November 4, 2025Nov 4 I am trying to graduate from Wyze to a much better system. What works best together? I want to be able to access all cameras on an app on phone or computer, automate with home assistant, and have it all 24/7 record to my unraid server.Prefer to have it all on my computers, not on a companies.I am considering Reolink cameras, maybe some Eufy if it can all integrate, but what cameras work best?With that in mind... I understand reolink has its own software that works with home assistant. Can you install the reolink software right onto unraid in a docker? or do you have to install on another windows machine, or in a vpn? Same for Eufy.And how about Blue Iris and Frigate. I was thinking to use that, and use Home assistant. Which one? or neither?So, what am I missing? What is the best practice? and what cameras work best with what I am looking to do?Any up to date install guides? Thank you in advance!
November 4, 2025Nov 4 Community Expert I personally am a fan of foscom ip cameras and unifi protect cameras...(this is what I played around with in a cooperate and company settings before uhd, 1080 P and 4 K...)unifi g4 bullets can be used in unifi video docker and setups still...A lot of the free stuff was scooped up. and of them all the unfi eco systems is one of the better non subscription based setups.frigate and ha automation such as face detection and when movement detected ha lights on etc etc...so for cameras I definitely recommend using unfi:https://ui.com/physical-security/bullet *Does need a unifi protect system to first setup even standalone in the app then enable rtsp feeds and the cameras can be used with other nvr systems like Shinobi, frigate etc..So, You’re on exactly the right track: pick wired PoE, ONVIF/RTSP-capable cameras, run an open NVR in Docker on Unraid, and integrate events into Home Assistant.But best is a matter of personal opinions, price points your willing to pay and what you want it to do and how you want to interact with it...Given yoru data in OP --Cameras: Reolink PoE domes/bullets (good price/perf; ONVIF + RTSP) → great with Frigate/HA. Avoid most battery Eufy cams for 24/7 RTSP; some plug-in/wired Eufy models do RTSP but support is spotty model-by-model. UniFi cams are excellent if you’re already in Protect; you can also expose RTSP out for 3rd-party NVRshttps://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/reolink/ NVR on Unraid: Frigate (Docker) + MQTT + Home Assistant. Optional Coral/Hailo or GPU decode for performance. If you want a more classic timeline NVR, Shinobi runs well in Docker; Blue Iris is Windows-only (run in a Windows VM if you must).https://docs.frigate.video/frigate/installation/ Cameras & compatibility (what “just works”)Reolink PoE (e.g., 5–8 MP RLC-series): RTSP + ONVIF supported; integrates directly with HA via the official Reolink integration, and feeds Frigate easily. Use sub-stream for detection, main stream for recording.Eufy: Many battery models don’t offer reliable RTSP (a.k.a. “NAS”) or disable it during idle; several wired/plug-in SKUs and newer S-series/HomeBase combos do offer RTSP/NAS, but validate your exact model before buying. Community reports note instability/timeouts on some models. Bottom line: workable, but more finicky than Reolink. UniFi cameras: Fantastic image/low-latency in UniFi Protect. If you want to keep everything on Unraid, you can still enable RTSP per camera in Protect and ingest into Frigate/Shinobi/HA. (Protect itself doesn’t run in Docker.)NVR choices (and where they shine)Frigate (Docker on Unraid) — my top rec for your goalsDesigned for object detection (people, vehicles, pets) with MQTT-native Home Assistant integration.Hardware accel: GPU decode (VAAPI/NVDEC/QSV) for streams + optional Coral TPU or Hailo-8 for detection at very low CPU.Clean mobile/desktop UI; clips/snapshots to your Unraid shares.Shinobi (Docker)Traditional NVR with a flexible timeline and alerting; pairs well if you want a “classic DVR” feel without much AI.Blue Iris (Windows-only)Feature-rich, legendary tuning, tons of plugins (e.g., Blue Onyx AI). But it requires Windows—so on Unraid you’d run a Windows VM with a passthrough iGPU/GPU and dedicated storage. If you prefer pure Unraid Docker, stick with Frigate/Shinobi.Scrypted (bonus)A plugin hub that can restream/transcode (e.g., WebRTC) and present cameras to HA/Apple Home; can sit in front of Frigate or alongside it. Runs as Docker or HA add-on.Home Assistant integrations (so the automations flow)Frigate ⇄ HA: Install MQTT (e.g., Mosquitto) → Frigate publishes events (person/vehicle) → HA automations fire (lights, TTS, notifications with snapshots).Reolink ⇄ HA: First-party integration now; local control