Accessing `.local` hostnames in ChromeOS Linux container: mypi.local on Raspberry Pi

Accessing Raspberry Pi localhostnames in a Chrome OS Linux container

In this article, we will discuss how to access Raspberry Pi localhostnames, specifically mypi.local, from a Chrome OS Linux container. This is particularly useful when running a small web server on the Raspberry Pi and accessing it from a Chromebook.

Prerequisites

• A Raspberry Pi with a running web server and a local hostname (mypi.local in this example).
• A Chromebook with the Chrome OS Linux (Beta) feature enabled.
• A Wi-Fi network connection with DHCP enabled on both devices.

Setting up the Chrome OS Linux container

First, you need to set up a Linux container on your Chromebook. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click on the time in the bottom right corner of the screen.
2. Click on the settings icon.
3. Scroll down and click on "Advanced."
4. Under the "Developers" section, click on "Linux development environment (Beta)."
5. Click on "Turn on."
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your Linux container.

Accessing the Raspberry Pi localhost

Once you have set up the Linux container on your Chromebook, you can access the Raspberry Pi localhost by following these steps:

1. Open the Linux terminal by clicking on the app launcher in the bottom left corner of the screen, then searching for "terminal."
2. Ping the Raspberry Pi localhost to ensure it is connected to the same network:

You should see a response similar to the following:

3. Use an SSH client, such as the built-in ssh client, to connect to the Raspberry Pi:

Replace pi with the username you use to log in to your Raspberry Pi.

4. Once you have connected to the Raspberry Pi, you can access the web server by opening a web browser and navigating to http://mypi.local.

In this article, we have discussed how to access Raspberry Pi localhostnames, specifically mypi.local, from a Chrome OS Linux container. This is useful when running a small web server on the Raspberry Pi and accessing it from a Chromebook. We have covered the prerequisites, setting up the Chrome OS Linux container, and accessing the Raspberry Pi localhost.

References

• SSH - Raspberry Pi Documentation
• Linux Containers - Chrome OS Systems Architecture