{"slug": "custom-os-installation-now-available-on-aws-deepracer-devices", "title": "Custom OS installation now available on AWS DeepRacer devices", "summary": "AWS has released a developer bootloader for AWS DeepRacer devices that allows installation of custom operating systems, extending the life of the autonomous 1/18th scale race cars originally shipped with unsupported Ubuntu 16.04 and 20.04. The bootloader, based on the open-source shim project, provides self-service certificate management and clear visual indicators when developer mode is active, and the process is fully reversible to return to stock configuration.", "body_md": "[Artificial Intelligence](https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/machine-learning/)\n\n# Custom OS installation now available on AWS DeepRacer devices\n\nWith the stock firmware and software, developers couldn’t modify their [AWS DeepRacer](https://aws.amazon.com/deepracer/) devices to use the latest operating systems. Now, developers can upgrade or install a custom operating system (OS) by using a newly released bootloader, which extends the life of these hardware devices.\n\nAWS DeepRacer devices are fully autonomous 1/18th scale race cars driven by models trained through reinforcement learning. These hardware devices, when paired with a cloud environment for training and evaluation of neural network models, provide an education and development environment intended to help developers get started with machine learning. As shipped, secure firmware on the AWS DeepRacer devices boots AWS-signed operating systems, including versions of Ubuntu 16.04 and 20.04. These versions of Ubuntu are no longer supported, making ongoing experimentation and research difficult. To keep these devices useful as long as possible, you need a way to authorize custom and modified software to run.\n\nWith our developer bootloader, you can install custom operating systems outside of those originally provided. You can also install modern Linux distributions, add custom hardware drivers, run custom and more modern software stacks, build novel educational projects, and develop prototypes for new vehicle algorithms. In this post, we introduce the bootloader, discuss how to use it, and share links to a community distribution that uses it.\n\n## Our solution\n\nOur team developed a bootloader that provides self-service developer access. The bootloader is based on the [open-source shim project](https://github.com/rhboot/shim). With this developer shim, you can install custom or third-party distributions onto your AWS DeepRacer device.\n\nThe developer shim targets developers familiar with Linux boot processes and certificate management. It’s particularly valuable for community members who want to create and distribute custom AWS DeepRacer installation distributions and media.\n\nOn bootup, the developer shim blinks “DEVELOPER MODE” in Morse code on the AWS DeepRacer device’s built-in lights. After completing this indicator, the shim transfers control to the installed OS. The intent is for transparency through clear visual indicators whenever developer mode is active. These indicators help you understand your device’s security posture.\n\nShould you need to return to the original configuration, the process is completely reversible. You can follow the directions for [Update Your Vehicle](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/solutions/latest/deepracer-on-aws/update-and-restore-vehicle.html) to return the device to stock configuration.\n\nThe developer shim works through three key elements:\n\n### 1. Self-service certificate management\n\nWhen built-in signature verification fails, the developer shim checks for developer certificates in `/EFI/DEVELOPER/certs/`\n\non the device’s boot partition. You can manage your own certificates using standard tools (OpenSSL, sbsign) while maintaining proper cryptographic verification.\n\n### 2. Clear visual warnings\n\nWhen developer certificates are in use, the system provides a clear indication:\n\n**On-screen warning****(through HDMI) –** Informs you of developer mode.**Hardware indication**– Device lights blink “DEVELOPER MODE” in Morse code.** Boot delay**– Gives you time to observe the developer mode activation.\n\n### 3. Standard verification workflow\n\nThe solution uses standard certificate-based signing tools, making it accessible to developers already working with secure boot processes. With this method, you can provide your own certificates while maintaining the cryptographic integrity of the boot chain and operating system.\n\n## Community impact\n\nThe open source AWS DeepRacer community at [deepracing.io](https://deepracing.io) used this developer shim to create a new custom distribution for AWS DeepRacer devices, built on an Ubuntu 24.04 / ROS2 Jazzy software stack and featuring a Cloudscape-based user interface. As a practical demonstration of the self-service bootloader approach, it offers a ready-to-use solution for developers who want to get started quickly.\n\nPre-packaged and using an installation process very similar to the original AWS distribution, it comes ready to deploy out of the box. The community prioritized racing performance, removing non-essential packages, including the X Window System graphical interface. You can add the desktop experience back in yourself if needed. Refer to the [README](https://github.com/aws-deepracer-community/deepracer-custom-car/blob/main/README.md) for installation instructions.\n\nThe developer shim allows the DeepRacing community to maintain and distribute updated software for AWS DeepRacer devices, extending their useful life well beyond the original distributions. The distribution can be found at [https://github.com/aws-deepracer-community/deepracer-custom-car](https://github.com/aws-deepracer-community/deepracer-custom-car).\n\n## How to use it\n\nYou can use the bootloader with your AWS DeepRacer device across multiple usage patterns. You can upgrade using a community distribution, use a standard third-party OS, or even create your own custom OS. The exact steps depend on your choice.