If you install frigate in docker, as long as you properly map the usb coral in your compose/run command, frigate will have access to it. The install instructions to follow are here.
Well, I upgraded my HAOS a couple of days ago from 5.13 to the latest which is 9.3.3. Now, in my new HA installation, I see there’s a supported way to move the data partition to another disk. I personally haven’t tried it though so can’t comment on how well it works (if at all). You can access it from Settings → System → Storage. On the storage screen, click the 3 vertical dots on the top right of the screen which will show a “Move datadisk” dropdown. In my case, when I click on it, I get a popup that notifies me there’s “No suitable storage found”, which is expected because I don’t have another disk attached. The popup states that the storage capacity of the external disk must be greater than that of the existing disk. As you do have a 1.4TB disk available, you can try this out (assuming you’re at a version that supports this move).
Thanks teerex. I found this already but my external HD is not shown there (sda is the internal SSD).
I meanwhile tried this solution, but no additional folder in Media is shown.
I guess the best option for me right now is to use etcher an create a HAOS on the USB HDD, boot from the device and then restore the backup I created (on samba share)?!
Maybe this would be an option for me. Honestly, I’m so confused about the different ways of installation that I’m not quite sure what to do. Could I install HAOS as KVM image on Proxmox and then Frigate as a docker container in Proxmox? Sorry about all the questions, I’m really overwhelmed with this, but trying my best to understand.
Found this on the Installation docs from frigate:
Frigate runs best with docker installed on bare metal debian-based distributions. For ideal performance, Frigate needs access to underlying hardware for the Coral and GPU devices. Running Frigate in a VM on top of Proxmox, ESXi, Virtualbox, etc. is not recommended.<
I think the “supervisor” and “add-ons” would really be important for me, so running HA in a docker container would be not a good option?! But how about the warning about VM on top of Proxmox.
In any way, HAOS as VM or HA docker, could I just restore the backup from the HAOS installation I’m running now?
The benefit of so many install options is Home Assistant is extremely flexible and can be run many different ways. Unfortunately, this can lead to confusion when getting started.
I would avoid proxmox with frigate. The frigate developers, as you found in the documentation, specifically advise against Proxmox.
A backup from HAOS on any system should be able to be restored to HAOS on another system or a VM. HA docker doesn’t have the supervisor, so restoring a backup to HA container is more involved. You need to manually copy the config directory or extract the files ftom your backup, then properly map it as a volume in to the container in your docker run command/compose.
The ideal setup as far as performance probably would be docker and home assistant container. However, it’s much more difficult. I started this way and it was a very steep learning curve (although worth it in the end).
The next best way would be to run Home Assistant OS in a VM, then frigate seperatly in docker. Frigate would not be run as an addon. You should not run Frigate in docker running inside another VM (too many layers, and with trying to access the coral, you’ll have issues). This would give you access to all Home Assistant addons to learn, then if you become more comfortable with docker, you can move them over later (almost all addons have equivalent stand alone docker versions).
To solve your immediate space issue though and get things running right away, you can just install HAOS on the larger drive and run frigate as an addon. Just be advised it’s not ideal, and backups/restores can easily fail with the large video files involved.
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Dear Tim,
thank you so much for spending that much time with my issues. Right now, I have installed Ubuntu on the ext. HD, followed the guides and installed HA as docker container. I will give it some time and just play around with this installation. I feel kind of uncomfortable without having the apps. But maybe I can get use to that.
The other option would be, as you mentioned, Installing HAOS in VM. Right now, I do not have any idea how to do that on Ubuntu. Proxmox, as you said, is not advised.
I’ll try to get things running for me in the docker environment under Ubuntu. If I’m terribly unhappy with that, I’ll think about HAOS as VM.
Thanks again, I really appreciate this!
Best regards
Holger
You’ll have a lot more options to install any program you want that can run in docker or ubuntu now versus just the stock addons this way.
If there’s an addon you wanted to use that’s not available now, if you get stuck, you can post here and hopefully I can link a guide or let you know what I used instead.
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Go the Proxmox route if this is an option for you. A lot more flexible than any other route mentioned. Why? Because you can run Frigate in a KVM or run it as LXC plus HAOS in a KVM with ability to expand storage in less than a min. Then you have the ability to run HAOS with add-ons or install add-on outside HAOS as LXCs/KVMs. The speed of a KVM/LXC today is virtually on a par with BM.
One more thing. If your Proxmox host is not underpowered running Frigate in Proxmox is not an issue.
You can also experiment with Shinobi which is a more polished NVR with options for AI/ML solutions.
Using Proxmox you can run Frigate and Shinobi side-by-side to experiment until you decide which one to drop.
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My next project is setting up Proxmox on an ThinkCentre M710q Tiny-PC i5-7400T with 32MB Ram, 1TB NVMe and 4TB SATA HDD. Do you think that might work?
For now, I installed HAOS on the USB SATA HDD, downloaded a backup from an NAS and started restore. Surprisingly to me, there was no message like “Restore, please wait” or so. I even could trigger the process multiple times. But after a while I got my installation back. Basically, I worked like a charm. Only thing is that the static network configuration was not restored. It was on DHCP. Also had to reboot the system a few times until error messages concerning MQTT were gone. Now everything is working as before with now 1.5 TB HD space. This should do for now.
