Deploy IoT applications with Balena Cloud and Arm Virtual Hardware
Introduction
Prepare a custom Balena OS image
Install Balena OS on AVH
Deploy an application to your device
Next Steps

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About this Learning Path

Skill level:  Introductory
Reading time:  30 min
Last updated:  08 Jul 2026
Skill level:
  Introductory
Reading time:
  30 min
Last updated:
  08 Jul 2026
Author:Michael Hall, Arm
Arm IP:Cortex-A
Tags: Embedded Linux Linux Arm Virtual Hardware balenaCloud Raspberry Pi BalenaOS
Author:
  • Michael Hall, Arm
Arm IP:
Cortex-A
Tags:
Embedded Linux Linux Arm Virtual Hardware balenaCloud Raspberry Pi BalenaOS

Who is this for?

This is an introductory topic for embedded software developers interested in Balena OS.

What will you learn?

Upon completion of this Learning Path, you will be able to:

  • Start a Raspberry Pi Arm Virtual Hardware instance
  • Create a Balena OS image for Arm Virtual Hardware
  • Deploy a pre-built Balena Hub application

Prerequisites

Before starting, you will need the following:

  • A Balena Cloud account
  • An Arm Virtual Hardware account
  • A Linux machine with root access
  • Some familiarity with embedded Linux

Summary

AI-assisted

This summary was drafted with an approved AI-assisted workflow and reviewed by Arm contributors before publication. Human technical review remains part of the process so the final page reflects engineering rigor, accuracy, and Arm editorial standards.

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You’ll prepare a BalenaOS image for Arm Virtual Hardware, provisioning a virtual Raspberry Pi 4, and deploy a pre-built application from Balena Hub. First, you’ll create a Balena Cloud account and fleet to organize deployments. Then, you’ll start an Arm Virtual Hardware device and upload the custom BalenaOS firmware. With the device running, you’ll navigate from the Balena Cloud dashboard to Balena Hub and select a ready-made application to deploy. You’ll then deploy an example app that uses the balena-app Grafana dashboard to visualize the device state, providing a quick way to validate that the virtual Raspberry Pi 4 is up, connected, and receiving an application from Balena Cloud.

Frequently asked questions

AI-assisted

These FAQs were drafted with an approved AI-assisted workflow and reviewed by Arm contributors before publication. Human technical review remains part of the process so the final page reflects engineering rigor, accuracy, and Arm editorial standards.

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What device type should I select in Arm Virtual Hardware?
Choose Raspberry Pi 4 when creating the device in Arm Virtual Hardware.
Which firmware option and file do I use when creating the AVH device?
Use the Upload your own firmware option and select the balenaos_rpi4b.zip file.
How do I access Balena Hub from the Balena Cloud dashboard?
Click the Balena Hub button in the top right corner of the Balena Cloud dashboard.
Which example application should I deploy from Balena Hub?
Open Apps on Balena Hub and search for balena-app. This example provides a Grafana dashboard.
What result should I expect after deploying the Grafana example?
The Grafana dashboard displays the state of your BalenaOS device, confirming that the application deployed to the virtual Raspberry Pi 4.
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