▦ ESP32 LINUX WEB INSTALLER

SMALL BOARD. REAL LINUX.

From your browser.
Onto your board.

Install Linux on your ESP32-S3 over USB. Choose a build, connect your board, and continue in Google Chrome on your computer.

Requires ESP32-S3 N16R816 MB flash · 8 MB OPI PSRAM
01

Choose your build

Two builds. One chip.

Both builds require N16R8. The headless image targets compatible development boards with this memory configuration; not every board model has been tested. The display build requires the specific SVERIO Paperboard v1 wiring.

02 / CONNECT & INSTALL

Linux for Paperboard

Connect your board with a USB data cable. Close other serial monitors, then select the board’s port in the next dialog.

A full installation overwrites all 16 MB of flash.
This includes existing settings, passwords, and files in /etc and /home.

Loading USB installer…

Open this page in Google Chrome on a computer.Installation requires HTTPS or localhost. USB / Web Serial · 16 MB full imageDownload the .bin file ↓

03 / FIRST LOGIN & WI-FI

Make your first connection.

After flashing, close the browser’s serial connection and restart the board. Open a serial terminal at 115200 baud, log in, then run wifi to scan for networks and configure Wi-Fi for wireless transfers. Select your network and enter its password.

Use any serial terminal. Select your board’s port: for example, COM3 on Windows or /dev/ttyUSB0 / /dev/ttyACM0 on Linux. Set 115200 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, and no flow control. Port names vary by computer.

● ● ● UART · 115200
# Serial terminal settings:
Port: your board’s serial port
Speed: 115200 baud · 8N1 · no flow control

Welcome to Buildroot
buildroot login: root
Password: changeme123
# wifi
Choose your network and enter its password.
Change the default password with passwd.

Before you unplug

Which board do I need?

You need an ESP32-S3 N16R8: 16 MB flash and 8 MB OPI PSRAM. These images are not for N8R8, N16R2, ESP32, S2, or C3 boards. Check the module marking or manufacturer’s documentation. The installer detects the ESP32-S3 chip family; it does not verify the required PSRAM type and capacity.

My port is missing or will not connect.

Use a USB data cable and close applications using the serial port. If automatic bootloader entry fails, hold BOOT, briefly press RESET/EN, release BOOT, and reconnect. Depending on the USB bridge, your board may need its manufacturer’s driver.

Which USB connector should I use?

Use your board’s USB–UART connector for the Linux serial terminal. This build uses UART0 (TX GPIO43, RX GPIO44). A board with only native USB may need an external USB–UART adapter with 3.3 V logic. USB flashing support does not guarantee a Linux console on the same port.

Can I use another display or board?

The display build targets ED097TC2 and SVERIO Paperboard v1 wiring. A different panel or pin assignment requires firmware changes. The headless build does not activate the e-paper driver.

Why does installation not work from a local HTML file?

Serve this page and all included files from a local server or an HTTPS host. To run locally, launch python3 serve.py from the installer folder and open http://127.0.0.1:8080 in Chrome.