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Banana Pi BPI-R3: Everything you need to know

23
By androidpimp on August 17, 2024 Embedded Computers
Table of contents
  1. Banana Pi BPI-R3 board
  2. Banana Pi BPI-R3
  3. Specifications
  4. Key Features
  5. Real-World Applications
  6. Improved Cooling
  7. A Quick Product Demo
  8. Banana Pi BPI-R3 Board Layout
  9. Hardware
    1. Storage Interfaces
    2. Connectivity
  10. Wi-Fi 6 Ready
    1. Misc & Other Interfaces
    2. Part 1: Package Contents, Unboxing, and Hardware
    3. Package Contents:
  11. Unboxing All Items
    1. The Banana Pi R3 Board
    2. Unboxing the Banana Pi R3 Case – 1 of 2
    3. Unboxing the Banana Pi R3 Case – 2 of 2
    4. Power Supply
    5. Antennas
  12. Part 2: Case Design
    1. Great Design but not flawless
  13. Part 3: Operation
    1. Downloading OpenWrt image file
  14. Flashing and Booting From eMMC
  15. Bootstrap switch
  16. Flashing OS files via USB Serial Module
    1. How to Install an M.2 NVMe SSD
    2. Installing an SSD Card With a Heatsink
    3. NVMe Performance Testing
    4. (Read/Write) SSD Performance Test
  17. Part 4: Installing a Fan-Cooled Heat Sink
    1. FAN Wiring Configurations (Options)
    2. Configuration Option No. 1 (Passive Cooling)
    3. Cooled FAN Heatsink
    4. Preparing Conductive Silicone Thermal Pad
    5. Configuration Option No. 2
    6. Connecting 4 Pins Cooled Heatsink wires w/ the XH2.54 4 PIN wires
    7. Final Step (Powering/Operating the FAN)
    8. How to Automatically load the script
    9. Configuration Option No. 3
    10. Connecting 4 Pins Cooled Heatsink wires w/ the VH3.96-2PIN wires
    11. Configuration Option No. 3 (With Support for PWM)
  18. Configuration Option No. 4 (Without PWM Support)
    1. Adjusting these trip points
    2. Controlling the fan rotation speeds:
  19. Part 5: Checking Temperatures
    1. Testing another Cooling Configuration.
  20. Part 6: WiFi Antennas Installation (Best Practices)
    1. Antennas Arrangement & Installation
    2. Installation tips!
  21. Installing a Wi-Fi 6E Expansion Network Card
  22. Part 7: Adding a 2.5G Network Card (Optional Configuration)
  23. Part 8: Setting up a NAS Server (Optional Configuration)
    1. How to set up a NAS device (Optional Configuration, DIY Style)
  24. Part 9: Connectivity
    1. Network Throughput Testing using iPerf
    2. What WIFI throughput speeds should you expect?
    3. iPerf Test: 2.5 SFP RJ45 LAN Speed Test
  25. Banana Pi R3 (Back view)
    1. iPerf Test: Wireless (WiFi) Speed Test
  26. Tweaking Network Performance
  27. Final Thoughts
  28. Should You Buy it?
  29. Price and Availability

Part 8: Setting up a NAS Server (Optional Configuration)

The Banana Pi R3 board offers plenty of interfaces and expansion slots. The M.2 Key M is an excellent choice to install an NVMe SSD or use it as a NAS device via an M.2 SATA expansion card. Cages for optical 2.5G SFP modules are another nice touch added to the R3 board. Still, it only adds a little value for a wired network connection area as the five Ethernet ports only support throughput speeds of 1Gbps. As an alternative configuration, if you don’t need an optical interface, you can also use a pair of 2.5 BASE-T Gigabit SFP to RJ45 modules.

How to set up a NAS device (Optional Configuration, DIY Style)

This upgrade might be helpful if you want to add multiple storage devices and connect them to the Banana Pi R3 Board. The things you need to buy are listed in the table below. For the 12V power supply output, you can use the VH3.96 Pins.

Before connecting any wires, use a multimeter tester to measure the electrical voltage.

NAS Configuration
Banana Pi R3 board with four 2.5 Inch SSDs!
M.2 NVMe M-Key PCIe 3.0 to SATA 6-port Expansion Card.
Installing the card when the R3 is entirely powered off.
Cable Sleeve (Optional)

Before connecting all cables to the R3 board, arrange them with a plastic sleeve with the desired diameter.
Connecting the main power supply cable
– Solder 4 Pin Molex Peripheral Cable wires (Item 4) with the 12V wires on the VH3.96mm 2PIN Terminal Wire (Item 3).
– Connect the power cable to the R3 board and the docking station.
– Connect the four SATA Cables to the external docking station.
Drilling a Hole for the wires
Because there is no space inside the R3 Case to mount all four SSDs, you will need to connect with the docking station externally. For the writing, you will probably need to drill a hole in the upper cover or side of the Case.

NAS Configuration

 Setting Up a NAS Device (Items list)

Item No’

Item Photo

Description

QTY

Buy Link

1

M.2 NVME M-Key PCIE 3.0 to SATA x5 port expansion Card

1

Buy Now!


2

4 or 6 Slots Sata 2.5 Inch HD Rack

1

Buy Now!


3

VH3.96mm 2PIN Terminal Wire (With conector).

1

Buy Now!


4

4-Pin Molex Peripheral Computer Cable

1

–

5

SATA 3.0 III Data Cables

(Available in Different Lengths)

4

Buy Now!