\n\n### Option A: Install a community distribution\n\nYou can get started by installing a community distribution, such as the Ubuntu 24.04 [Community Distribution](https://github.com/aws-deepracer-community/deepracer-custom-car#installation). This option provides an installation method without requiring the developer to custom install Linux and reconfigure its boot processes.\n\n### Option B: Third-party distributions\n\nYou can use the developer shim when installing a third-party distribution such as Ubuntu. Choose this option if you want control over the installation process. After installing the OS, replace the `BOOTX64.EFI`\n\nfile with the developer shim and add the appropriate certificates. This might need to be done twice: once for the installation media, and again after installation. Consult the `USAGE.md`\n\nfile in the developer shim package for guidance.\n\n### Option C: Custom OS\n\nIf you’re building a custom OS for the AWS DeepRacer device, create a boot volume on the device. Place the developer shim under `EFI/BOOT/BOOTX64.EFI`\n\nand your OS kernel or bootloader as `EFI/BOOT/GRUBX64.EFI`\n\n. Then install your public certificate under the `DEVELOPER/certs`\n\npath. Consult the `USAGE.md`\n\nfile in the developer shim package for guidance.\n\n## What to expect during early boot sequence\n\nThe device goes through several stages on boot. Upon power-on, the device firmware loads the developer shim (`BOOTX64.EFI`\n\n) and transfers execution to it. The shim then displays a warning on the screen (when an HDMI monitor is attached) and blinks “DEVELOPER MODE” in Morse code on the device’s lights. This stage takes approximately 21 seconds. Much like the original firmware’s bootloader or a shim bootloader on a standard PC install, the developer bootloader then loads the operating system’s kernel. However, unlike the firmware, the developer bootloader checks the signature of this kernel against a local customizable certificate store kept in `/EFI/DEVELOPER/certs`\n\n. If the signature matches, the developer shim transfers execution to this operating system kernel, and boot continues normally.\n\n## Pairing with self-managed AWS DeepRacer\n\nWith the bootloader shim and the self-managed solution released on January 26, 2026, you now have full control over both the cloud-based training environments and your physical devices. Developers can customize the on-device software stack, experiment with new ROS2 packages, and iterate on racing models with total end-to-end flexibility. Visit [DeepRacer on AWS](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/solutions/deepracer-on-aws/) for details on the self-managed solution.\n\n## Getting started\n\nTo get started, first explore the [DeepRacer on AWS Solution](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/solutions/latest/deepracer-on-aws/solution-overview.html) and then download the developer shim at [deepracer-developer-shim.zip](https://s3.amazonaws.com/deepracer-public/shim/deepracer-developer-shim.zip). To create or modify the boot medium for the new custom operating system, place the `BOOTX64.EFI`\n\nshim file into the `EFI/BOOT`\n\ndirectory. Store your chosen operating system kernel as `GRUBX64.EFI`\n\n, and store the kernel’s public certificate in `EFI/DEVELOPER/CERTS`\n\nin x509 DER format. This might need to be done for both the operating system installation media and again on the device itself after installing from media. For more detailed technical documentation, troubleshooting, and advanced usage, refer to the bootloader’s `USAGE.md`\n\nfile contained within the zip file.\n\nAlternatively, download the community distribution linked in the preceding *How to use it* section and follow the directions for a fresh install with the developer bootloader already incorporated.\n\n## Conclusion\n\nUsing the bootloader, you can unlock your AWS DeepRacer device and continue to use it as an education and development environment with the latest modern operating systems, tools, and software stacks. You can also customize your own operating system install or use community distributions.\n\nTo get started, download the developer bootloader at [deepracer-developer-shim.zip](https://s3.amazonaws.com/deepracer-public/shim/deepracer-developer-shim.zip) and follow the instructions in the `USAGE.md`\n\nfile. After that, check out the [Community Distribution](https://github.com/aws-deepracer-community/deepracer-custom-car) and continue your machine learning (ML) journey with the [DeepRacer on AWS Solution](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/solutions/latest/deepracer-on-aws/solution-overview.html).\n\nWith the flexibility introduced with the new bootloader, your imagination is the limit on what you can implement on the device. What will you build? Feel free to share on [https://builder.aws.com/](https://builder.aws.com/).", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/custom-os-installation-now-available-on-aws-deepracer-devices", "canonical_source": "https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/machine-learning/custom-os-installation-now-available-on-aws-deepracer-devices/", "published_at": "2026-07-20 17:25:24+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-07-20 17:33:31.059236+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["artificial-intelligence", "machine-learning", "robotics", "autonomous-vehicles", "developer-tools"], "entities": ["AWS", "AWS DeepRacer", "Ubuntu", "deepracing.io", "OpenSSL"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/custom-os-installation-now-available-on-aws-deepracer-devices", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/custom-os-installation-now-available-on-aws-deepracer-devices.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/custom-os-installation-now-available-on-aws-deepracer-devices.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/custom-os-installation-now-available-on-aws-deepracer-devices.jsonld"}}