Installation Guide

Set up your SROVA player.

This guide walks you through the complete first-time setup for a Raspberry Pi or compatible 64-bit Debian PC. You do not need to be familiar with Linux: follow the steps in order and copy each command exactly as shown.

SROVA is designed to run without its own monitor, keyboard or desktop interface. For the initial headless setup, you will need another computer connected to the same home network as the SROVA player.

Before you begin

Keep the other computer available throughout setup. It can be a Windows PC, Mac or Linux computer. You will use it to connect to the player, install SROVA and then open the SROVA interface in a web browser.

Choose your player

Which guide should you follow?

Follow only the section that matches the computer you are turning into a SROVA player.

ARM64

Raspberry Pi 4 or Pi 5

Use the Raspberry Pi guide for a Pi 4 or Pi 5 running the 64-bit version of Raspberry Pi OS Lite.

AMD64

64-bit Debian PC

Use the Debian PC guide for a compatible 64-bit Intel or AMD computer, including a NUC-class player.

ARM64 Setup

Raspberry Pi 4 or Pi 5.

Prepare the Pi from another computer, start it on your home network, and then complete the SROVA installation remotely.

Prepare Raspberry Pi OS

On your other computer, open Raspberry Pi Imager and write Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit) to a microSD card. Before writing the card, open the operating-system customisation settings and:

  • Create a username and a password you will remember.
  • Enable SSH using password authentication.
  • Enter your Wi-Fi details if you are not using Ethernet.
  • Set your country, time zone and keyboard layout.

Start the Raspberry Pi

Insert the prepared microSD card. Connect the Pi to your router or network switch with Ethernet if possible, then connect its power supply and allow two or three minutes for the first start.

If you configured Wi-Fi instead, make sure the Pi and your other computer are connected to the same home network.

Find the Raspberry Pi address

Open your router’s connected-device list and find the Raspberry Pi. Write down its local IP address. It will look similar to 192.168.1.50.

This address belongs only to your home network. Your exact numbers will probably be different.

Connect from the other computer

Open Terminal on macOS or Linux, or PowerShell on Windows. Replace the two placeholders below with the username you created and the Raspberry Pi’s local IP address. 

ssh <username>@<SROVA-player-LAN-IP>

The first connection may ask whether you trust the device. Type yes, press Enter, and then enter the password you created.

Update the package list

Once the command prompt shows that you are connected to the Pi, run: 

sudo apt update

If asked for your password, type it and press Enter. Linux does not display password characters while you type.

Download the ARM64 package

Create a Downloads folder on the Pi and download SROVA Version 2.0: 

mkdir -p ~/Downloads
cd ~/Downloads
wget -O srova_2.0-1_arm64.deb https://downloads.srova.music/srova_2.0-1_arm64.deb

Install SROVA

Install the downloaded package. APT will also install the software components SROVA needs: 

cd ~/Downloads
sudo apt install -y ./srova_2.0-1_arm64.deb

AMD64 Setup

Compatible 64-bit Debian PC.

Start with a compatible 64-bit Debian-based operating system, enable remote access, and then complete the SROVA installation from another computer on the same network.

Prepare the Debian PC

Install your compatible 64-bit Debian-based operating system, create a username and password, and connect the future SROVA player to your home network. Ethernet is recommended for a dedicated music player.

You may need a monitor and keyboard while installing the operating system. Once remote access is working, SROVA itself can run without them.

Enable remote access

On the future SROVA player, open its Terminal and install the SSH service: 

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y openssh-server
sudo systemctl enable --now ssh

Find the player’s address

Run the following command on the future SROVA player: 

hostname -I

Write down the first local IP address shown. It will look similar to 192.168.1.50.

Connect from the other computer

Open Terminal on macOS or Linux, or PowerShell on Windows. Replace the placeholders with the Debian username and the local IP address you just found. 

ssh <username>@<SROVA-player-LAN-IP>

Download the AMD64 package

Once you are connected remotely, download SROVA Version 2.0: 

mkdir -p ~/Downloads
cd ~/Downloads
wget -O srova_2.0-1_amd64.deb https://downloads.srova.music/srova_2.0-1_amd64.deb

Install SROVA

Install the downloaded package: 

cd ~/Downloads
sudo apt install -y ./srova_2.0-1_amd64.deb

After installation

Open your SROVA player.

These final steps are the same on Raspberry Pi and Debian PC.

Confirm that SROVA is running

In the same remote terminal, check the SROVA service and display the player’s local IP address: 

systemctl status srova.service --no-pager
hostname -I

Look for “active (running)” in the service information. Press Enter after each command.

Open SROVA in your browser

On your other computer, open a web browser and enter the address below. Replace the placeholder with the SROVA player’s local IP address:

http://<SROVA-player-LAN-IP>:8081

For example, if the player address is 192.168.1.50, open http://192.168.1.50:8081.

Important audio-safety warning

Before selecting an audio output or starting playback, turn your amplifier or headphone volume all the way down. Select only the external USB DAC you intend to use. On Raspberry Pi, do not select onboard analogue or HDMI audio. On a Debian PC, do not select internal analogue, speaker or HDMI outputs. Raise the listening volume slowly only after playback has started correctly.

First launch

Complete the initial setup.

SROVA will guide you through its first-run safeguards. Complete these steps before you begin listening.

  1. Read and acknowledge the first-launch volume warning.
  2. Open Settings and select your external USB DAC as the audio output.
  3. Turn the amplifier volume up slowly and test playback at a safe level.
  4. Add a My Music folder if you want to play local music.
  5. Sign in to TIDAL only if you want to use your own TIDAL account.
  6. Open the same SROVA address on a phone or tablet to use it as your remote control.

If something does not open

A few simple checks.

Most first-time connection problems are caused by an incorrect IP address or by the two computers being on different networks.

Check the network

Confirm that the SROVA player and the device running your browser are connected to the same router or home network.

Check the address

Run hostname -I again on the player and use the first local address shown, followed by :8081.

Restart the service

sudo systemctl restart srova.service

Read the latest service messages

journalctl -u srova.service -n 100 --no-pager