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--- raspberry_pi_as_dedicated_looping_video_player [2025/04/22 19:45] – created tkbletsc
+++ raspberry_pi_as_dedicated_looping_video_player [2025/04/22 19:55] (current) – tkbletsc
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-====== Raspberry Pi Video Player Setup ====== ===== Basic Setup ===== * Install latest Raspberry Pi OS Lite. * At first boot, set up account: * Username: **user** * Set a password. * Run `raspi-config`: * Set up **Wi-Fi** and **SSH** (temporary, for setup only). * Set hostname (e.g. **videopi**). * Update system: * `sudo apt update` * `sudo apt dist-upgrade` * Install VLC: * `sudo apt install vlc` ===== Add Video ===== * Obtain video via `wget` or `scp` (e.g. with WinSCP). * Assume filename is `test.mp4`. ===== Test Playback ===== * Run: * `cvlc --loop --no-video-title-show --fullscreen test.mp4` * Press `Ctrl+C` to exit. * Note: You can trigger video playback via SSH; video will display on the connected screen. ===== Enable Auto-login on tty1 ===== * Edit file: * `sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/getty.target.wants/getty@tty1.service` * Change this line: * `#ExecStart=-/sbin/agetty -o '-p -- \\u' --noclear - $TERM` * To: * `ExecStart=-/sbin/agetty -o '-p -f -- \\u' --autologin user --noclear - $TERM` * **Note:** This allows full system access to anyone with physical keyboard access. ===== Auto-Playback Script ===== Create `~/autoplay-on-tty-login`: ```bash #!/bin/bash # This script auto-plays the video on tty1 if [ $(tty) == "/dev/tty1" ]; then echo "Running $0..." echo -e '\e[93;41m \e[m' echo -e '\e[93;41m Auto-starting video playback in 5 seconds. Hit Ctrl+C to drop back to the terminal. \e[m' echo -e '\e[93;41m \e[m' echo sleep 5 bash ~/playvideo echo echo -e '\e[93;45m \e[m' echo -e '\e[93;45m Video playback aborted. Exiting this shell will restart video playback. \e[m' echo -e '\e[93;45m \e[m' echo else echo "$0: This script only runs on tty1." fi ```
+====== Raspberry Pi Video Player Setup ======
+This will rig a Raspberry Pi to boot into looping the same video (or videos) over and over forever, e.g. for an art installation. The card is configured to be read-only, so this setup should be fairly reliable in the long-term.
+===== Basic Setup =====
+  * Install latest Raspberry Pi OS Lite.
+  * At first boot, set up account:
+    * Username: **user**
+    * Set a password.
+  * Run ''raspi-config'':
+    * Set up **Wi-Fi** and **SSH** (temporary, for setup only).
+    * Set hostname (e.g. **videopi**).
+  * Update system:
+    * ''sudo apt update''
+    * ''sudo apt dist-upgrade''
+  * Install VLC:
+    * ''sudo apt install vlc''
+===== Add Video =====
+  * Obtain video via ''wget'' or ''scp'' (e.g. with WinSCP).
+  * We'll assume filename is ''test.mp4''.
+===== Test Playback =====
+  * Run:
+    * ''cvlc --loop --no-video-title-show --fullscreen test.mp4''
+    * Press Ctrl+C to exit.
+  * Note: You can trigger video playback via SSH; video will display on the connected screen.
+===== Enable Auto-login on tty1 =====
+  * Edit file:
+    * ''sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/getty.target.wants/getty@tty1.service''
+  * Change this line:
+    * ''#ExecStart=-/sbin/agetty -o '-p -- \\u' --noclear - $TERM''
+  * To:
+    * ''ExecStart=-/sbin/agetty -o '-p -f -- \\u' --autologin user --noclear - $TERM''
+  * **Note:** This allows full system access to anyone with physical keyboard access.
+===== Auto-Playback Script =====
+Create ''~/autoplay-on-tty-login'':
+<file>bash
+#!/bin/bash
+# This script auto-plays the video on tty1
+if [ $(tty) == "/dev/tty1" ]; then
+    echo "Running $0..."
+    echo -e '\e[93;41m                                                                                       \e[m'
+    echo -e '\e[93;41m  Auto-starting video playback in 5 seconds. Hit Ctrl+C to drop back to the terminal.  \e[m'
+    echo -e '\e[93;41m                                                                                       \e[m'
+    echo
+    sleep 5
+    bash ~/playvideo
+    echo
+    echo -e '\e[93;45m                                                                                       \e[m'
+    echo -e '\e[93;45m  Video playback aborted. Exiting this shell will restart video playback.              \e[m'
+    echo -e '\e[93;45m                                                                                       \e[m'
+    echo
+else
+    echo "$0: This script only runs on tty1."
+fi
+</file>
+Create ''~/playvideo'':
+<file>
+#!/bin/bash
+# Loop video playback forever until Ctrl+C
+/usr/bin/cvlc --loop --no-video-title-show --fullscreen ~/test.mp4
+</file>
+Append this to ''~/.bashrc'':
+<file>
+# Launch video if on tty1
+bash ~/autoplay-on-tty-login
+</file>
+Reboot and test. You should be able to press Ctrl+C to drop to a terminal.
+===== Optional: Enable TV Out =====
+Use ''raspi-config'' to enable TV out instead of HDMI (untested).
+===== Make SD Card Read-Only =====
+First, leave a warning for future people -- create ''~/CARD-IS-READONLY-BY-DEFAULT.txt'':
+<file>
+Note: the system is set up so that, by default, the SD card is never written to.
+This means that changes you make will go away with every reboot.
+If you want your changes to stick, run:
+  sudo mount -o remount,rw /media/root-ro
+Then make your changes in /media/root-ro -- NOT the regular directory.
+So, to change something in the home directory, you'd go to:
+  /media/root-ro/home/user/
+For reference, here are the steps that were done to make things this way:
+- sudo apt install overlayroot
+- Edit /etc/overlayroot.conf: set "overlayroot=tmpfs"
+- Edit /boot/cmdline.txt: add "fastboot noswap ro"
+- Reboot
+</file>
+To actually make card read-only:
+  * Install overlay root: ''sudo apt install overlayroot''
+  * Edit /etc/overlayroot.conf, set: ''overlayroot=tmpfs''
+  * Edit /boot/cmdline.txt, append (no line break): ''fastboot noswap ro''
+  * Reboot.