even if you block internet.UniFi Protect ⇄ HA: Official integration exposes thumbnails, event clips, and live streams for dashboards and automations.Eufy ⇄ HA: Use the community Eufy Security HACS integration; expect more tinkering vs Reolink/UniFi.Best-practice build on Unraid (wired, private, reliable)Network: Use PoE cams on a VLAN or isolated subnet; give Unraid a NIC on that network (or a second Docker network) so Frigate pulls RTSP directly.Streams: Configure each cam with H.264, CBR, and GOP/I-frame = FPS (e.g., 15 fps & keyframe 15). In Frigate, set sub-stream (low-res) for detection and main stream (hi-res) for recordings. (This is the standard Frigate pattern.)Acceleration:Enable Intel QSV / VAAPI / NVDEC in Frigate for video decode.Add Google Coral (Edge TPU) or Hailo-8/L for detection if you have many cameras. Storage: Map Frigate’s /media to an Unraid share on a fast disk/pool; set retention (e.g., 7–30 days).HA glue: Install MQTT + Frigate integration, build automations (doorbell → announce + snapshot; person detected → turn on floods, etc.). Optional restream: If Reolink streams wobble, add go2rtc (bundled in Frigate) to proxy and stabilize feeds for HA dashboards.Answers to your specific Qs“Can I install Reolink’s own NVR software in Docker on Unraid?”Reolink’s client apps aren’t offered as Linux server NVRs. The usual pattern is: use their RTSP/ONVIF with Frigate/Shinobi/Blue Iris—or use a Reolink hardware NVR. For HA, the official Reolink integration is the cleanest path. -- https://support.reolink.com/hc/en-us/articles/900000617826-Which-Reolink-Products-Support-CGI-RTSP-ONVIF/“Same for Eufy?”Eufy doesn’t ship a Linux NVR for Docker. A subset of models exposes RTSP/NAS; others don’t (or are unreliable). If you’re 24/7 recording to Unraid, prefer wired/plug-in Eufy SKUs that explicitly list RTSP/NAS (or stick to Reolink/UniFi). --https://service.eufy.com/article-description/S330-S300-eufyCam-eufyCam-3-3C-FAQ-Before-You-Buy?ref=Home_PageBlue Iris vs Frigate vs neither?For an all-Unraid, Docker, local-first stack tightly integrated with HA, Frigate wins. Choose Blue Iris only if you want its GUI/tooling and you’re fine running a Windows VM (or a separate Windows box). Shinobi is a nice middle ground if you want a classic NVR without AI... --https://docs.frigate.video/frigate/installation/ A couple up-to-date guides/docs you’ll actually useFrigate install + config docs (Docker is the recommended method; includes go2rtc & hardware accel guidance). https://docs.frigate.video/frigate/installation/Frigate -- Home Assistant (MQTT required). https://github.com/blakeblackshear/frigate/discussions/7792Reolink RTSP/ONVIF support list (confirm model before buying). https://support.reolink.com/hc/en-us/articles/900000617826-Which-Reolink-Products-Support-CGI-RTSP-ONVIF/UniFi Protect: enable RTSP per camera (to feed Frigate/HA). https://community.ui.com/questions/Access-UniFi-Protect-camera-RTSP-stream/b1ba4c62-0764-4223-80d0-650768b0f87fShinobi Docker instructions (if you want a traditional NVR). https://docs.shinobi.video/installation/dockerBlue Iris official site + requirements (Windows-only; VM option). https://blueirissoftware.com/Scrypted -- Home Assistant (handy restream/cards). https://docs.scrypted.app/home-assistant.html Firgate jsut a paing to config write for the cameras... but once you get the config.yml in its done and fun...so, My recommended shopping/build list for you8 MP Reolink PoE cams (RLC-8xx series) for outdoor; plug-in Eufy only where you really want it and it’s confirmed RTSP.PoE switch on a camera VLAN.Frigate (Docker on Unraid) + Mosquitto + HA integration.Edge TPU (Coral USB) or Hailo-8 if >4–6 cameras with detection.Optional: Scrypted for silky WebRTC dashboards and rebroadcasts; or Shinobi if you want that DVR-style timeline.
November 5, 2025Nov 5 Community Expert The folks behind Blue Iris have an active, bordering on unreasonable, dislike for anything Reolink, so if you need support you're out of luck there. If you're set on that brand of camera, leave BI off of your list. I have a dozen of them and they work fine, but you're on your own with them.
February 6Feb 6 On 11/5/2025 at 4:25 AM, Michael_P said:The folks behind Blue Iris have an active, bordering on unreasonable, dislike for anything Reolink, so if you need support you're out of luck there. If you're set on that brand of camera, leave BI off of your list. I have a dozen of them and they work fine, but you're on your own with them.You can always use Neolink in docker as a middleman to get the stream into BI. Looks like dev has slowed on the project so may not work well with newer Reolink cameras.
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