DZone
Thanks for visiting DZone today,
Edit Profile
  • Manage Email Subscriptions
  • How to Post to DZone
  • Article Submission Guidelines
Sign Out View Profile
  • Post an Article
  • Manage My Drafts
Over 2 million developers have joined DZone.
Log In / Join
Refcards Trend Reports Events Over 2 million developers have joined DZone. Join Today! Thanks for visiting DZone today,
Edit Profile Manage Email Subscriptions Moderation Admin Console How to Post to DZone Article Submission Guidelines
View Profile
Sign Out
Refcards
Trend Reports
Events
Zones
Culture and Methodologies Agile Career Development Methodologies Team Management
Data Engineering AI/ML Big Data Data Databases IoT
Software Design and Architecture Cloud Architecture Containers Integration Microservices Performance Security
Coding Frameworks Java JavaScript Languages Tools
Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance Deployment DevOps and CI/CD Maintenance Monitoring and Observability Testing, Tools, and Frameworks
Culture and Methodologies
Agile Career Development Methodologies Team Management
Data Engineering
AI/ML Big Data Data Databases IoT
Software Design and Architecture
Cloud Architecture Containers Integration Microservices Performance Security
Coding
Frameworks Java JavaScript Languages Tools
Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance
Deployment DevOps and CI/CD Maintenance Monitoring and Observability Testing, Tools, and Frameworks
  1. DZone
  2. Data Engineering
  3. IoT
  4. Run Skype on Raspberry Pi

Run Skype on Raspberry Pi

Skype is not available on Raspberry Pi 2 or Raspberry Pi 3 without some configurations. Learn how to do it using ExaGear Desktop.

Dmitry Rogov user avatar by
Dmitry Rogov
·
Apr. 25, 17 · Tutorial
Like (5)
Save
Tweet
Share
24.34K Views

Join the DZone community and get the full member experience.

Join For Free

Skype is available on many platforms, but not on Raspberry Pi (or ARM-based Chromebooks). In this post, we will tell you how to run Skype on Raspberry Pi 2 and Raspberry Pi 3 using ExaGear Desktop, which allows us to run x86 apps on ARM mini PCs.

We had a lot of requests about running Skype with ExaGear, but could not publish a corresponding instruction earlier. The thing is that for playing sound, Skype uses PulseAudio sound server, which was not stable on Raspberry Pi. Fortunately, starting with Raspbian (launched in May 2016), things have become better. Below, we give some hints how to configure PulseAudio and run Skype on your RPi 2 or RPi 3.

PS: Keep in mind that with ExaGear Desktop, you can use not only Skype but other chat (i.e. Telegram), music (i.e. Spotify), productivity (i.e. Dropbox), and many other apps on your Raspberry Pi.

Raspberry Pi Test Stand Configuration

Model

Raspberry Pi 2 Model B

Raspberry Pi 3

Frequency

1000 MHz

1200 MHz

Memory

1 GB RAM

1 GB RAM

Operating System

Raspbian Jessie from Jan 2017

Raspbian Jessie from Jan 2017

Software

Skype for Linux v4.3.0.37

Eltechs ExaGear Desktop for Raspberry Pi 2

Skype for Linux v4.3.0.37

Eltechs ExaGear Desktop for Raspberry Pi 3

Now, here's how you can install Skype on your Raspberry Pi. 

1. Configure Host Raspbian System

Configure PulseAudio. As described in release notes of Raspbian, remove the volumealsa plugin from the taskbar. Just right-click anywhere on the taskbar, choose Add/Remove Panel Items, and remove the Volume Control (ALSA) item from the list.

Raspbian-Task-Bar-Add-Remove-Panel-Items-700x467

Raspbian Panel Applets - Volume Control (ALSA)

Reboot the system to apply PuleAudio configuration changes.

Please note that you should set your Raspberry Pi 2 device overclocked in order to achieve good quality Skype voice calls. Open Terminal (command line) and execute $ sudo raspi-config.

Select Overclock section and then Pi2 (1000 MHz).

2. Install ExaGear Desktop

Download ExaGear Desktop archive with installation packages and license key. Unpack downloaded archive using the following command in Terminal: $ tar -xvzpf exagear-desktop-rpi3.tar.gz. 

Install and activate ExaGear on your ARM device by running install-exagear.sh script in a directory with deb packages and one license key: $ sudo ./install-exagear.sh. 

3. Launch Guest x86 System

Enter the guest x86 system using $ exagear. 

Now you are in the x86 environment that can be checked by running $ arch.

It is recommended to update apt-get repositories on the first launch of the guest system: $ sudo apt.get update.

4. Install Skype

Download Skype for Debian: $ sudo apt-get install wget.

Install Skype: $ sudo dpkg -i skype-debian_4.3.0.37-1_i386.deb; sudo apt-get install -f.

Run Skype

Run Skype from Raspbian Start menu.

Run Skype on Raspberry Pi using ExaGear Desktop

Check that Skype Sound Devices use PulseAudio server.

Skype Options - Sound Devices

This is it. Now you can make your Skype calls.

Final Notes

It is also worth noting that with ExaGear Desktop, you can run other x86 apps on Raspberry Pi 2 and Raspberry Pi 3. ExaGear also supports other ARM-based devices such as Odroid, Banana Pi, Beagleboard, Cubox, Jetson, Cubieboard, etc.

Please note that running Skype on Raspberry Pi 1 and Raspberry Pi Zero is not possible because of lack of NEON support in the hardware of these devices.

raspberry pi operating system

Published at DZone with permission of Dmitry Rogov. See the original article here.

Opinions expressed by DZone contributors are their own.

Popular on DZone

  • Real-Time Stream Processing With Hazelcast and StreamNative
  • An Introduction to Data Mesh
  • The 12 Biggest Android App Development Trends in 2023
  • How Observability Is Redefining Developer Roles

Comments

Partner Resources

X

ABOUT US

  • About DZone
  • Send feedback
  • Careers
  • Sitemap

ADVERTISE

  • Advertise with DZone

CONTRIBUTE ON DZONE

  • Article Submission Guidelines
  • Become a Contributor
  • Visit the Writers' Zone

LEGAL

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy

CONTACT US

  • 600 Park Offices Drive
  • Suite 300
  • Durham, NC 27709
  • support@dzone.com
  • +1 (919) 678-0300

Let's be friends: