Running JupyterLab Server on Raspberry Pi and Accessing it from Network Devices

JupyterLab is a powerful web-based interactive development environment that’s perfect for data science, machine learning, and general Python programming. Setting it up on a Raspberry Pi allows you to create a portable, low-cost computing environment that can be accessed from any device on your network. This guide will walk you through the complete process of installing, configuring, and accessing JupyterLab on your Raspberry Pi.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

  • Raspberry Pi 3, 4, or 5 with Raspberry Pi OS installed1
  • Internet connection for downloading packages
  • SSH access enabled (optional but recommended)
  • Basic familiarity with Linux terminal commands

Step 1: Prepare Your Raspberry Pi

Update Your System

First, update your Raspberry Pi to ensure all packages are current:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y

Install Required Dependencies

Install Python 3 and pip if they’re not already available:

sudo apt install python3-pip python3-venv -y

Most Raspberry Pi systems come with Python pre-installed, but it’s good practice to verify the installation1.

Step 2: Set Up a Virtual Environment

Creating a virtual environment is highly recommended as it isolates your JupyterLab installation and prevents conflicts with system packages2.

Create the Virtual Environment

python3 -m venv jupyter_env

Activate the Virtual Environment

source jupyter_env/bin/activate

You should see (jupyter_env) at the beginning of your terminal prompt, indicating the virtual environment is active2.

Update pip

pip install --upgrade pip

Step 3: Install JupyterLab

With your virtual environment activated, install JupyterLab and the IPython kernel:

pip install jupyterlab ipykernel

For additional functionality, you may also want to install common data science packages:

pip install numpy pandas matplotlib scipy

If you plan to work with Raspberry Pi GPIO pins, install the RPi.GPIO library:

pip install rpi.gpio

Step 4: Configure JupyterLab for Network Access

By default, Jupyter only accepts connections from localhost (127.0.0.1)34. To access it from other devices on your network, you need to configure it properly.

Generate Configuration File

Create a JupyterLab configuration file:

jupyter lab --generate-config

This creates a file at ~/.jupyter/jupyter_lab_config.py5.

Edit Configuration for Remote Access

Open the configuration file with a text editor:

nano ~/.jupyter/jupyter_lab_config.py

Add or uncomment the following lines in the configuration file:

<em># Allow connections from any IP address</em>
c.ServerApp.ip = '0.0.0.0'

<em># Set the port (8888 is default)</em>
c.ServerApp.port = 8888

<em># Don't open browser automatically</em>
c.ServerApp.open_browser = False

<em># Allow remote access</em>
c.ServerApp.allow_remote_access = True

Save the file and exit the editor (in nano: Ctrl+X, then Y, then Enter).

Set Up Password Protection (Recommended)

For security, set up password protection:

jupyter lab password

Enter and confirm your desired password. This creates an encrypted password hash in your Jupyter configuration5.

Step 5: Start JupyterLab Server

Basic Server Launch

Start the JupyterLab server:

jupyter lab

The server will start and display output similar to:

[I 2024-01-01 12:00:00.000 ServerApp] Serving at http://0.0.0.0:8888/lab
[I 2024-01-01 12:00:00.000 ServerApp] Use Control-C to stop this server

Running in Background (Optional)

To run JupyterLab in the background and keep it running after you disconnect:

nohup jupyter lab > jupyter.log 2>&1 &

This command:

  • nohup prevents the process from stopping when you log out
  • > jupyter.log 2>&1 redirects output to a log file
  • & runs the process in the background

Step 6: Find Your Raspberry Pi’s IP Address

To access JupyterLab from other devices, you need your Pi’s IP address:

hostname -I

Or use:

ip addr show

Look for an address like 192.168.1.100 (your actual IP will vary based on your network configuration).

Step 7: Access JupyterLab from Network Devices

From Any Device on Your Network

  1. Open a web browser on any device connected to the same network
  2. Navigate tohttp://[PI_IP_ADDRESS]:8888
    • Replace [PI_IP_ADDRESS] with your Pi’s actual IP address
    • Example: http://192.168.1.100:8888
  3. Enter your password if you set one up, or use the access token displayed in the terminal

Using SSH Tunneling (More Secure)

For enhanced security, especially over public networks, use SSH tunneling:

ssh -L 8888:localhost:8888 pi@[PI_IP_ADDRESS]

Then access JupyterLab at http://localhost:8888 on your local machine56.

Step 8: Advanced Configuration Options

Custom Port Configuration

If port 8888 is already in use, specify a different port:

jupyter lab --port=8889

Or modify the configuration file:

c.ServerApp.port = 8889

Allow Root Access (Use with Caution)

If running as root user:

jupyter lab --allow-root

Set Working Directory

To start JupyterLab in a specific directory:

jupyter lab --notebook-dir=/path/to/your/notebooks

Security Considerations

Important Security Measures

  1. Always use password protection when allowing remote access4
  2. Consider using HTTPS for production environments
  3. Limit network access using firewall rules if needed
  4. Keep your system updated regularly
  5. Use strong passwords and consider token-based authentication

Firewall Configuration (Optional)

To restrict access to specific IP ranges:

sudo ufw allow from 192.168.1.0/24 to any port 8888

Troubleshooting Common Issues

JupyterLab Won’t Start

  • Check if the port is already in use:bashsudo netstat -tlnp | grep :8888
  • Verify virtual environment is activated
  • Check for Python/pip installation issues

Cannot Access from Other Devices

  • Verify IP configuration is set to 0.0.0.0
  • Check firewall settings on the Raspberry Pi
  • Ensure devices are on the same network
  • Verify the correct IP address and port

Performance Issues

  • Use Raspberry Pi 4 or 5 for better performance1
  • Increase swap space for memory-intensive tasks
  • Close unnecessary applications to free up resources

Automatic Startup Configuration

To automatically start JupyterLab when your Pi boots:

Create a Systemd Service

  1. Create a service file:bashsudo nano /etc/systemd/system/jupyterlab.service
  2. Add the following content:text[Unit] Description=JupyterLab Server After=network.target [Service] Type=simple User=pi WorkingDirectory=/home/pi ExecStart=/home/pi/jupyter_env/bin/jupyter lab Restart=always [Install] WantedBy=multi-user.target
  3. Enable and start the service:bashsudo systemctl enable jupyterlab.service sudo systemctl start jupyterlab.service

Testing Your Setup

Verify Network Access

  1. From the Pi itself: Open http://localhost:8888 in the Pi’s browser
  2. From another device: Navigate to http://[PI_IP]:8888
  3. Create a test notebook to ensure everything works correctly

Performance Test

Create a simple Python notebook with:

import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

<em># Test computation</em>
data = np.random.random(1000)
plt.hist(data, bins=50)
plt.title('Test Plot')
plt.show()

Conclusion

Setting up JupyterLab on a Raspberry Pi creates a powerful and accessible development environment that can be used from any device on your network. The combination of the Pi’s low power consumption, affordable price, and JupyterLab’s versatility makes this an excellent solution for learning programming, prototyping projects, or running lightweight data analysis tasks.

Remember to prioritize security by using strong passwords, keeping your system updated, and considering additional measures like SSH tunneling for sensitive work. With proper configuration, your Raspberry Pi JupyterLab server can serve as a reliable platform for coding and experimentation accessible from anywhere on your network.

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