## **Step 2** - Writing an image to a microSD Card
You will need to use an image writing tool to install on your microSD Card the image build you have downloaded.
### Under Windows, Mac OS or Linux (via Graphic Interface)
Etcher is a graphical SD card writing tool that works on Mac OS, Linux and Windows, this is the easiest method for most users. Etcher also supports writing images directly from XZ files, without any prerequired decompression. To write your image with Etcher:
- [Download Etcher](https://www.balena.io/etcher/) and install it on your computer.
- Insert the microSD Card inside your SD card reader (microSD to SD adapter might be needed).
- Open Etcher and select the Helios64 image file from your local storage.
- Select the microSD Card you wish to write your image to.
- Review your selections and click 'Flash!' to begin writing data to the microSD Card.
### Under Linux (using dd via Terminal)
Armbian images are using XZ compression format, therefore we need xz-utils or xz tools to decompress the image first.
for Debian-based distribution (Debian/Ubuntu) you can install the utility using following command:
```bash
apt-get install xz-utils
```
in RedHat-based distribution (RHEL / CentOS / Fedora Linux) users can use this command:
```bash
yum install xz
```
after installing the compression tool, you can now decompress the images:
*Replace the filename by the image file name you downloaded.*
!!! note
/dev/sdX is where the microSD is mapped in your Linux machine, change the 'X' to your corresponding mapped device. If you set /dev/sdX to a wrong device then you might risk erasing a hard drive or different device than the designated microSD.
The serial port detection may vary on different system, please make sure to check the device manager to get the information of correct serial port to connect to Helios64. Check this [link](https://tnp.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/172101-determining-the-com-port-of-a-usb-to-serial-adapte) to learn how to determine the right COM port.
### Under Linux (via Terminal)
**1.** Install picocom
Use apt-get under Debian/Ubuntu
$ sudo apt-get install picocom
Use yum under RHEL / CentOS / Fedora Linux
$ sudo yum install picocom
**2.** Connect to serial with picocom
$ sudo picocom -b 1500000 /dev/ttyUSB0
To exit picocom do **Ctrl-a** then **q** button in squence
!!! note
Using command _ls -la /dev/ttyUSB*_ you should be able the find the USB to serial bridge device used by Helios64. Under Linux the device will be named **/dev/ttyUSBx**, where **x** is a digit.
### Under Mac OS (via Terminal)
Connect serial using the *screen* command
$ screen /dev/tty.usbserial-XXXXXXXX 1500000 -L
To exit the session do **Ctrl-a** then **Ctrl-k**
!!! note
Using command _ls -la /dev/tty.usb*_ you should be able the find the USB to serial bridge device used by Helios64. Under Mac OS the device will be named **/dev/tty.usbserial-xxxxxxxx**, where **xxxxxxxx** is some serial number.
By default Helios64 will try to obtain an IP address via DHCP. To figure out what is the allocated IP address you will need to type the following command in the console.
You will have to reboot for the network settings to take effect.
```bash
sudo reboot
```
!!! info
You can also refer to the following Debian Wiki [Page](https://wiki.debian.org/NetworkConfiguration#Setting_up_an_Ethernet_Interface) for advanced network settings.
You can now connect by SSH to your Helios64 to carry on with your configuration.
Here is the example when we use linux client:
You can use putty as the SSH client if you are using windows:
## **What to do next ?**
You can use **armbian-config** which provides an easy way to install 3rd party applications like *OpenMediaVault*, *NextCloud*, *Syncthing*, *Emby* and many more.
Here an example on how to install software OpenMediaVault (OMV) using the armbian-config.
```bash
sudo armbian-config
```
Select *Software* section:
