Updating to BI 5 - thoughts on current gear

[nutshellml]

Evening all,

Two questions -

1 - I have one location with BI 5, Basic Plan (expired) - am I no longer able to update, even manually?

2 - Is my current CPU good enough? At my other location I'm moving back too, I have BI 4, planning to update to BI 5. I have about 6 POE IP Cameras, planning to add maybe 2-3 more max down the road. I also plan to integrate BI with Home Assistant. My current CPU is: Dell OptiPlex 7040, i5 6500 @ 3.2GHz, 8GB RAM, Win10 Pro x64, 500GB 5400rpm HD (Toshiba), NVR Internal Drive WD Purple 3TB.

** If my current PC isn't up to BI5 that could maximize all features, I could use this one for Home Assistant and get another PC for BI.

Thanks for any input.

 

[wittaj]

You can update up to the date when your plan expired. So find that date and then find the update just before that:

Blue Iris Updates (64 bit) - Updates

ipcamtalk.com

That machine is more than adequate. People run 50 cams on 4th gen just fine. You may want to throw another stick of RAM in it though.

The only reason to update the computer would be if you wanted to run Windows 11 without some sort of "hack". An 8th gen is the new minimum recommended as it will run Win11 without a hack.

Another hardware question

I know this has been asked in the past (many times) and apologize for asking again, but I want to make sure that I get this right the 1st time and not make a dumb mistake that will cause me to start over partway down the road. I am researching hardware for the Blue Iris computer that will run...

ipcamtalk.com

 

[nutshellml]

The only reason to update the computer would be if you wanted to run Windows 11 without some sort of "hack". An 8th gen is the new minimum recommended as it will run Win11 without a hack.

THANKS! Be nice to run Win 11, but don't need to on my BI server. THANKS! - Now onto setting up two NICs on it to have a little more secure Camera network.

Thanks again.

 

[wittaj]

The two NICs is simple. Simply pop it in and then assign it an IP address subnet different than the rest of your network!

 

[IAmATeaf]

My BI PC has the same CPU and I run 3 4Mp and 6 2Mp cams with substreams no issues.

The only thing I would recommend and is something I had to do was upgrade the RAM to 16Gb, with 8Gb although when running it was fine when accessing the desktop itself via RDP I noticed it was sluggish which increasing the RAM fixed.

 

[TonyR]

+1^^^ to all the above and if you plan to keep running the i5-6500 I suggest:

Install a Samsung 870 EVO 500GB SSD in place of that Toshiba 500GB HDD; Use the MS Windows Install Tool on a USB flash drive and do a clean install of Windows on that SSD as C: drive. Also put BI and BI's "db" folder on that SSD, keep BI videos on that WD Purple 3TB.

I've replaced about 2 dozen HDD's with a good SSD in the last 3 years and IMO it makes a bigger positive difference than adding more RAM (which is also a good idea in your case).

Regarding the 2 NIC's, below is the schema and if needed, a how-to link => here.

 

[IAmATeaf]

Missed that the OS drive was a spinner. As @TonyR has pointed out replace it, an SSD will give even an old dog a new lease of life

 

[samplenhold]

Regarding the 2 NIC's, below is the schema and if needed,

If you only have your provider's modem/router and no intermediate switch, you can connect like this.

 

[TonyR]

If you only have your provider's modem/router and no intermediate switch, you can connect like this.

View attachment 200871

That's actually the one of yours I meant to post, I need to re-name and clean out some of my pictures!

 

[nutshellml]

Correct me if wrong - doing the 2 NIC keeps all IP Cameras (or any devices on that NIC) segregated from internet prohibiting any potential for "backdoor" access, this does not protect your home network in general.

IF i'm away from my home network and wanted to access BI interface, one way would be to put Tailscale or similar on the 2 nic machine and access it that way?

 

[samplenhold]

IF i'm away from my home network and wanted to access BI interface,

If you are away you access the BI server through the NIC that is exposed to the internet. You do not access the BI server through the camera only NIC.

I use Zerotier for this access. I travel a lot and check my cams at least twice a day from my laptop in my RV through a cellular hotspot. I also use the BI iPhone app with Zerotier.