Caution

WIP = Work in progress! This warning will be removed after project's documentation is completed.

video-display

Video display in use.

Table of Contents

• Objective
• Hardware specifics
• Software used
• Steps
• 01 Install RPI-Imager
• 02 Choose correct options for your device
• 03 Edit OS customisationsettings

Objective

Automatic video display with SSH connection for configuration

Goal of this project is to create easy to use (switch on / switch off) low (or no) maintenance system for viewing videos at exhibition.

This system is implemented on Raspberry Pi 4B (4 GB RAM) with Raspberry Pi OS Lite (Debian Linux 12) as operating system.

Functionality

1. Project video-display enables systemd service (playvideos.service) when the device starts up.
2. This service points to a bash script that uses
3. VLC player to play video files with MP4 file extension in a loop from the /home/ubuntu/video (or other user defined) folder.

Hardware

• Raspberry Pi 4B (4 GB RAM) with 3A power supply
• 64 GB microSD card
• Micro HDMI - HDMI cable for connecting
• 27" Lenovo thinkVision T27h-30 display for viewing the videos

Steps

1. Run 01-install-rpi-imager.sh script to install and start Raspberry Pi Imager

chmod +x ./01-install-rpi-imager.sh

If needed use chmod to make script executable and then run the script.

./01-install-rpi-imager.sh

2. Use drop down menus for choosing correct options for your device

Raspberry Pi Device --> Raspberry Pi 4
Operating System --> Raspberry Pi OS (other) --> Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit)
Storage --> Choose your storage device and click Next

3. Edit OS customisation settings

Choose EDIT SETTINGS --> GENERAL tab

• Set hostname to your preference. In this example the default raspberrypi.local is used.
• Also Set username and password to your preference.
• In this example we Configure wireless LAN and set up network's name SSID and Password. This is a step for accessing this server remotely in configuration phase. Set up also Wireless LAN country to comply with deployment country's regulatory domain.
• We'll Set locale settings to Finnish but you can choose according to your own preference.

Go to SERVICES tab

• Choose Enable SSH and Use password authentication

Caution

For better security it is recommended to use the Allow public-key authentication only option but as this device won't be connected to any network when in running mode we will be using the Use password authentication option.

On OPTIONStab disable Enable telemetery and enable Play sound when finished and Eject media when finished.

4. Apply settings and create OS image on microSD card

Apply settings

Create OS image on microSD card

Note

You might be asked for privileged user password at this point

After installer has verified a successfull write remove microsSD card safely using your operating system's dialog for this.

For example in many Linux GUI distros this can be done by choosing microSD card in Disks software left pane and then pressing Eject this disk icon from up.

5. Insert ready microSD card to Raspberry Pi and start Pi

Insert ready microSD card to Raspberry Pi. When started Pi should automatically register to wireless network that was set up back in step 3.

6. SSH connection to configure Pi

This step assumes you are on the same network with Raspberry Pi.

Software

• This system uses Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit) as operating system.
• Bootable microSD for Raspi 4 is created with Raspberry Pi Imager.
• VLC player takes care of playing videos in loop.

Detailed information of Raspberry Pi OS

cat /etc/os-release

PRETTY_NAME="Debian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)"
NAME="Debian GNU/Linux"
VERSION_ID="12"
VERSION="12 (bookworm)"
VERSION_CODENAME=bookworm
ID=debian
HOME_URL="https://www.debian.org/"
SUPPORT_URL="https://www.debian.org/support"
BUG_REPORT_URL="https://bugs.debian.org/"

The hostnamectl command gives also plenty of information. This information can be filtered by piping hostnamectl command with àwk as in the example below.

hostnamectl | awk '
/Operating System:/ {print}
/Kernel:/ {print}
/Architecture:/ {print}'

Operating System: Debian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)
          Kernel: Linux 6.12.34+rpt-rpi-v8
    Architecture: arm64

Pre-requisites script

#!/bin/bash

# Update package lists
echo "Checking available upgrades..."
sudo apt update > /dev/null 2>&1

# Check for upgradable packages
UPDATES=$(apt list --upgradable 2>/dev/null | grep -v Listing)

if [ -n "$UPDATES" ]; then
    echo "Upgrades available. Proceeding with upgrade..."
    # Upgrade packages
    sudo apt upgrade -y
else
    echo "No upgrades available."
fi

# Install VLC player.

sudo apt install vlc -y

Bash script for looping videos

nano videos-player.sh

#!/bin/bash

VIDEO_DIR=/home/ubuntu/video # Define directory for the videos

while true; do
    for video in "$VIDEO_DIR"/*.mp4; do
        if [ -f "$video" ]; then
            cvlc --no-video-title-show --play-and-exit "$video"
        fi
    done
done

Service

Creation of a service

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/playvideos.service

[Unit]
Description=Play Videos Loop

[Service]
ExecStart=/bin/bash /home/ubuntu/videos-player.sh
Restart=always
User=ubuntu

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Enable service to start when the device is started

   sudo systemctl enable playvideos.service 

Power consumption

System draws less than 26 watts maximum from the power outlet when playing 60 FPS full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution videos. CHECK THIS WITH DIFFERENT VIDEO FORMATS, RESOLUTON AND BITRATES!!!

Important

List details of video formats used HERE!