How to Login to the System

Illustration for How to Login to the System documentation

Summary

After flashing an OS image to your SD card and powering on your Banana Pro or Banana Pi for the first time, you need to log in to start configuring the system. This page covers all available login methods and the default credentials for popular distributions.

Who This Is For

New users who have just completed their first boot and need to access the system, as well as experienced users who need a quick reference for default passwords across different OS images.

What You Will Do

Choose a login method (SSH, serial console, or HDMI + keyboard).
Log in with default credentials.
Change the default password immediately.
Set up SSH key authentication for future access.

Login Methods

Method A — SSH (Network Login)

SSH is the most common way to access the board headlessly. Requirements:

The board must be connected to your network via Ethernet (or WiFi if pre-configured).
Find the board's IP address. Check your router's DHCP client list, or scan with nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24.
Connect from your host computer:
```
ssh user@192.168.1.xxx
```
Replace user with the default username for your distribution (see table below).

Method B — Serial Console (UART)

A serial console connection works even when the network is not configured. You will need:

A 3.3 V TTL USB-to-serial adapter (such as CP2102 or FTDI). Do not use a 5 V adapter — this will damage the board.
Connect TX, RX, and GND between the adapter and the board's UART header.
Open a terminal program (PuTTY, minicom, or screen) with settings: 115200 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit (8N1).

screen /dev/ttyUSB0 115200

Method C — HDMI + Keyboard

Connect an HDMI display and a USB keyboard directly to the board. After boot, a login prompt will appear on screen. Enter the default username and password.

Default Credentials by Distribution

Distribution	Username	Password
Raspbian for Banana Pi	pi	raspberry
Armbian	root	1234
Ubuntu	ubuntu	ubuntu
Bananian	root	pi
Debian (LeMaker)	root	bananapi

⚠ Security Warning: Change the default password immediately after first login.

Change Your Password

Run the following command after logging in:

passwd

Enter the current password, then type your new password twice. Choose a strong password with at least 12 characters.

Set Up SSH Key Authentication

For more secure, password-less access:

On your host computer, generate a key pair if you do not already have one:
```
ssh-keygen -t ed25519
```
Copy the public key to the board:
```
ssh-copy-id user@192.168.1.xxx
```
Test the connection — you should log in without being asked for a password.
Optionally, disable password authentication in /etc/ssh/sshd_config by setting PasswordAuthentication no and restarting SSH.

Verification

After logging in, confirm the system is operational:

uname -a
df -h
free -m

These commands show the kernel version, disk usage, and available memory.

Troubleshooting

Cannot find the board's IP address: Ensure the Ethernet cable is connected and your router's DHCP server is active. Try arp -a on your host or use nmap.
SSH connection refused: The SSH server may not be enabled by default. Use the serial console to enable it: sudo systemctl enable ssh && sudo systemctl start ssh.
Wrong password: Verify you are using the correct credentials for your specific distribution. Some images change defaults between versions.
Serial console shows garbled text: Check your baud rate is set to 115200 and your adapter is 3.3 V (not 5 V).

Author: LeMaker Documentation Team
Last updated: 2026-02-10