Raspberry Pi 4 alternative: Odroid M1 8GB RAM – the Ultimate DIY Guide

Raspberry Pi 4 alternative:
Odroid M1 8GB RAM to run a Bitcoin Full Node & Lightning Node – The Ultimate DIY Guide

Get 2TB DIY Bitcoin full node running for less than 300 euros, 1TB option less than 250 euros!

Why Odroid is a good alternative

Get everything ready that you need to run your Bitcoin node:

HARDWARE

As it is hard to find Raspberry Pi 4 8GB RAM now, run your node on Odroid.

Order from HardKernel.com, Odroid.co.uk or Odroid.nl
162 euros, Odroid M1 8GB Ram is a perfect alternative.
Make sure to pick the 8 GB RAM version for better performance.

This is what I paid including PSU & metal case & shipping & taxes.

Order from Amazon:
105 euros, 2TB Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe M.2 SSD (M-key)
(1TB version available for 65 euros, but not recommended
as Bitcoin full blockchain is already 560GB+ in the time of the writing June 2023,
that is growing approximately 100-150GB a year, currently).
15 euros, be quiet! MC1 NVMe heatsink (MC1 Pro is even better with 20 euro).
7 euros CAT 7 LAN cable (CAT 6 is also ok but I prefer high quality cable).

Total
162+105+15+8=290 euros, 1TB option would be 225 euros!
You can order plug-and-play version from my E-Shop with the price of 405 or 365 euros.

What’s next?

Consider if you might need for extra cost?

30 euros: M.2 SSD external enclosure for M-key, better fast USB 3.2 gen 2 Type-C.
I use Silicon Power SP PD 60 to flash OS into NVMe before inserting it into Odroid M1 board, it is the easiest option to do so (don’t recommend other options at all, too complicated).

30 euros: keyboard (and mouse) with usb wire.
As a minimum you need a keyboard with usb wire & HDMI cable & monitor.

Flashing the OS

Insert the NVMe SSD into SSD enclosure & connect with your computer.
Flash the Odroid M1 Ubuntu 20.04 OS image into NVMe using balenaEtcher software: https://etcher.balena.io/

Find OS image Ubuntu 20.04 Gnome Desktop here (Server and other versions not recommended):
https://wiki.odroid.com/odroid-m1/getting_started/os_installation_guide?redirect=1#tab__odroid-m1
Direct link to the OS image:
https://dn.odroid.com/RK3568/ODROID-M1/Ubuntu/ubuntu-20.04-gnome-desktop-odroidm1-20220926.img.xz

Install the heat sink around the NVMe SSD closing the 4 screws (screw driver included)
& insert it into the Odroid M1 NVMe slot and close with a little screw (included)
& close the metal case with other 4 screws (included).

Plug HTMI & LAN & PSU cable into Odroid M1 into, wait 10 second it to boot up (can be longer, if first time).

You will see Ubuntu booting up fast & need to log in.
Password for Odroid user is “odroid”.

Click command/control key and search for “Terminal” & click Enter.

Enter command: curl -L https://umbrel.sh | bash

If message: bash: curl: command not found

The procedure to install cURL on Ubuntu Linux is as follows:

1. Update your Ubuntu box, run: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
2. Next, install cURL, execute: sudo apt install curl
3. Verify install of curl on Ubuntu by running: curl --version

Source:
https://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/how-to-install-curl-command-on-a-ubuntu-linux/

Then, enter again command: Enter command: curl -L https://umbrel.sh | bash

Have patience to wait 10-20 minutes when Umbrel OS is being installed.

When installation successful you will see text: “Umbrel installed or similar”

And address where it is accessible like: http://umbrel.local

You can now use your normal PC / MAC connected to the same Wifi network and
open from browser: http://umbrel.local

Insert username you want to use and password (make sure to remember them).

Install apps
Bitcoin Core & Tor

After Bitcoin node is fully synced
about after 1 week you can also run the:
Lightning Network app
and even earn some sats opening channels and routing other people payments.

Other useful Bitcoin apps
(that also work only after full sync)
Electrs – Connect your Bitcoin only hardware wallet Bitbox02 to it
Mempool – see the current Bitcoin blockchain fee situation

Transmission & Plex – Download and see video files.

Let me know in the comments if you have any comments or you had success in first try.

That’s it! Happy Node running.