Chapter 6 ■ Building low-Cost MysQl data nodesThere is also a camera connector located behind the Ethernet port for connecting a camera (useful for
many applications).
■Note some enterprising makers have developed enclosures for the new monitor including a tablet form
factor that can be 3d printed. see http://thingiverse.com for the latest prototypes and designs.
On the left side bottom of the board is the micro SD card slot on the bottom.
On the far side and on top of the board is the general-purpose input/output (GPIO) header (a double
row pins), which can be used to attach to sensors and other devices.
On the right side of the board is where most of the connectors are placed. There are four USB
connectors and the Ethernet connector. An external-powered USB hub connected to the USB ports on
the Raspberry Pi can power some boards, but it is recommended that you use a dedicated power supply
connected to the micro-USB connector.
Take a moment to examine the top and bottom faces of the board. As you can see, components are
mounted on both sides. This is a departure from most boards that have components on only one side. The
primary reason the Raspberry Pi has components on both sides is that it uses multiple layers for trace runs.
This permits the board to be much smaller and enables the use of both surfaces. This is probably the most
compelling reason to consider using a case—to protect the components on the bottom of the board and thus
avoid shorts and board failure.
Required Accessories
The Raspberry Pi is sold as a bare system board with no case, power supply, or peripherals. Depending on
how you plan to use the Raspberry Pi, you need a few commonly available accessories. If you have been
accumulating spares like me, a quick rummage through your stores may locate most of what you need.
If you want to use the Raspberry Pi in console mode (no graphical user interface), you need a USB
power supply, a keyboard, and an HDMI monitor (or the 7" Touch Display). The power supply should have a
minimal rating of 700mA or greater operating at 5V. If you want to use the Raspberry Pi with a graphical user
interface, you also need a pointing device (such as a mouse).
Figure 6-5. Raspberry Pi 7" Touch Display (courtesy of Raspberrypi.org)