Skip to main content

Setup your device

This chapter offers a streamlined guide for developers to set up the RUBIK Pi 3 development board across Ubuntu, Windows®, and macOS® environments. Whether you're powering on the device for the first time, configuring the debug UART for serial access, or establishing network and SSH connections, this section ensures a smooth and reliable onboarding experience.
It also covers essential procedures such as entering EDL mode for firmware flashing and verifying your Ubuntu 24.04 installation—laying the foundation for AI, multimedia, and embedded development workflows.

🏁 Let’s Get Started!​

Power on the device​

Connect a 12V, 3A Type-C power adapter.

warning

RUBIK Pi 3 supports Power Delivery (PD) 3.0 power input. A Type-C 12V 3A power adapter compliant with PD 3.0 is required for input power. Refer to Peripheral Compatibility List for the verified accessories.

The power indicator LED near the power port will turn on if the power adapter meets requirements and power negotiation succeeds. If the adapter does not meet requirements, the LED will remain off and the device will not boot.

note

Plug in a USB Type-C to USB Type-A or a Type-C cable to establish connection for flashing operation.

Board versions v02 and later support automatic power-on after the power adapter is connected. You can check the hardware version number at the following location on the board. In the example below, the hardware version is V02.

note

If the blue LED on the board is constantly lit, it indicates that the power button was pressed for too long, and the board is in fastboot mode. Please refer to FAQ to exit the fastboot mode.

Set up the Debug UART​

The debug UART displays diagnostic messages and provides access to the device via a UART shell.

1️⃣ Connect a Micro-USB cable to the Micro-USB port on your RUBIK Pi 3.

2️⃣ Connect the other end of the Micro-USB cable to the host. Follow one of the following instructions based on the host operating system.

1️⃣ Run the following commands to install screen for accessing the UART console.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install screen

2️⃣ Run the following command to check the USB port:

ls /dev/ttyACM*

Sample output

/dev/ttyACM0

3️⃣ Run the following command to open the debug UART session.

sudo screen <serial_port> <baud_rate>

Example: sudo screen /dev/ttyACM0 115200
4️⃣ Open the debug UART interface and press Enter to display the authentication prompt.
5️⃣ If Canonical Ubuntu is already flashed on the device, log in via the UART console and proceed to reset the user password.

  • Account: ubuntu
  • Password: ubuntu
tip

If you are unable to log in properly, check that your RUBIK Pi 3 has been upgraded to the Ubuntu 24.04. For detailed upgrade steps, refer to Update software.

tip

If you do not see the authentication console as expected, please check the USB connection. If necessary, disconnect and reconnect the Micro USB cable.

Connect to the network​

Use one of the following methods to establish an internet connection and obtain the device's IP address.

The device is running in Station mode for Wi-Fi. When the device boots up, it initializes the Wi-Fi host driver and performs network management authentication. Users can establish a wireless connection using the nmcli command-line tool.

1️⃣ Run the following command to connect to the wireless access point (Wi-Fi router):

sudo nmcli dev wifi connect <WiFi-SSID> password <WiFi-password>

Example

sudo nmcli dev wifi connect RUBIKPiWiFi password 1234567890
Device 'wlan0' successfully activated with 'd7b990bd-3b77-4b13-b239-b706553abaf8'.

2️⃣ Run the following command to verify the connection and device status:

sudo nmcli -p device

3️⃣ Run the following command to verify the WLAN connection status and IP address.

ip addr

4️⃣ To ensure the connection is active, perform a ping operation to a website such as that of RUBIK Pi:

ping yahoo.com

Establish SSH connection​

Secure Shell (SSH) is used for secure file transfer between the host and RUBIK Pi 3.

Before connecting to SSH, ensure that the network connection is established.

1️⃣ To find the IP address based on the network connection type, run the following command in the UART console:

ip addr

2️⃣ Run the following command from the host to establish an SSH connection with the device. Use the IP address obtained in step 1.

ssh <user name>@ip-address

Example:

ssh ubuntu@192.168.0.222

3️⃣ To connect to SSH, enter the user's password when prompted.

note

Ensure that the host is connected to the same network as the device.

Verify Software Version​

After completing the setup and once the device has successfully booted, verify the OS version by running the following commands in the device shell:

cat /etc/os-release

Output:

NAME="Ubuntu"
VERSION_ID="24.04"
VERSION="24.04.2 LTS (Noble Numbat)"
VERSION_CODENAME=noble
ID=ubuntu
ID_LIKE=debian
HOME_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/"
SUPPORT_URL="https://help.ubuntu.com/"
BUG_REPORT_URL="https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/"
PRIVACY_POLICY_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/legal/terms-and-policies/privacy-policy"
UBUNTU_CODENAME=noble
LOGO=ubuntu-logo
note

Select the appropriate software upgrade path based on your current software version.

Connect an HDMI display​

To connect an HDMI display and view the wayland output with the output from sample applications, follow these steps:
1️⃣ Connect one end of the HDMI cable to the HDMI port on RUBIK Pi 3.
2️⃣ Connect the other end of the HDMI cable to the display.

3️⃣ Power on the device and check the HDMI display. You should see the default Canonical Ubuntu screen before any package updates are applied.

Connect to Keyboard and Mouse for SBC​

Connect USB Keyboard and Mouse to Type-A ports:

Essential Port Connection Details​

Enter into EDL mode​

EDL Mode is required to flash firmware and OS images to RubikPi 3 using Qualcomm's QDL tool.
If the device is pre-flashed and fully provisioned, EDL mode can be skipped during initial setup.

1️⃣ Disconnect the power supply from port 10, and the Type-C cable from port 5.

2️⃣ Press and hold the [EDL] button (No. 12 in the figure above).

3️⃣ While continuing to hold the [EDL] button, connect the power supply into port 10, as shown in the figure below.

4️⃣ While continuing to hold the [EDL] button insert the Type-C cable into port 5 and wait three seconds to enter 9008 mode.

5️⃣ Release EDL button