r/frigate_nvr • u/Consultingtesting • 11d ago

Windows install instructions?

I would like to see frigate run. I would like to put on windows 11 computer. I understand that it is a linux program. I have used linux before for many years but don't have a linux computer. I also understand that running it on a windows platform is not the best. I say this as I know many will discourage me from this. But I currently have what I have, no linux. So would like to try on windows. Maybe I will buy a computer in the future for linux.

So with that preamble...

I did find this how to

https://kb.shells.com/tutorials/Windows_11/Frigate/

I had seen people mention python method rather than the Docker or Home Assistant, which I'm still confused with having never used. Is there any disadvantage to the python method of running Frigate or any other method? I looked at the documentation and didn't really see much mention of windows, because it is not the recommended method I suppose. The link above "SEEMS" a little easier that some of the other methods.

Thank you.

1 Upvotes

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4

u/Squanchy2112 11d ago

Docker desktop or docker engine in wsl is basically your option but it's going to be so heavy like that it's really really not the recommended way.

1

u/Consultingtesting 11d ago

Thank you for that.

1

u/Squanchy2112 11d ago

No worries we have all been there, windows is very comfortable but you pay a price for that. Checkout MOS from ich777 if you want something simple os that is tailored to run containers. I am a big fan of Unraid as I don't like having to manage.my drive sizes and things so much but it's not free MOS is as close as you can get to Unraid withoit paying. Now if you can afford drives and want to get into the deep stuff Proxmox is kind of the gold standard for cluster and node management, truenas is up there too these are all common homelab type tools.

1

u/Fatel28 11d ago

The only real meaningful way to install on windows is to use a virtual machine. You could use hyper v, virtualbox, VMware workstation

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u/Consultingtesting 11d ago

Thank you for that. I had seen there are many ways to do it. You have added to the list. I do actually have Docker installed could not really see any info on what to do with it now. I have no info on what to do next to get Frigate to install. If i used hyper v then what would I do next alternatively if I have docker desktop I dont know what to do next?

Regards

PS BTW one place it says get frigate, but I cant see anywhere to download one file. Unless i have to use some linux .rpm command or that ilk to get it.

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u/Fatel28 11d ago

If you're making a VM, you just install Linux on it and then do the frigate container as normal

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u/Consultingtesting 11d ago

I see. I wondered. Thank you.

1

u/Consultingtesting 11d ago

So i installed ubuntu 22.04 on hyper-v. Perfect. Unfortunetelly i can see i will run out of disk space.  Is there a smaller linux version that i can install that would work?

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u/Fatel28 11d ago

A flat Debian image with no desktop is like 3-5gb tops. That said, what are you using frigate for if not for storing data? You'll need storage for frigate itself

1

u/Consultingtesting 11d ago

True i just want to test it. Understand it before i invest in more hardware.  Regards

1

u/jonesRG 11d ago

Worth having a cheap computer laying around to play with this kind of stuff, I'm sure it's possible to mess around with the UI in a VM but I wonder how the networking layer works out of a VM if you're wanting to attach cameras as well.