# SK-TDA4VM Setup Guide

## Hardware requirements

- A [Texas Instruments TDA4VM single-board computer](https://www.ti.com/tool/SK-TDA4VM)
- A USB-C power cable to power the TDA4VM board
- A microSD card
- A desktop or laptop computer for flashing the microSD card
- A way to connect the microSD card to the computer (a microSD slot or microSD reader)
- An Ethernet cable
- An HDMI cable

## Required downloads

Download the following files to your computer:

- Download the [PROCESSOR-SDK-LINUX-SK-TDA4VM — Linux SDK for edge AI applications on TDA4VM Jacinto™ processors](https://www.ti.com/tool/download/PROCESSOR-SDK-LINUX-SK-TDA4VM) image.
- Next, download and install the [Balena Etcher](https://etcher.balena.io/#download-etcher) for your desktop/laptop OS. You will use Balena Etcher to flash the microSD card.

## Flash the image

#### Important

You must extract the image from the zip file before flashing the microSD card.

1. Insert the microSD card into a reader connected to your computer.
2. Launch Balena Etcher.
3. Click **Flash from File** to open the file selector.
4. Navigate to and select the image you downloaded.
5. Click **Select Target** to choose the storage device corresponding to your microSD card from the selector window.
6. Click on the desired device, then click **Select** to continue.
7. Click **Flash!**. If you receive a warning concerning the size of the microSD card, ensure that you have inserted the proper microSD and also selected the proper device, then click **Yes, I’m sure** to flash the board. The flashing and verification process may take 10-20 minutes, depending on your system.

#### Tip: How to think about building a machine

While the Etcher is flashing your microSD card, we recommend reading [How to think about building a machine](https://docs.viam.com/set-up-a-machine/first-machine/).

8. On completion of the flashing and validation process, remove the microSD card from your computer and insert it into the TDA4VM.

## Install Viam dependencies on the TDA4VM

1. Connect the board to Ethernet.
2. Connect the board to a monitor with the HDMI cable.
3. Connect the board to power using the USB-C power cable.
4. Use the credentials and IP address displayed in the upper right-hand corner of the monitor to SSH into the board.

From the SSH session on the TDA4VM board:

1. Clone the TDA4VM repo:
   
   ```sh
   git clone https://github.com/viam-labs/tda4vm-setup.git
   ```

2. Navigate to the setup directory:
   
   ```sh
   cd tda4vm-setup/
   ```

3. Make the server setup script executable:
   
   ```sh
   chmod +x tda4vm-viam-setup.sh
   ```

4. Launch the setup script to install `viam-server` dependencies:
   
   ```sh
   ./tda4vm-viam-setup.sh
   ```

Once this process completes, the board will reboot.

## Next steps

You have now installed an operating system on your board. To use your board, follow the [setup guide](https://docs.viam.com/set-up-a-machine/first-machine/):

[Set up your first machine\
\
Create a machine in the Viam app and install Viam on your compute device.](https://docs.viam.com/set-up-a-machine/first-machine/)

## Need assistance?

You can also ask questions in the [Community Discord](https://discord.gg/viam) and we will be happy to help.