Getting Started with Umbrel

Welcome to Umbrel! This guide will help you set up your personal server so you can start running Bitcoin and Lightning Network nodes, host your own apps, and take control of your data.

What is Umbrel?

Umbrel is a user-friendly platform that allows you to run your own personal server at home or in the cloud. With Umbrel, you can:

• Run a Bitcoin and Lightning Network node.

• Install self-hosted apps like Nextcloud, Pi-hole, and more.

• Take control of your data and enhance your privacy.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

Hardware Requirements

• A computer or device to run Umbrel (e.g., Raspberry Pi 4, Ubuntu server).

• At least 4 GB of RAM.

• A minimum of 1 TB external SSD for storing the Bitcoin blockchain.

Network Requirements

• A stable internet connection.

• Router with available Ethernet ports (recommended for Raspberry Pi installation).

  
  

Installation Options

Choose one of the following installation methods that best suits your setup.

Option 1: Install on a Raspberry Pi

Hardware Requirements

• Raspberry Pi 4 (4 GB or 8 GB RAM).

• MicroSD card (16 GB or larger).

• External SSD (1 TB recommended).

• Ethernet cable.

• Power supply for Raspberry Pi.

Steps

1. Download Umbrel OS

   • Visit the Umbrel website and download the latest Umbrel OS image.

2. Flash the SD Card

   • Use a tool like balenaEtcher to flash the Umbrel OS image onto the MicroSD card.

3. Assemble the Hardware

   • Insert the MicroSD card into the Raspberry Pi.

   • Connect the SSD to a USB 3.0 port on the Pi.

   • Connect the Raspberry Pi to your router using the Ethernet cable.

   • Power on the Raspberry Pi.

Option 2: Install on a Linux Machine

Supported Systems

• Ubuntu/Debian-based distributions.

Steps

1. Open Terminal

2. Run Installation Command

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

3. Follow On-Screen Instructions

   • The script will install Docker and set up Umbrel on your machine.