🛠 Getting Started with Banana Pi BPI-CM5
Objectives
This tutorial guides you through the physical assembly and first boot of the Banana Pi BPI-CM5 computer module. Unlike standard single-board computers, the CM5 is a compact module (55x40 mm) designed to plug into a carrier board. We will verify Board-to-Board compatibility, connect essential peripherals, and validate the Linux operating system operation.
Required Hardware
- Banana Pi BPI-CM5 module (Amlogic A311D2 SoC, 4GB RAM, 16GB eMMC)
- Carrier board compatible with Raspberry Pi CM4 (or dedicated BPI-CM5 carrier)
- Stable power supply (typically 5V/3A or 12V depending on the carrier)
- HDMI cable (the module has an HDMI 2.1 transmitter port)
- USB keyboard and mouse (USB 3.0 or 2.0 port)
- microSD card (optional, for booting if eMMC is empty)
- HDMI-compatible monitor
Steps
- Compatibility Check: The BPI-CM5 uses Board-to-Board connectors compatible with the Raspberry Pi CM4. Ensure your carrier board accepts this form factor. Gently insert the module into the carrier connector until it is securely seated.
- Peripheral Connection: Connect the monitor to the module's HDMI 2.1 transmitter port. Connect the keyboard and mouse to the available USB ports (USB 3.0 or 2.0). If using a microSD card to install Ubuntu or Debian, insert it now.
- Power Up: Connect the power supply to the carrier board. Status LEDs should light up. The Amlogic A311D2 SoC (4x Cortex-A73 + 4x Cortex-A53) will initiate the boot process.
- System Installation (if needed): If the eMMC is empty, the system will attempt to boot from the microSD. Use Balena Etcher to flash a Linux image (Armbian, Ubuntu) onto the card before insertion.
- First Access: Once the system loads, log in via the graphical interface or SSH if configured. Check that network interfaces (Gigabit Ethernet) are active.
Verification
Open a terminal and type uname -a to confirm the Linux kernel. Check memory with free -h (expecting 4GB LPDDR4). Test network connectivity with ping 8.8.8.8. Ensure the Mali-G52 MP8 GPU is detected via glxinfo | grep "OpenGL".
Going Further
Explore the CM5's unique video capabilities, including the three HDMI receiver ports and V-by-One interfaces for multi-stream capture applications. Also, configure the PCIe 2.0 interface to add NVMe storage.