Learning Linux Part 1: Building a Linux Machine

So begins my journey of learning Linux. I started with computers with a Commodore 64. In my first job in Columbus, Ohio, I used a Honeywell Level 62 mainframe. 

I have always had a fascination with small computers after using that monster of mainframe. I decided this year to learn Linux by using a Raspberry Pi 5.

I started out with an 8GB Raspberry PI since I thought I was most likely going to use Ubuntu.  The desktop version of Unbuntu needs at least 4GB of RAM.  When researching the Raspberry PI 5, I noticed several cases available.  I was looking for a case that supported NVME drives.  I settled on the Pironman 5 since it not only supported NVME but also supported two full size HDMI ports, and it had RGB lights! 

Here is what I ordered:

Raspberry PI 5

https://www.amazon.com/CanaKit-Raspberry-Basic-Kit-Card/dp/B0CVR1LP7G

Pironman 5

https://www.amazon.com/Pironman-Raspberry-Shutdown-Standard-Performance/dp/B0D5CTRSQK

NVME

https://www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-Internal-Expansion-MZ-V9P1T0B-AM/dp/B0BHJF2VRN

NVME Enclosure

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09T97Z7DM

Micro SD Card for the initial boot

https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Ultra-microSDXC-Memory-Adapter/dp/B0B7NXBM6P

I know what you are thinking.  Wow that is a lot of money for a computer that is less powerful than an old laptop.  True, but half the fun of it is putting the thing together.

I had some trouble with getting it working namely:

• The SD Card extender was faulty.  I had to request a replacement (which was free). 
• I accidentally did not seat the NVME cable all the way in and initially my drive did not work.

Here is the main video that I followed for the setup:

Pironman 5 Setup: Raspberry Pi 5 Case with NVMe M.2 SSD - Mini Pi PC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx9UNRfzjI4

I also heavily used this support page from SunFounder:

https://docs.sunfounder.com/projects/pironman5/en/latest/pironman5/intro_pironman5.html