I will try the setup with HAOS as VM and frigate in docker some day.
Big thanks to all of you!!!
Unfortunately the ThinkCentre M710q is underpowered (4 cores x 4 threads) 7th gen arc.
Not certain if this is a second hand or buying brand new.
I suggest the following, which have plenty power and are relatively affordable. The AMD series outperforms the Intel series from the below companies. I also suggest buy barebone to fit the most appropriate components.
Beelink: GTR6 6900HX, GTR5 5900HX (uses 2x2.5G NICs)
Minisforum: Neptune HX90G, EliteMini HX90
NUC is an option as well, but at a higher cost without the power parity.
Was refurbished, cheap. Will have a look about the others, I still can return this one.
I run Home Assistant on docker on a Dell Optiplex 7010 that I bought used online. It was only $155 and the specs are USFF i3-3220 3.30GHz 8GB ram, with 512GB SSD (I have a 2tb external WD drive already).
It runs docker and everything else I have just fine - this includes 12 containers and the Shinobi NVR. This is the performance from the Top command with everything running- you can see minimal CPU and memory usage.:
My system is WAY less powerful than your ThinkCentre M710q you have. The point is a VM works great with the proper hardware, and I’m not trying to knock Proxmox, with it being a great option with the proper hardware. However, VM’s are much less efficient then docker, and require more powerful hardware to run then a docker environment. I didn’t go through all the suggestions on hardware to run Proxmox from the other poster, but the machines recommended all look pretty expensive. I know Proxmox is a bit different then a traditional VM, and has some ability to run VM’s and containers, but its still going to use more resources if you setup multiple VM’s vs multiple docker containers. Here’s a good article explaining the advantages and disadvantages of containers vs VM’s
In addition, I generally avoid installing setups where the project’s official documentation advises specifically against it. Before moving forward with Frigate on Proxmox, I would take a look at this thread. Many run it no problem, others have reported issues
If cost isn’t a factor, I agree Proxmox probably gives you many more options and works great, but for me, I don’t want to spend a fortune on equipment, especially when an alternative/cheaper setup (ie Docker) works just fine.
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Sorry to all for getting offtopic, but how about running docker on Proxmox?!
I assume you do not have enough experience with virtualisation. I am not suggesting running Shinobi in a KVM. Instead we run Shinobi on LXC. An LXC running full Debian server requires 20MB RAM and uses almost 0% CPU, that is 1 CPU. LXCs are full system containers with no restriction on networking or any other OS aspects except sharing the Kernel with the Hypervisor.
FYI here are a couple of examples of LXCs.
It also seems your Shinobi instance is most likely not doing much of anything. Try 10 cameras live streaming at 1080p @ 25fps (will not ask to add event management, face/object/faceplate recognition). Then you might come to appreciate why proper virtualisation or bare metal is the way for NVRs. Docker is fantastic for line of business applications and mainly for CI/CD dev envs.
Running Docker under Proxmox adds an unnecessary layer of virtualisation, unless you want to run multiple apps under one KVM/LXC instance, or what you are trying to setup is too difficult/time-consuming to do outside Docker, as other people have done the hard work on your behalf.
Not with proxmox, but I initially tried HAOS in VirtualBox, and the cpu usage was through the roof, with frequent crashes. Passing the zwave and zsticks through reliably was also a nightmare. The LXC options of Proxmox sound interesting, but the setup I have has been reliable so I don’t want to change it
I am running Shinobi on bare metal in Ubuntu. I run everything on either bare metal or docker. My posts weren’t really clear about what runs where. It’s only two 1080p cameras recording 24/7 though, so yes, by no means an advanced security system. Motion detection is built into the cameras so I dont need the NVR software to do that.
Agree, which is the same reason why I wouldn’t run a supervised version of Home Assistant (which is a bunch of docker containers managed by the supervisor) in a VM. If someone wants to run other software with Home Assistant, and they are starting out ,i would suggest the VM initially for ease of use, as most tutorials are around a supervised install. However, it is extra layers and less then an ideal use of resources.
As of now I don‘t have much experience with VM. First thing for me will be understanding the differences between KVM, LXC and docker. My basic aim will be to run several Services that run, right know, on Different machines. PI hole and WireGuard server on an RasPi, Surveillance Station (will be replaced by Frigate or Shinobi?!) and EcoDMS on an old Proliant server on Windows Server 2012.
I think it would be helpful for me to find a easy way for a beginner. I could easily find out to set up a docker container or an KVM, but running frigate in LXC seems way more difficult.
Technical jargon can sometimes be misleading. A simple way to understand the stack is to think of a KVM as an LXC + Linux-kernel. Both behave the same way from an operational point of view in that they both (KVM/LXC) can run any Linux distro. KVM however can also run non Linux OS (Windows, MacOS, Android-x86, Unix), which LXC does not support.
Check the link for more info on LXC: Linux Container - Proxmox VE
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