piSignage Player2 Setup on Linux platforms (Tested for Debian/Ubuntu current versions)

Player2 is a new generation piSignage player based on new Raspberry Pi OS and also available for many more platforms based on Debian/Linux and as PWA/Android apps.

⚠️ Important:
Make sure video playback is supported in Chromium browser or VLC with hardware acceleration before choosing your Linux SBC.

B. Preparing the OS for piSignage installation

Installing Debian/Ubuntu and configure

1. Download OS with desktop (64/32-bit) and prepare SD/USB using Imager software

2. Configure the OS, mostly chose default Window manager

3. Select user pi with password needed

4. Configure Network as needed wifi/Ethernet

5. Enable ssh server if you need terminal access

   sudo apt install openssh-server        # Install the SSH server
   sudo systemctl enable ssh              # Enable SSH service at boot
   sudo systemctl start ssh               # Start the SSH service (or use sudo systemctl restart ssh if needed)
   

6. Upgrade the OS using

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt full-upgrade -y
   

7. For Raspberry Pis, select the HDMI audio interface under raspi-config if needed

8. On boot login and open terminal to add the user to sudo group
   su -
usermod -aG sudo pi

9. Reboot

10. sudo visudo and add the following as last line
    <username, for e.g. pi> ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD:ALL

11. Check if chromium-browser or chromium exists

    which chromium-browser
    which chromium
    # If neither is present, install using the following steps:
    sudo apt-get -y install chromium-browser
    # If 'chromium-browser' package is not found:
    sudo apt-get -y install chromium
    cd /usr/bin
    sudo ln -s chromium chromium-browser
    

12. Check if there is a entry in /etc/hosts for hostname
    hostname
cat hostname

    otherwise add the same
    127.0.0.1 <hostname>

Install piSignage software (for all platforms)

1. Copy the piSignage software zip file to home directory /home/pi
   wget https://pisignage.com/releases/pi-image-p2-v20.zip

2. Unzip, change permissions

   unzip -o pi-image-p2-v20.zip
   cp player2/build-scripts/install-pisignage.sh .
   chmod +x install-pisignage.sh
   chmod +x -R player2/build-scripts
   chmod +x -R player2/shell-scripts
   

3. Install piSignage software
   ./install-pisignage.sh

4. Notice the log for any Errors

5. Update any packages if needed
   sudo apt update --fix-missing

   Note:
   If the provided script does not work, you can manually adjust desktop environment settings using the GUI (such as dconf-editor) or the gsettings command.
   Disable the following features as needed:

   • Screen Lock
   • Screen Saver
   • Power Management
   • Screen Dimming
   • Notifications
   • Taskbar appearance for applications like web browser, mpv, and vlc players

Upgrading software with new zip file for Manual upgrade, not needed for auto upgrade

1. Copy the pi-image-p2-v14.zip to home directory /home/pi
2. unzip -o pi-image-p2-v14.zip
3. chmod +x -R player2/shell-scripts

Note:
If you need support for image generation for your hardware, please contact us (include your hardware type, OS details, and error log) at support@pisignage.com.