---
title: Raspberry Pi -- Homelab | Hylown
html_template: homelab/raspberry-pi/hylowncom_homelab_raspberry_pi.html
id_to_make_active: RaspberryPi-PCIE
source: true
---

# Setting up a Raspberry Pi to boot from PCIe


![]({root}assets/radxa.png){: width=743 height=604}


## Enable PCIe {: class="template__section" }

If using the official Raspberry Pi PCIe-to-M.2 Hat+, it should be automatically detected. 

For other PCIe Hats, enable PCIe by editing 

```
/boot/firmware/config.txt
```

by adding 

```
dtparam=pciex1
```

to the end of the file (should be under section ```[all]```).

Save and reboot.









## Put OS on NVMe -- GUI {: class="template__section" }

Run

```bash
$ lsblk
```

to see if the drive is detected; if not enable PCIe as per above.

If connected to a monitor, you can copy the OS image from the micro SD card to the NVMe using either the "SD Card Copier" software or the Raspberry Pi Imager, both of which are packaged with the OS.  

To use the SD Card Copier: 

```
>> Raspberry Pi icon 
>> Accessories 
>> SD Card Copier 
>> select the two appropriate disks 
>> click Start
```









## Put OS on NVMe -- CLI {: class="template__section" }

To install a bootable OS image to an NVMe drive, first get an OS image file from [downloads.raspberrypi.com](https://downloads.raspberrypi.com):

```bash
$ wget https://downloads.raspberrypi.com/raspios_arm64/images/raspios_arm64-2025-05-13/2025-05-13-raspios-bookworm-arm64.img.xz
```

and update the machine's software/firmware by running the following commands:

```bash
$ sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade
$ sudo reboot
$ sudo rpi-update
$ sudo reboot
$ sudo rpi-eeprom-update
```

Note that ```rpi-update``` updates the firmware and kernel; if it causes problems, it can be reverted using:

```bash
$ sudo apt update
$ sudo apt install --reinstall raspi-firmware
```

This is a "go back" saftey feature built in by the Raspberry Pi developers.

Note that ```rpi-eeprom-update``` updates the bootloader firmware; if you receive an eeprom error, it can be reverted by running:

```bash
$ sudo raspi-config
```

and making the configuration:

```
>> Advanced Options 
>> Bootloader Version 
>> select latest
```

and reboot.

Next, get the ```firstboot.sh``` file that we saved in the section [Initialize](raspberry_pi_initialize.html) to the Raspberry Pi using:

```bash
$ scp /path/on/other/machine/firstboot.sh /path/on/RPi/firstboot.sh
```

In the directory where you just put this file, run

```bash
$ ls -l
```

to check that the file has executable permission; if not, run

```bash
$ chmod +x firstboot.sh
```

Finally, we use the Raspberry Pi Imager from the command line to install the OS on the NVMe drive:

```bash
$ sudo rpi-imager --cli --first-run-script ./firstboot.sh 2025-05-13-raspios-bookworm-arm64.img.xz /dev/nvme0n1
```

You should now be able to boot the Raspberry Pi from the NVMe.  

You can always run

```
$ df /boot -h
``` 

to see what is the boot drive.

Run

```bash
$ sudo shutdown -h now
```

to turn off the Raspberry Pi.

Remove the power cord.

Remove the micro SD card

Reboot.









## Set boot priority {: class="template__section" }

The Raspberry Pi's default boot order will boot from a bootable NVMe drive if no other drive is found. But it will probably boot quicker after setting the boot order as follows:

```bash
$ sudo raspi-config
```

```bash
>> Advanced Options 
>> Boot Order 
>> B2 NVMe/USB Boot from NVMe before trying ...
```

Reboot.