Install Node-RED on Raspberry Pi (works on RPI OS 64-bit)

This is a quick guide showing how to install Node-RED on a Raspberry Pi. We tested this installation on Raspberry Pi OS (32-bit) and Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit).

Install Node-RED on Raspberry Pi works on RPI OS 64-bit

Prerequisites

Before proceeding:

Installing Node-RED on Raspberry Pi

Having an SSH connection established with your Raspberry Pi, enter the following to install Node-RED:

bash <(curl -sL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/node-red/linux-installers/master/deb/update-nodejs-and-nodered)

Node-RED is installed by default on the Raspberry Pi OS (32-bit). However, it is recommended to run the previous command to install the required packages and update it to the most recent version. You’ll get a message informing you about this. Press Y and press Enter to accept.

Node-RED is not installed by default on Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit).

Then, you’ll be asked: “Would you like to install Pi-specific nodes?” Press Y and Enter.

It will take a few minutes to install Node-RED. In the end, you should get a similar message on the Terminal window:

Installing Node-RED on Raspberry Pi

Configure Node-RED Settings

After installing, it is recommended to configure initial options and settings. Run the following command:

node-red admin init
Configure Node-RED Settings
  • Press Enter to create a Node-RED Settings file on /home/pi/.node-red/settings.js
  • Do you want to set up user security? Yes.
  • Enter a username and press Enter (you need to remember it later).
  • Enter a password and press Enter (you need to remember it later).
  • Then, you need to define user permissions. We’ll set full access, make sure the full access option is highlighted in blue and press Enter.
  • You can add other users with different permissions if you want. We’ll just create one user for now. You can always add other users later.
  • Do you want to enable the Projects feature? No.
  • Enter a name for your flows file. Press Enter to select the default name flows.json.
  • Provide a passphrase to encrypt your credentials file. Learn more about what is a passphrase.
  • Select a theme for the editor. Simply press Enter to select default.
  • Press Enter again to select the default text editor.
  • Allow Function nodes to load external modules? Yes.

Node-RED configuration was successful. All settings are saved on settings.js.

Start Node-RED

Run the following command to start Node-RED:

node-red-start

You should get a similar message on the Terminal:

Node-RED start Terminal Window

Access Node-RED

Node-RED runs on port 1880. To access Node-RED open a browser and type the Raspberry Pi IP address followed by :1880. For example:

192.164.1.106:1880

You’ll get access to the Node-RED login page. Login with the username and password you’ve set previously.

Node-RED Login Page

Now, you have access to Node-RED. You can start building your flows.

Node-RED Welcome Screen

Autostart Node-RED on boot

To automatically run Node-RED when the Pi boots up, you need to enter the following command. This means that as long as your Raspberry Pi is powered up, Node-RED will be running.

sudo systemctl enable nodered.service

Now, restart your Pi so the autostart takes effect. The next time the Raspberry Pi restarts, Node-RED will be already running.

sudo reboot

If, later on, you want to disable autostart on boot, you can run:

sudo systemctl disable nodered.service

For more information about the installation process, check the official documentation.

Wrapping Up

Congratulations! You successfully installed Node-RED on your Raspberry Pi. Now, you can start building your Home Automation System. Using MQTT with Node-RED is a great option to gather data from several sensor nodes and send commands to actuators. You can also resend your sensor data to InfluxDB and have a history of your data saved on a database.

You may also like reading:

Thanks for reading!



Learn how to build a home automation system and we’ll cover the following main subjects: Node-RED, Node-RED Dashboard, Raspberry Pi, ESP32, ESP8266, MQTT, and InfluxDB database DOWNLOAD »
Learn how to build a home automation system and we’ll cover the following main subjects: Node-RED, Node-RED Dashboard, Raspberry Pi, ESP32, ESP8266, MQTT, and InfluxDB database DOWNLOAD »

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5 thoughts on “Install Node-RED on Raspberry Pi (works on RPI OS 64-bit)”

  1. Probably a great article but… what is Node-RED and why we need it (or not). I don’t think mentioning some usefulness of it at the end is the right way. I got it, you have to keep it short and to the point on how to install it. In this case a link to external source would be more than enough.

    Reply
  2. hi

    i installed v17 nodered, but now i have the following issues? can you help please>
    pi@raspberrypi:~ $ node-red-start
    bash: node-red-start: command not found
    pi@raspberrypi:~ $ sudo apt-get update
    Hit:1 https://deb.nodesource.com/node_17.x buster InRelease
    Hit:2 https://dl.yarnpkg.com/debian stable InRelease
    Hit:3 http://raspbian.raspberrypi.org/raspbian buster InRelease
    Hit:4 http://archive.raspberrypi.org/debian buster InRelease
    Reading package lists… Done
    pi@raspberrypi:~ $ sudo apt-get install –reinstall nodered
    Reading package lists… Done
    Building dependency tree
    Reading state information… Done
    Some packages could not be installed. This may mean that you have
    requested an impossible situation or if you are using the unstable
    distribution that some required packages have not yet been created
    or been moved out of Incoming.
    The following information may help to resolve the situation:

    The following packages have unmet dependencies:
    nodered : Depends: npm (>= 5.8)
    E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.
    pi@raspberrypi:~ $

    Reply
  3. Hey Guys, got a problem with this one. I’ have an older version running on a Rpi2b, and just aquired a 3b and planned to use it as a backup. Things have changed since the first one, like Node Red being on node-red 3.2 with the security features, so when I get through the admin init stage, and type node-red-start in the terminal window, I get “bash: node-red-start: command not found”. Not sure where to go with that?

    Reply

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