First boot: from unboxing to your first menu

What’s in the Server Kit#

Everything you need is in the box. There’s nothing extra to buy before your first boot.

• Raspberry Pi 5 (4 GB) with heatsink case
• USB-C power supply
• Micro-HDMI to HDMI cable
• SD card, pre-flashed with your license baked in
• Quick-start card with your admin URL

You’ll also need an HDMI display (a TV, monitor, or the display you’re planning to drive menus on) and either Wi-Fi or an Ethernet cable.

1. Plug it in#

1. 1
   Connect HDMI to your display

   Use the micro-HDMI-to-HDMI cable. The Pi’s HDMI ports are next to the USB-C power port — use the one labelled HDMI 0 (closer to the USB-C).

2. 2
   Insert the SD card (if not already inserted)

   It slides into the slot on the underside of the Pi. The contacts face up.

3. 3
   Power it on

   Plug in the USB-C power supply. You’ll see the rainbow boot screen, then Blazeboard will take over.

2. Get it on Wi-Fi#

You have two options, depending on whether you have an Ethernet cable handy.

3. Open the admin UI#

Once the Pi is online, open the admin UI from any device on the same network:

4. Build your first menu#

The admin UI is organised in four sections: Overview, Content, Display, and Operations. For a first menu, you’ll touch Content → Strains, Menus, Media, and Sequences.

1. 1
   Add product types

   Go to Content → Product Types. Create categories (Flower, Pre-rolls, Edibles, etc.), then add items under each. Set per-unit prices (eighth, quarter, half, ounce) at the category level — they’ll inherit to every item automatically.

2. 2
   Add strains

   Go to Content → Strains. Enter name, THC %, CBD %, terpenes, and strain type (indica / hybrid / sativa). Assign each strain to the right product category.

3. 3
   Upload promo media (optional)

   Go to Content → Media to upload images or H.264/AAC videos for promos and deals. Everything converts to Pi-friendly formats on upload.

4. 4
   Build a sequence

   Go to Content → Sequences. A sequence is the ordered list of pages your TV cycles through. Add a few menu steps (one per category or one combined page), plus any promos or deals.

5. Assign the sequence to a screen#

1. 1
   Create a screen

   Go to Display → Screens, click New screen, give it a short code (e.g. main), pick a template (try Denseboard or Clinical Clean for a first pass), and save.

2. 2
   Attach the sequence

   Edit the screen and select the sequence you just built. The screen now knows what to play.

6. Publish & go live#

Hit the Publish button on the sequence or the screen page. Publishing writes an atomic JSON artifact that your display polls every few seconds — there’s no delay beyond that poll, so content starts playing immediately.

To view the display itself, visit http://<pi-ip>:43100/display/<code> from any browser, or just look at the TV connected to the Server Kit.

What to do next#

• Connect a POS so your sold-out state syncs automatically.
• Invite your team from /dashboard/team so budtenders can manage the waitlist board.
• Troubleshoot your display if the TV is showing the wrong orientation, blank, or flickering.
• Explore Admin → Template Builder once you want a custom layout — you can mix sections, headers, and custom blocks freely.

If something isn’t working#

• I don’t see the TV splash. Double-check the HDMI cable — the Pi has two HDMI ports; use the one nearest the USB-C power port (HDMI 0).
• I can’t reach the admin UI. Try the IP address directly (find it on your router’s DHCP table). If you’re on a corporate network, mDNS (.local) is often blocked.
• Setup mode won’t start. The Pi needs about 30 seconds of no-network time to enter setup mode. Unplug Ethernet and power-cycle if needed.
• It’s still confusing. Open a support ticket — we’ll walk you through it.