While eagerly awaiting the release of Nirvati, the true FOSS home server operating system, we’ve been exploring some unconventional solutions on our CmRat. Although we champion FOSS (free and open source) software and provide open-source schematics for our hardware, this doesn’t limit you from using non 100% FOSS options with our boards.
For instance, we decided to try CasaOS. While it operates under the open-source Apache License 2.0, which is a FOSS license and quite permissive in allowing derivative works without requiring the distribution of their code under the same license, the user interface of CasaOS isn’t open source.
CasaOS aims to make self-hosting more user-friendly and visually appealing while offering a system you could rely on daily. It can be installed as a standalone OS or on top of existing Linux installations such as Debian or Ubuntu. In this case, I first installed a compatible Debian version with the CM3 Compute Module on the CmRat board: the radxa-cm3-rpi-cm4-io_debian_bullseye_cli_b15.img. This image, essentially Debian 11 in command line, is part of Radxa’s system images for the ROCK3 Compute Module with the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 IO Board. Since this IO board is fully compatible with the CmRat by DTV Electronics Carrier Board, the setup was seamless.
Now, let’s dive into preparing the image, installing the OS, setting up CasaOS, and configuring various apps.
Preparing and flashing the image
Finding the image in the beginning was a bit of struggle, but luckily the company Radxa (the manufacturer of the CM3, the compute module we are using) maintains a series of images with Debian, and also Ubuntu. I prefer Debian so I installed it.
I decided to go for the command line interface (CLI) as I plan to use the CmRat in headless mode (without connecting it to a HDMI) as I prefer to access it remotely with the web ui or with the SSH interface by using softwares like Termius.
However, it’s important to note that the CmRat features a modern mini HDMI and even a USB Type C and many more I/O ports. For this test I will run my CmRat with a single cable, a PoE Ethernet that brings connection to the internet but also electricity thanks to the out of the box support of this super-useful technology.
After downloading the image, we flashed it onto our microSD card by using apps like Balena Etcher, ideally using an endurance-grade SD card. These cards are more reliable and offer greater durability for repetitive read/write tasks, ensuring a longer lifespan. Additionally, the CmRat supports an NVMe expansion slot, which is ideal for this CasaOS setup since I plan to install a media center and several other applications.
Powering on and SSH into the CmRat
After powering on the device with the MicroSD inserted, the green light on the CmRat will start blinking, indicating that the RadxaOS image is running successfully. You can now connect to the CmRat via SSH using an app like Termius.
First, find the device’s IP address through your router. Then, connect via SSH by entering the IP address as the host, and using “radxa” for both the username and password (these are the default credentials for most RadxaOS images).
Installing CasaOS
Installing CasaOS it’s quite simple since it’s just a command you need to type:
curl -fssl https://get.casaos.io sudo bash
Then press enter and the installation will begin.
The installation process will last around a few minutes. At the end of the installation, CasaOS will tell you which one is the address where you can access the WebUI for the CasaOS Dashboard.
Type on the blue “Go” button to start.
You will now be prompted to insert your user and set the password. In this way only you and the people designated by you will be able to access CasaOS WebUI.
The CasaOS Web GUI
The main view of CasaOS is extremely appealing, probably one of the best we’ve seen recently. On the left side you can see a series of widgets displaying the time, cpu and ram usage, storage drives, network status. In the middle you can see your apps. CasaOS comes with the App Store and a Files navigator apps preinstalled.
Clicking on the settings icon in the top left corner will reveal a simple and clean settings menu. From there, you can easily update your CasaOS installation with a single click, enable automatic USB mounting, and effortlessly change the wallpaper and language.
The App Store features most of the Open Source apps you might expect. There is literally everything, Home Automation, Media Center, VPN, AI, DDNS, File Browser, RSS and much more. It’s truly stunning and the application are installed in one click.
The way CasaOS is built is that every app runs in a docker container, separated from each other. Everyone who has used Docker containers is aware of the fact that when containers are removed Data is cleared unless a volume is used. Due to this, Docker containers are termed to be ephemeral, meaning data lasts for a short time. But this doesn’t mean that when you restart the device you lose your data, basically the docker container will be rebuilt based on the settings (which are saved in the memory). So basically you delete and install the apps in one click, very quickly and easily.
If you want to customize the ports and volumes and much more used by one app, you click on the three dots icon and then on settings.
You can then set up and customize nearly every aspect of the app’s Docker container, including the Docker image version, title, icon URL, web UI, network, ports, volumes, environment variables, devices, container command, and much more. These features are tailored for power users, but some apps may require this level of adjustment depending on your volume configuration and network setup.
For instance, after installing AdGuard Home, I realized I couldn’t access the WebUI. This was due to the Docker container requiring some adjustments, as demonstrated in the following video:
CasaOS on CmRat CM3 Performances
You might be curious about the performance of the CmRat CM3. I tested various apps simultaneously on the CM3, which features an 8GB RAM Quad-core ARM Cortex A55 Rockchip 3566 Compute Module. Even with multiple apps running concurrently, along with downloading and streaming, the CPU usage remained consistently low, around 15-20%, and the RAM usage was similarly minimal. With CasaOS installed, the CmRat effectively handled everything I threw at it.
For storage, I used a standard SanDisk MicroSD, but for more intensive usage, I recommend opting for a Sandisk or Samsung Endurance MicroSD card. These are designed for high reliability and can withstand intensive read/write processes, reducing the risk of data corruption compared to standard MicroSD cards. If you’re planning to use your CmRat without an NVMe drive, this type of SD card would be a better choice. However, if you do install an NVMe and offload the more demanding apps, like Transmission or Plex, to it, you shouldn’t encounter any issues, as NVMe drives are built for such tasks.
CasaOS on CmRat CM3 Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Easy to install | ❌ CasaOS isn’t 100% FOSS |
| ✅ Beautiful user interface | ❌ No Bitcoin-related apps in the CasaOS App Store |
| ✅ Loads of Open Source apps | |
| ✅ Stable and Reliable |
Bottom Line
Installing CasaOS on the CmRat CM3 demonstrates just how versatile this carrier board is, capable of handling almost anything you can imagine. CasaOS, though not 100% FOSS, offers numerous FOSS apps and a user-friendly interface that makes it accessible to virtually anyone.
Thanks to the CmRat’s ability to accommodate various compute modules, we used one of the oldest models in this review, and the performance was impressive—even with multiple Docker containers running, there were no freezes. In conclusion, the CmRat CM3 is an excellent choice for using with CasaOS, delivering great performance and stability at an affordable price.
Learn more about DTV Electronics’ CmRat and other FOSS products.
