🛠️ What You’ll Need
Before starting, make sure you have the following:
✅ ZimaBlade 7700 unit
✅ Power adapter (USB Type-C, 5V/3A minimum)
✅ MicroSD card / USB drive / SSD for OS installation
✅ Monitor (HDMI) and keyboard/mouse (USB or Bluetooth)
✅ Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi adapter (if needed)
🔹 Step 1: Prepare Your Bootable OS
The ZimaBlade 7700 supports multiple operating systems like Ubuntu, Debian, Windows, and OpenMediaVault (for NAS setup).
To install an OS, follow these steps:
🖥️ Option 1: Install Ubuntu or Debian (Recommended)
1️⃣ Download the OS Image
- Get the latest Ubuntu Server or Debian from the official website.
- For a NAS, download OpenMediaVault instead.
2️⃣ Create a Bootable USB
- Use Rufus (Windows) or Balena Etcher (Mac/Linux) to burn the image to a USB drive.
3️⃣ Insert USB & Boot the ZimaBlade
- Connect your USB drive to ZimaBlade.
- Plug in the HDMI monitor & keyboard.
- Power ON the device and press F7 to enter the boot menu.
- Select the USB drive and proceed with the OS installation.
4️⃣ Follow On-Screen Installation Steps
- Choose language, keyboard layout, and user details.
- Partition your SSD (if applicable).
- Complete the installation and reboot.
🖥️ Option 2: Install Windows
1️⃣ Download the Windows 10/11 ISO from Microsoft.
2️⃣ Use Rufus to create a bootable USB.
3️⃣ Boot ZimaBlade using the USB and install Windows.
4️⃣ After installation, install necessary drivers from Intel’s website for better performance.
🔹 Step 2: Configure Network & Access
1️⃣ Connect to Ethernet or Wi-Fi
- If using Ethernet, plug it in, and the system will automatically configure the network.
- For Wi-Fi, use
sudo nmcli device wifi connect “YourWiFiSSID” password “YourPassword”
2️⃣ Find Your Device’s IP Address
Run:
ip a | grep inet
This will show your local network IP (e.g., 192.168.1.100).
3️⃣ Enable SSH for Remote Access
Install and enable SSH for remote management:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install openssh-server -y
sudo systemctl enable ssh
sudo systemctl start ssh
Now, you can access your ZimaBlade from another PC using:
ssh username@192.168.1.100
🔹 Step 3: Install Essential Software
Once the OS is set up, install key packages:
✅ Update & Upgrade
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
✅ Install Docker (For Running Apps Easily)
sudo apt install docker.io -y
sudo systemctl enable –now docker
✅ Install Webmin (GUI Server Management)
wget -q -O – http://www.webmin.com/jcameron-key.asc | sudo apt-key add –
sudo add-apt-repository “deb http://download.webmin.com/download/repository sarge contrib”
sudo apt update && sudo apt install webmin -y
Access Webmin at:
https://your-server-ip:10000
🔹 Step 4: Set Up ZimaBlade for Different Use Cases
📡 Option 1: Set Up a Personal Cloud (Nextcloud)
Install Nextcloud to create your own cloud storage:
docker run -d -p 8080:80 –name nextcloud -v nextcloud:/var/www/html nextcloud
Access it via http://your-ip:8080 and configure user settings.
🎬 Option 2: Set Up a 4K Media Server (Plex)
Run Plex to stream media:
docker run -d –name plex -p 32400:32400 -v plex:/config -e PLEX_CLAIM=your_claim plexinc/pms-docker
Access it via http://your-ip:32400/web.
💾 Option 3: Build a DIY NAS (OpenMediaVault)
For Network Attached Storage, install OpenMediaVault:
wget -O – https://github.com/OpenMediaVault-Plugin-Developers/installScript/raw/master/install | sudo bash
Once installed, access the Web UI at
http://your-server-ip
Login with default credentials (admin / openmediavault).
🔹 Step 5: Optimize Performance
🔹 Enable Automatic Security Updates
sudo apt install unattended-upgrades -y
sudo dpkg-reconfigure unattended-upgrades
🔹 Reduce Power Consumption
Lower CPU usage with power-saving mode:
sudo apt install powertop -y
sudo powertop –auto-tune
🔹 Enable Firewall
sudo ufw enable
sudo ufw allow 22/tcp
sudo ufw allow 80/tcp
sudo ufw allow 443/tcp
🎯 Final Thoughts
The ZimaBlade 7700 is a powerful yet compact server for various applications. Whether you want a personal cloud, a home media center, or a NAS, this step-by-step guide should help you get started!
🚀 Need more help? Let me know in the comments below! 🚀