
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.py
5.
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
- Open a web browser on any device connected to the same network
- Navigate to:
http://[PI_IP_ADDRESS]:8888
- Replace
[PI_IP_ADDRESS]
with your Pi’s actual IP address - Example:
http://192.168.1.100:8888
- Replace
- 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
- Always use password protection when allowing remote access4
- Consider using HTTPS for production environments
- Limit network access using firewall rules if needed
- Keep your system updated regularly
- 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:bash
sudo 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
- Create a service file:bash
sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/jupyterlab.service
- 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
- Enable and start the service:bash
sudo systemctl enable jupyterlab.service sudo systemctl start jupyterlab.service
Testing Your Setup
Verify Network Access
- From the Pi itself: Open
http://localhost:8888
in the Pi’s browser - From another device: Navigate to
http://[PI_IP]:8888
- 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.