. If your case holds the SSD inside it (like the Argon ONE M.2), you'll need a USB-A to USB-A cable, or a USB-A to USB-C cable if your computer only has USB-C ports.
Does your case have a power button?
Enable its jumper so the Pi starts automatically when the power is connected - then your DigiNode restarts by itself after a power cut. The case instructions show how.
Need more help? Detailed guide for step 1 →
Install Raspberry Pi Imager
The free tool that puts Raspberry Pi OS on your SSD.
2aDownload Raspberry Pi Imager on your computer and install it. It works on Mac, Windows and Linux.
Need more help? Detailed guide for step 2 →
Write Raspberry Pi OS to the SSD
Open Raspberry Pi Imager (version 2 or newer) and work through its screens:
3aDevice: your Raspberry Pi (5 or 4), then NEXT.
3bOS: Raspberry Pi OS (other), then Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit), then NEXT.
3cStorage: your SSD, then NEXT. Be careful to pick the right drive - it will be erased.
3dHostname: diginode (or diginode-Testnet for a testnet-only node).
3eLocalisation: your capital city - it sets your time zone and keyboard.
3fUser: username digibyte and a password you won't forget.
3gWi-Fi: leave it empty if you use an ethernet cable (recommended).
3hRemote access: Enable SSH with Use password authentication.
3iRaspberry Pi Connect: leave it off. Then check the summary and click WRITE.
3jClick I UNDERSTAND, ERASE AND WRITE (on a Mac, enter your computer's password). When it's done, unplug the SSD.
Need more help? Detailed guide for step 3 →
Connect everything and power on
Put the SSD in place, plug it in and let it start up.
4aFit the NVMe SSD on the M.2 board (or in the Argon case's base) - slide it in at an angle, press it down, and fix it with the screw.
4aConnect the SSD to one of the blue USB 3 ports on the Raspberry Pi (or with your case's U-shaped connector).
4bConnect the Raspberry Pi to your router with an ethernet cable (recommended - not needed if you set up Wi-Fi).
4cPlug in the official Raspberry Pi 27W USB-C power supply. Wait a few minutes while it starts up for the first time.
4cPlug in a genuine Raspberry Pi power supply. Wait a few minutes while it starts up for the first time.
My Raspberry Pi 5 doesn't start from the SSD
Take out any microSD card. Some early Pi 5s need newer firmware first: in Raspberry Pi Imager choose Misc utility images > Bootloader (Pi 5 family) > NVMe/USB Boot, write it to a spare microSD card, start the Pi with it once, then remove it. See the detailed guide for step 4.
Need more help? Detailed guide for step 4 →
Connect to your Pi with SSH
Log in to your Raspberry Pi from your computer's terminal.
5aOpen a terminal on your computer. We recommend Windows Terminal on Windows and iTerm2 on a Mac.
5bEnter this command, then the password you chose in step 3:
It can't find my Pi, or I used the diginode-testnet hostname
If you set the hostname to diginode-testnet, use ssh [email protected].
If it still can't find your Pi, connect using its IP address instead, e.g. ssh [email protected]. You'll find the IP address in the list of connected devices on your router's settings page, or with a network scanner like Advanced IP Scanner (Windows) or LanScan (Mac).
Need more help? Detailed guide for step 5 →
Run DigiNode Setup
One command installs and sets up your DigiByte Node.
6aIn the terminal on your Pi, enter:
curl -sSL setup.diginode.tools | bash
6bDigiNode Setup checks your system, then shows a menu and guides you through the install.
Need more help? Detailed guide for step 6 →
Fixed IP address and port forwarding
Make your DigiNode easy to find - for you, and for other nodes.
7aGive your Raspberry Pi a fixed (static) IP address in your router's settings. This makes it easy to reach your DigiNode on your home network.
7bForward port 12024 on your router to your DigiNode. This is important: it lets other nodes on the internet find yours, so it can help support the network. Check it with the DigiByte Port Tester.
Running a testnet node?
Forward port 12033 for a testnet node on DigiByte Core v9 (12026 on v8).
7cHave an Argon ONE M.2 case? Install its fan software from DigiNode Setup (optional): run diginode-setup and choose Extras from the main menu.
Need more help? Detailed guide for step 7 →
Your DigiNode is up and running! 🍾🥂🚀
Please share your #DigiNode on social media - the more people who run a DigiByte Node, the more robust and decentralized the DigiByte network becomes.
Stay up to date: join the DigiNode Tools Telegram group, and follow @diginode.tools on Bluesky.
Please Support DigiNode Tools
I created DigiNode Tools to make it easy for everybody to run their own DigiByte Node. It's free, its code is public, and I build and maintain it in my spare time, for the benefit of the DigiByte community. If this guide has helped you, please consider sponsoring me, so I can devote more time to it. Thank you for your support, Olly
Find me on Bluesky @olly.st.