1. Prepare your NUC's hardware

1. Before we move on to the software installation, it's essential to properly prepare and assemble the hardware — your Intel NUC. This section will help you verify that you have all the necessary components and assemble the device correctly.

   1.1. What You'll Need (Hardware Checklist)

   Make sure you have everything you need. Use this list to check:

   • A Compatible Intel NUC:

     • This is the "brain" of your future Roon server. ROCK officially supports only specific models.

     • Action: Check your model against the official list of compatible NUCs.

   • RAM (Memory):

     • Required for the operating system and Roon to function. Most NUC models require DDR4 or DDR5 SO-DIMM memory, depending on the specific hardware configuration. You can find what RAM and M.2 SSD type are compatible with your NUC model by searching for it on ASUS's Website and looking at the model's product specifications page (for NUC 12 and older, visit Intel's website). 

     • Recommendation: 8GB is the minimum, but 16GB or more will provide better performance, especially with large music libraries. Check your NUC's specifications for the maximum supported amount and speed of memory.

   • M.2 SSD:

     • This is a mandatory component. The ROCK operating system and the Roon database will be installed on it. The speed of the M.2 SSD is critical for the fast performance of the Roon interface.

     • Recommendation: The minimum size is 64GB, but 128GB or 256GB is recommended for long-term stability.

   • USB Keyboard and Monitor:

     • These are needed only during the installation process to interact with the installer. After the setup is complete, you will no longer need them, as ROCK runs in a "headless" mode.

   • USB Flash Drive:

     • A standard flash drive with a capacity of at least 1GB. We will write the ROCK image to this drive.

   • Ethernet Cable:

     • ROCK does support Wi-Fi. However, Ethernet is more reliable for audio transmission. For stable operation and consistent access to your music library over the network, we recommend using a reliable wired connection to your router network.

   • (Optional) Additional Drive for Music:

     • If you plan to store music files directly on the NUC, you will need an additional drive.

     • Options: A 2.5-inch SSD (faster, quieter) or a 2.5-inch HDD (larger capacity for less money). This drive will be used exclusively for your music library.

   1.2. Assembling Your NUC

   Now that all the components are ready, it's time to install them.

   1. Prepare your workspace: Find a clean, well-lit surface. To avoid damaging components with static electricity, touch a metal object before you begin.

   2. Open the NUC case: Unscrew the four corner screws on the bottom of the chassis and lift the cover. 
      
      
      

   3. Install the RAM: Insert the memory modules into the appropriate slots at an angle and gently press down until the latches click into place. 
      
      
      a. Align the small space at the bottom edge of the memory module with the key on the socket.
      b. Insert the bottom edge of the module at a 45 degree angle into the socket (A).
      c. When the module is inserted, push down on the outer edges of the module until the retaining clips snap into place (B). Make sure the clips are firmly in place (C)

   4. Install the M.2 SSD:Insert the M.2 drive into its connector and secure it with a screw.
      
      
      
      1) Remove the small silver screw from the 80mm or 42mm metal standoff on the board (A).
      2) Remove the pre-installed SSD/Intel Optane Memory from the connector.
      3) Align the space at the bottom of the new M.2 SSD to the key on the connector.
      4) Insert the bottom edge of the M.2 SSD into the connector (B).
      5) Secure the card to the standoff with the small silver screw (C). 
      
      

      

      You can find what RAM and M.2 SSD type are compatible with your NUC model by searching for it on ASUS's Website and looking at the model's product specifications page (for NUC 12 and older, visit Intel's website). 

   5. (Optional) Install the 2.5" drive: If you are using an additional drive, place it in the dedicated bay (usually on the NUC's cover) and connect the SATA and power cables. 
      
      
      1) Unscrew the four screws holding the current drive in the bay.
      2) Remove the pre-installed drive from the drive bay.
      3) Slide the new 2.5” drive into the drive bay, ensuring the SATA connectors are fully seated into the connectors of the SATA daughter card (A). 
      
      
      
      4) Secure the drive into the drive bay with the four screws that were used in step 1. Set the drive bay bracket down inside the chassis (C). 

   6. Close the case: Replace the bottom cover and tighten the screws.
      
      

Tip: The assembly process may vary slightly for different NUC models. If you are unsure, refer to the official manufacturer's manual for your specific model.

1. 1.3. Final Connections for Installation
   

   Before turning on the NUC for the first time, connect everything needed for the installation process:

   1. Connect a USB keyboard to one of the USB ports.

   2. Connect a monitor (via HDMI or DisplayPort).

   3. Connect the Ethernet cable to the NUC and your router.

   4. Do not connect the USB flash drive with the installer yet. We will do this in the next step.

   5. Connect the power adapter to the NUC, but do not turn it on yet.

   Excellent! Your hardware is assembled, connected, and ready for the next step — configuring the BIOS.

2. Prepare your NUC's BIOS

Before configuring anything, it's critical to ensure your NUC is running the latest BIOS version. This can fix bugs, improve stability, and ensure compatibility with your hardware. Since ASUS has taken over the NUC product line from Intel, where you find the BIOS depends on your model.

1. Identify Your NUC's Manufacturer and Model:

   • For NUC 13 and newer: Your device is likely supported by ASUS.

   • For NUC 12 and older: Your device is supported by Intel.

   • The exact model number is printed on a sticker on the bottom of your NUC.

2. Download the BIOS:

   • ASUS NUCs: Go to ASUS's Website and search for your NUC model.

   • Intel NUCs: Go to the Intel Download Center and search for your NUC model.

   • Follow the instructions to download the latest BIOS Update (.BIO file).

