On October 18, the lightweight embedded Linux distribution DietPi officially released version v9.18. This update brings major improvements, including extended support for several FriendlyELEC NanoPi boards, a fully rebuilt and more secure DietPi Dashboard, and the addition of LazyLibrarian, an ebook and audiobook management tool. Other notable enhancements include file system optimization, virtual device support expansion, and a series of critical bug fixes that improve system stability and compatibility.
DietPi is a Debian-based lightweight operating system designed and optimized for single-board computers (SBCs) and embedded devices. Its core philosophy is to provide maximum efficiency with minimal resource usage, while still offering a rich ecosystem of automated management tools and a diverse software catalog. DietPi is widely used across embedded development, IoT projects, and low-power server environments due to its exceptional balance between performance and simplicity.
Key Highlights of DietPi v9.18
1. Major Feature Enhancements
This release introduces significant progress in hardware compatibility, software ecosystem, and system security. The following tables summarize the core parameters and updates:
Hardware Support Details
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| New Supported Devices (RK3566) | NanoPi R3S, NanoPi R3S LTS — both equipped with dual Gigabit Ethernet ports |
| NanoPi R3S LTS Feature | Supports HDMI video output |
| NanoPi R3S Feature | Operates in headless (no display) mode by default |
| New Supported Devices (RK3576) | NanoPi R76S and NanoPi M5 — powered by Rockchip’s latest SoC architecture |
Software & Service Enhancements
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| New Software Utility | LazyLibrarian — a community-maintained tool for managing ebook and audiobook collections, positioned as an alternative to the deprecated Readarr |
| Dashboard Protocol | Now defaults to TLS (Transport Layer Security) with auto-generated self-signed certificates |
| Dashboard Port Configuration | Backend runs on port 5353, frontend on port 5252 — fully decoupled services |
| Virtual Device Compatibility | Added support for Xen virtual block devices following the naming convention /dev/xvd[a-z][1-9] |
System Configuration Details
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| SPI Bootloader Support | Compatible with all U-Boot packages and detectable SPI device nodes providing this feature |
| Flashing Method Compatibility | Supports both mtd-utils/flashcp and dd commands for firmware flashing |
2. Critical Bug Fixes
- Filesystem Boot Optimization
Fixed an issue where ext4 root filesystems without journaling could freeze during first boot. The updated script now enforces a controlled reboot and executes a full fsck (filesystem check) to ensure journaling is initialized properly. - Autostart Function Correction
Resolved a spelling error in the DietPi-AutoStart tool that caused LightDM auto-start mode to fail under Raspberry Pi systems running Debian Trixie, specifically when enabling the KMS/DRM display protocol. - Certificate Management Update
With Let’s Encrypt discontinuing its OCSP (Online Certificate Status Protocol) service, the DietPi-LetsEncrypt tool now removes deprecated OCSP options and advises users to delete SSLStapling* directives from web server configurations. - Media Package Fixes
Addressed packaging issues with GMediaRender in Debian Trixie and Forky images, ensuring that DietPi installs the maintained version rather than the upstream native package.
Beyond these key upgrades, DietPi v9.18 also includes performance tuning across several management utilities and minor UI adjustments for a cleaner visual experience.
For detailed changelogs or to participate in community discussions, users can refer to the DietPi v9.18 release notes available on the project’s official GitHub repository.
