System Software

Exaviz provides custom operating system images with pre-installed drivers for all supported compute modules. These images are based on Debian/Raspberry Pi OS and include everything needed to use your Exaviz hardware.

Available OS Images

Included Drivers

All Exaviz OS images include:

• RTL8367RB - 4-port Gigabit Ethernet switch driver
• JMB585 - 5-port SATA controller driver (Interceptor)
• IP808AR - PoE controller driver (for PoE expansion boards)
• RTL8365MB - PoE switch driver (Cruiser)

Version Requirements

Debian Package Repository

For users running standard Raspberry Pi OS or Ubuntu, Exaviz provides a Debian package repository with software packages for hardware support.

Available Packages

Adding the Repository

# Download and install the Exaviz signing key
curl -fsSL https://apt.exaviz.com/exaviz-repo-key.asc | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/exaviz-archive-keyring.gpg

# Detect distribution and add the repository
DISTRO=$(lsb_release -cs 2>/dev/null || (grep VERSION_CODENAME /etc/os-release 2>/dev/null | cut -d= -f2) || echo "trixie")
echo "deb [arch=arm64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/exaviz-archive-keyring.gpg] https://apt.exaviz.com ${DISTRO} main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/exaviz.list

# Update package lists
sudo apt update

The script automatically detects your distribution:

• Raspberry Pi OS Trixie → uses trixie
• Debian 13 (Trixie) → uses trixie
• Debian 12 (Bookworm) → uses bookworm (still supported through our apt packages; only the Exaviz Bookworm OS image is deprecated)
• Ubuntu 25.10 (Questing) → uses questing
• Ubuntu 26.04 LTS (Resolute) → uses resolute

sudo apt install linux-headers-raspi linux-headers-$(uname -r)
sudo dkms autoinstall -k $(uname -r)
sudo reboot

Installing Packages

Minimum installation (drivers only):

sudo apt install exaviz-dkms

Recommended installation (drivers + network configuration):

sudo apt install exaviz-dkms exaviz-netplan

Interceptor boards (adds PoE driver):

sudo apt install exaviz-dkms exaviz-pse-dkms exaviz-netplan

Full installation (all packages):

sudo apt install exaviz-dkms exaviz-pse-dkms exaviz-netplan exaviz-poe-tool

Cruiser firmware updates and Zigbee (adds the firmware tool):

sudo apt install exaviz-tools

exaviz-tools is separate from the packages above. Install it only if you want to update the ESP32-C6 firmware or switch the Cruiser to Zigbee.

After installation, reboot to load the kernel modules:

sudo reboot

Package Details

exaviz-dkms

The core driver package provides:

• PoE switch drivers (RTL8365MB for Cruiser, RTL8367RB for Interceptor)
• DSA (Distributed Switch Architecture) framework support
• Device tree overlays for CM4/CM5

exaviz-pse-dkms

IP808AR Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) kernel module:

• Required for Interceptor boards with PoE expansion
• Required for Cruiser boards using the Interceptor PoE Add-on Board
• Provides /proc/pse interface for PoE port monitoring and control
• Supports up to 8 PoE ports per IP808AR device

exaviz-netplan

Network configuration package that:

• Configures the WAN/uplink port for DHCP client (Interceptor: wan)
• Sets up switch and PoE port interfaces
• Optionally configures dnsmasq as DHCP server for connected devices

On Interceptor, the wan port is the uplink (DHCP client) and lan0-lan2 plus any PoE ports are available as DHCP servers. On Cruiser, the switch and PoE ports are configured by exaviz-netplan; eth1 (2.5GbE WAN) requires manual configuration.

During installation, you can select which ports should run a DHCP server for connected devices (cameras, etc.).

exaviz-poe-tool

A GTK3 graphical application for:

• Real-time PoE port status monitoring
• Viewing power consumption per port
• Resetting individual ports
• Temperature and voltage monitoring

exaviz-tools

Ships exaviz-flash, the firmware tool for the Cruiser’s ESP32-C6:

• Updates the PoE firmware and backs up the firmware already on the board first
• sudo exaviz-flash zigbee installs the Zigbee firmware (PoE + Zigbee), then installs and starts the Zigbee server (exaviz-ziggurat) and prints the address to give Home Assistant
• sudo exaviz-flash stock returns to the standard WiFi + Bluetooth firmware

See Firmware Updates and Zigbee.

exaviz-ziggurat

The Zigbee server that runs on the CM5 (service name ziggurat). exaviz-flash zigbee installs it for you, so you normally do not install it by hand. Home Assistant connects to it with the Ziggurat radio type in the Zigbee Home Automation integration. See Zigbee.

Quick Links

• Downloads - Get the latest OS images
• Installation - How to flash images to your device

Last modified October 13, 2026