3. Prepare a USB Drive: Copy the .BIO file to a standard USB flash drive. The drive should be formatted as FAT32. 
   

   

   How to fomrat the USB drive on:  
   Windows
   Mac 
   Linux

4. Update using the F7 Flash Tool:

   • Plug the USB drive with the .BIO file into a USB port on the NUC.

   • Power on (or restart) the NUC and press F7 when you see the prompt during boot to enter the BIOS flash tool.

   • The tool will show a file browser. Select the USB drive and then select the .BIO file you downloaded.

   • Confirm the update. The process will begin. 

Do not turn off the NUC during this process. It will restart automatically when finished

3. Download

 You  can download it here download Link It will be a file ending in .img.gz

4. Writing to a USB flash drive (from a second computer, not the NUC):

4.1. Creating the Bootable USB Drive with Etcher

The downloaded image file can't just be copied to a USB drive. You need to use a special tool to "flash" it, which makes the drive bootable. We recommend using BalenaEtcher because it's reliable, free, and works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

1. Download and install Etcher: Go to the BalenaEtcher website and download the application for your operating system.

2. Flash the Image:

   • Open Etcher.

   • Click "Flash from file" and select the rock-installer-x64-...img.gz file you just downloaded.

   • Click "Select target" and choose your USB flash drive. Be very careful to select the correct drive, as this process will erase it completely.

   • Click "Flash!" and wait for the process to complete.
     

Video tutorial on Etcher flashing processes

 

4.2. Troubleshooting Common Etcher Issues

Sometimes, things don't go as planned. Here are a few common issues you might encounter with Etcher and how to resolve them:

1. Issue: After flashing, Windows says "You need to format the disk" or the drive appears unreadable.

   • Explanation: This is perfectly normal and does not mean the flash failed. ROCK uses a Linux-based file system that Windows cannot read natively.

   • Solution: Do NOT format the drive. Simply ignore the message, close any pop-up windows, and safely eject the USB drive. It is ready to be used in your NUC.

2. Issue: Etcher shows a "Flash Failed!" error.

   • Solution 1: Run as Administrator. Right-click the Etcher application and select "Run as administrator" (on Windows) or use sudo to launch it from the terminal (on macOS/Linux). This often resolves permission issues.

   • Solution 2: Use a different USB port. Avoid USB hubs or front-panel ports. Try a port directly on the back of your computer.

   • Solution 3: Try a different USB drive. The flash drive itself might be old, slow, or faulty. This is a very common cause of failure.

3. Issue: The USB drive is not detected by Etcher.

   • Solution 1: Re-plug the drive. Unplug the USB drive and plug it back in.

   • Solution 2: Check your OS. See if the operating system recognizes the drive in Disk Management (Windows) or Disk Utility (macOS). If it doesn't appear there, the drive or the USB port is likely the problem.

4. Issue: The process fails at the "Validating" step.

   • Explanation: After writing, Etcher reads the data back to ensure it's a perfect copy. A validation failure means the data on the drive doesn't match the source file.

   • Solution: This almost always indicates a problem with the USB drive. Try a different, more reliable USB drive. While you can disable validation in Etcher's settings, it's not recommended as you might end up with a corrupt installation.

4.3. Alternative Method: Using the Command Line (Linux/macOS)

For advanced users comfortable with the terminal, you can use command-line tools instead of Etcher.

WARNING: This method is powerful and potentially dangerous. The dd command will do exactly what you tell it to, including permanently erasing your main hard drive if you specify the wrong device. Double-check everything before proceeding.

1. Decompress the Image: The downloaded file is ...img.gz. First, you need to decompress it.

   • Open a terminal and navigate to your Downloads folder (cd ~/Downloads).

   • Run the command: gunzip rock-installer-x64-*.img.gz


gunzip replaces the .gz file with the .img.

1. Identify Your USB Drive:
   

   • On macOS: Run diskutil list. Your USB drive will be something like /dev/disk2 or /dev/disk3.

   • On Linux: Run lsblk or sudo fdisk -l. Your USB drive will be something like /dev/sdb or /dev/sdc.

   • Identify the correct device by its size and name. Be 100% sure.
     

If you're unsure, run the command before inserting your USB, then again after. The new entry that appears is your USB drive.

Double-check carefully. Choosing the wrong device could erase your system drive.

5. Installing

6. Installing Codecs and Setting Up For First Run

1. You must install the appropriate Codecs for ROCK to function properly. You can do this by following the instructions here or by visiting the web UI listed on the console of the machine, click on the "`?`" next to `"Missing Codecs"` and follow the instructions.
2. Be sure to also confirm that ROCK is on the latest version.
   
3. You can trigger ROCK to update by selecting Reinstall from the Web UI.
   

7. Using ROCK

1. Start Roon Remote or Roon
   
2. You will need to connect to ROCK by selecting it from the Connect to Your Roon Server screen
   
3. You should see the Roon Optimized Core Kit
   
4. Click connect
   
5. If you are already using Roon with a different Core, go to Settings → General, click Disconnect, and then select Roon Optimized Core Kit from the list.
   
   

Note: If you've already used Roon before with another Core, you will probably want to migrate your Roon database to ROCK. You can find information about migrating your database to ROCK you can follow the guide here: Migrating To ROCK

More Information:

Troubleshooting

1. If Roon can not find your ROCK device, here are some ideas on how to troubleshoot the problem:
   
1. Check the web UI about missing codecs
   
2. Check your network. For Roon to find your Roon OS device on the network, make sure you have the ethernet cable plugged into your device and DHCP is available. Also, make sure your Roon software is running on the same LAN as the Roon OS device

 Enjoy!