Setup guide
From hardware selection to your first connected device — everything you need to get Hiclaro running.
Recommended hardware
Hiclaro runs on any Linux-capable device with a WiFi interface. These are tested and recommended options.
Raspberry Pi 5
Best performance. 4 GB RAM model is sufficient for most setups.
Raspberry Pi 4
Solid choice. 2 GB RAM or more recommended.
Orange Pi 5
Good performance. Requires the ARM64 image.
Raspberry Pi 3 (64-bit)
Works, but noticeably slower with multiple plugins running.
Recommended storage
Hiclaro writes telemetry data continuously. Storage choice has a significant impact on reliability and longevity.
SSD (via PCI-e or USB 3.0)
Fastest and most reliable. PCI-e is preferred where available; USB 3.0 is a solid fallback.
USB 3.0 Flash Drive
More durable than SD cards. Use a reputable brand.
microSD Card
Use a Class 10 / A2-rated card. SD cards wear out faster under continuous write load.
Installation
Download the server image
Go to the Downloads page, select your hardware from the list, and download the image file. The image ships with the Hiclaro server pre-installed — no internet connection is needed on first boot.
Flash the image
Use Balena Etcher or the Raspberry Pi Imager to write the image to your SD card, USB stick, or SSD. Select the downloaded file as the source and your storage device as the target.
Boot your device
Insert the storage into your device and power it on. The first boot takes a minute or two while the system expands the filesystem and starts all services. No display or keyboard is required.
Connect to the setup hotspot
Because the device has no network configured yet, it automatically creates a WiFi hotspot named Hiclaro-Setup. Connect your phone or laptop to this hotspot to proceed with setup.
Configure your home WiFi
Open the Hiclaro app while connected to the hotspot. The app will detect setup mode and prompt you to enter your home WiFi network name and password. The device will then connect to your home network and the hotspot will disappear.
Connect the Hiclaro app
Reconnect your phone or laptop to your home WiFi. The Hiclaro app will automatically discover the server via mDNS — no IP address or manual configuration needed.
Troubleshooting
Common issues and how to resolve them.