What is a Raspberry Pi used for?
IT infrastructure can get expensive fast, making single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi appealing for small projects. Learn what a Pi does and explore IT use cases. The Pi first developed in 2012, and many new generations and types have since become available. Because of its low cost — prices start around $35 — the Raspberry Pi is within reach for anyone who wants to become familiar with programming, electronics and computer-based controls.
Because the Pi was initially designed for educational purposes, many projects available online focus on hobbyist and learning contexts — but it also has applications in business and IT operations.
What is a Raspberry Pi?
The Raspberry Pi is a type of single-board computer (SBC), meaning that its entire hardware set is placed on a single electronics board. There are no CPU sockets, memory slots or extension buses, such as Peripheral Component Interconnect Express, or PCIe, to swap out or add components.
The board of a Pi contains a CPU; memory; LAN, USB and micro HDMI ports; and a slot for a micro SD card. The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B is the top model at the time of publication.
Raspberry Pi features
With the broad choice of SBCs available today, there’s one for every project. An SBC for a simple home project requires different specs than one for an industry project in an enterprise environment. But the Pi remains one of the most popular SBCs thanks to its enormous community support and accessory availability.
Choosing the right model for a project requires an understanding of what features the Pi offers. More traditional boards, ranging from the Pi 1 to the latest 4 Model B, have USB 3.0 ports, an Ethernet port and — for some models — a dual HDMI port. While the Zero has only a micro HDMI and micro USB port, it offers Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support, which the aforementioned models lack.
Raspberry Pi enterprise use cases
For corporate environments, it can’t truly compete with dedicated enterprise options, but it still presents an affordable and highly customizable alternative for certain projects.
For example, a Pi with a connected external hard disk can function as a server for network-attached storage (NAS). While this can’t replace NAS for hundreds of users, it could be a simple and affordable option for a branch office or small business. The Zero can create a wireless print server that can turn a printer with only a wired Ethernet network connection into a printer that’s accessible over Wi-Fi.
Administrators can also use it as a controller to show statistics or messages on an external screen without running a full-blown PC. A simple SBC can run a Linux-based monitoring tool and display the output through an HDMI connection to create a highly customizable dashboard tool. Similarly, it can control displays for digital signage. For projects like these, a Pi 4 Model B with an Ethernet port is the best choice.
Another use case could be for thin clients. Several vendors offer the option to use a Raspberry Pi as an alternative to more expensive thin clients. A Pi with the latest specs for CPU capacity, RAM and dual HDMI ports can be used as a thin client for Citrix and VMware tools or with Remote Desktop Protocol.
Even without a specific use case for your organization’s IT environment, learning to use a Pi can still be a good way to improve your understanding of computer hardware and your familiarity with Linux. Raspberry Pi projects can also be a great introduction to working with Kubernetes, as Raspberry Pi computers are capable of running the lightweight Kubernetes distribution MicroK8s.
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Read More: What is a Raspberry Pi used for? – TechTarget
