Home Server GuideBuild it. Understand it. Maintain it.

First Boot

First Boot Troubleshooting

Work through these checks if the completed server does not appear in Advanced IP Scanner.

Guide difficulty⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Beginner Friendly
Estimated time⏱️ Around 10–30 minutes

Use this page when

  • The completed server does not appear to power on.
  • The Raspberry Pi is missing from the network scan.
  • The scanner shows too many devices to identify the Pi.
  • The Pi appeared once but has disappeared.

1. The server does not appear to power on

  1. Switch the 12V power brick off at the wall and disconnect it.
  2. Check that the barrel plug is firmly connected to the Radxa Penta SATA HAT.
  3. Check that the power brick is connected to a known-working wall socket.
  4. Do not connect a USB-C power supply to the Raspberry Pi.
  5. Reconnect the 12V power brick and switch it on.

Because the Raspberry Pi and most indicator lights are hidden inside the completed case, continue with the network scan before assuming the server has failed.

2. The Pi is not in the scan

  1. Confirm the Ethernet cable is connected securely at both ends.
  2. Confirm the computer running Advanced IP Scanner is connected to the same home network.
  3. Wait another five minutes and scan again.
  4. Close and reopen Advanced IP Scanner if Windows blocked local-network access.
  5. Restart your router only after the simpler checks above have failed.

3. Too many devices are listed

Switch the server off, scan the network and save or photograph the results. Switch the server back on, wait five minutes and scan again. Compare the two lists and look for the new device.

4. Check the microSD card

  1. Switch the power brick off and disconnect it before touching the microSD card.
  2. Remove and reinsert the card fully.
  3. If the problem remains, rewrite Raspberry Pi OS using Chapter 3 and carefully recheck the hostname, username, password and SSH settings.

Still not working?

Test with another Ethernet cable and, if available, another microSD card. Work through one change at a time so you know which part solved the problem.

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