6

Corrugated Pipe.
(Optional, for the Wires)

1

Buy Now!


AndroidPIMP.COM will not be liable or responsible for any loss or damage caused by improper wiring/assembly of the above components.

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Melroy van den Berg
2 years ago

When you do recommend installing a passive (or active) heat sink to this setup? Passive cooling is I think a no brainer, it’s cheap and silent. Strange they don’t add passive heat sink to their package product, as part of the package.

0
Reply
androidpimp
2 years ago
Reply to  Melroy van den Berg

“Strange they don’t add passive heat sink to their package product, as part of the package”.
They had some supply problems because of COVID.

If you have a large heatsink that will fit and cover all chips, it might be worth trying the passive cooling option. Just use a lower in height so you have the option to add a fan.

0
Reply
Melroy van den Berg
2 years ago
Reply to  androidpimp

I just noticed that the “complete kit” also comes with heat sinks. Seperate heatsinks for each chip. If you buy a large heatsink, that will work as well, BUT keep in mind that the chips have different heights, meaning you should use different heat pads (1.5 mm and 0.5 mm) to have a good coverage of the heat sink on the different chips. I did read about performance issues on forum.banana-pi.org forum, when you don’t cool the chips enough. Especially with passive cooling, it might still be a good idea to add additional vent holes manually in the casing. Since… Read more »

0
Reply
androidpimp
2 years ago
Reply to  Melroy van den Berg

So use 1.5-2 mm thermal pads. Nothing will happen. They are elastic, so it does not matter if you are using the highest type for all chips. It’s not rocket science. I agree about the vent holes. You can drill a few holes.. or you can also glue a small fan to the bottom of the case. And maybe use the GPIO header pins as a power source. Just to get the hot air out of the case.

0
Reply
Melroy van den Berg
2 years ago
Reply to  androidpimp

Actually there is a fan header connnector on the R3 board. Which can do PWM.

0
Reply
androidpimp
2 years ago
Reply to  Melroy van den Berg

Kindly Try it, and let me know if it works well.
you can email me with the info. Thanks

0
Reply
Melroy van den Berg
2 years ago

Ps. also add a link to the package deal of the Banana Pi BPI-R3? https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004886608696.html.

Since you mentioned the single board computer only on your last page.

0
Reply
androidpimp
2 years ago
Reply to  Melroy van den Berg

Thanks. I added the link for the complete kit.

0
Reply
Ivan
2 years ago

Which version of PCIe does the board support?

0
Reply
androidpimp
2 years ago
Reply to  Ivan

According to MediaTek website >> M.2 M-Key PCIe interface (2-lane PCIe 2.0)

0
Reply
Hattan
2 years ago

Is there any nas software or docker image that will handle those multiple hdds ? Exampme if i want to raid, zfs or btrfs

0
Reply
androidpimp
2 years ago
Reply to  Hattan

1) OpenWrt has NAS support.
2) You can also try CasaOS.
3) OpenMediaVault should run on Debian.

0
Reply
Pablo
1 year ago

I don’t get what is about the ONTi SFP. It is suposed to be a GPON ONT? In aliexpress I see that it comes in pairs (Tx 1310 and Rx 1550 the first one and other with Tx 1550 and 1310), like a pair which is meant to be connected together.

https://es.aliexpress.com/item/4000265957277.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.17.5893oPf4oPf4kf&algo_pvid=54d3e4cb-00c6-4269-8acb-3ae1e2c40f54&algo_exp_id=54d3e4cb-00c6-4269-8acb-3ae1e2c40f54-8&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21ARS%217735.49%213867.74%21%21%2122.10%21%21%402132a26216964772264216569ed485%2110000001076765699%21sea%21AR%214647643211%21AB&curPageLogUid=VmCG7Kwqm2TR

0
Reply
androidpimp
1 year ago
Reply to  Pablo

This module is not compatible with GPON technology.
If the module information / specifications do not indicate it’s a GPON compliance, then it is safe to say that it is not GPON compliant.

0
Reply
Miles
1 year ago

Did you use anything to glue the copper-made sheet plates on chips?

Last edited 1 year ago by Miles
0
Reply
androidpimp
1 year ago
Reply to  Miles

I used a thermal silicone adhesive plaster.

0
Reply
Jacky
6 months ago

This website doesn’t work. Whenever you click on a topic or try to love to Next page it refreshes the page and stays on page 1

0
Reply
Author
androidpimp
6 months ago
Reply to  Jacky

Thank u. The problem was fixed.

0
Reply
domel
6 months ago

Hello, I can’t read other 9 pages from 10 in the Banana Pi BPI-R3: Everything you need to know article. Now content is unavaible. Please to fix, it’s great portion of knowledge. Best regards

0
Reply
Author
androidpimp
6 months ago
Reply to  domel

Hi, please check now.
Thanks

0
Reply
domel
6 months ago
Reply to  androidpimp

It’s working now, great, thank You:)

0
Reply
Miles
1 month ago

Above you mention that the XH2.54 4PIN SATA power connector can be used with a 12v fan. Would I lose PWM capacity?

0
Reply
Author
androidpimp
1 month ago
Reply to  Miles

It should work, but I didn’t try it with a 12V Fan. In a worst-case scenario, you can always buy a 5V separately from AliExpress and assemble it with screws on top of your existing heatsink.
If you choose to connect to the 3-pins FAN socket using Banana Pi original heatsink, PWM is also enabled by default or at least the option to
set a tipping temp point when the fan will stop or start working.

0
Reply
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