I became interested in trying VibeNVR after coming across an article on XDA Developers. VibeNVR is a free, open-source NVR that you can host on your own server. This means your security camera footage is stored directly on your own server, so you don’t have to pay for a monthly cloud subscription. In the article I read, VibeNVR was used with UniFi cameras, and it seemed to work quite well. That made me curious to try it out for myself.
In this article, I will attempt to install VibeNVR on my 2012 MacBook, taking the process from start to finish until it is ready for use—will it work?
What Is VibeNVR?
Before we dive in, let’s take a quick look at what VibeNVR is all about.
VibeNVR was created by a developer known as Spupuz. It’s a free, open-source, self-hosted NVR that runs entirely on your local system using Docker Compose. There’s no need for cloud services or subscription fees, making it a great option if privacy is important to you.
Here are some of the key features VibeNVR offers:
- Advanced ONVIF support: Full PTZ control, along with two-way audio (back-channel)
- Dual-stream support: Uses both main and sub-streams to reduce bandwidth usage when viewing multiple cameras in a live grid
- Privacy masking: Lets you hide sensitive areas within the camera feed
- AI/ML-based motion detection: Smarter motion detection and notifications
- Timeline-based playback: Makes it easy to browse and review recorded footage
- Multi-tenancy: Allows you to manage multiple users and locations
Check System Requirements Before Installing VibeNVR
Like any virtual NVR, VibeNVR has certain system requirements to run properly. According to the developer’s documentation, VibeNVR is installed through Docker. So, the first thing I need to do is install Docker on my MacBook.
Installing Docker on Mac.
First, open the Docker download page for Mac. The Mac I’m using is a 2012 MacBook Pro with an Intel processor. So, I selected the Docker Desktop installer for Mac with an Intel chip.
The download will start automatically. Just wait for it to finish. The Docker for Mac installer is about 611 MB in size.
Click the Docker.dmg file in the Downloads folder.
My first attempt to install Docker didn’t work. It turned out that the installer I downloaded from the official website wasn’t compatible with my Mac—a 2012 MacBook Pro running macOS Monterey. After looking for a compatible version, I eventually found an older Docker version that works with my Mac here.
I opened the Docker.dmg file from the Downloads folder again. This is the second installation file I downloaded.
Finally, I was able to install Docker Desktop successfully.
When I previously tried installing the version I downloaded from the official website, an “X” appeared over the app icon, indicating that it wasn’t compatible with my Mac. You can see the results in the images below. The image on the left shows what happened after I first installed Docker—the app icon had an “X” over it, indicating that the version wasn’t compatible with my Mac.
The image on the right shows Docker successfully installed and running on my Mac.
At this point, the system is ready for the VibeNVR installation. According to the official documentation, VibeNVR has the following system requirements:
- Docker: version 24.x or newer, with Docker Compose 2.x or newer
- Memory & storage: at least 2 GB of RAM and 10 GB of free disk space recommended
- Architecture: Linux x86_64 (Intel/AMD) or arm64, such as a Raspberry Pi 4/5 or Apple Silicon
- GPU (optional): an NVIDIA or Intel/AMD GPU can be used for hardware-accelerated video transcoding. Ubuntu 24.04 is fully supported, including VAAPI for hardware acceleration.
Here’s what the Docker dashboard looks like on the system I’ve just set up. I’m still new to Docker myself, so I’m learning as I go and don’t have everything figured out yet. I’ll keep updating this post as I go, so stay tuned to see whether I manage to get VibeNVR up and running!
Final Thoughts
Since I’m still new to Docker, the installation process took me a little longer as I got familiar with how everything works. I’ll update this guide with the next steps once I’ve had a chance to work through them.
VibeNVR is a virtual NVR that runs locally and doesn’t require a cloud subscription, so you can host it on your own private server. It offers the essential features you’d expect from an NVR, including live CCTV viewing, recording, and playback. It also comes with motion detection and several other useful features. According to the developer, VibeNVR supports IP cameras that use RTSP.
Stay tuned for updates as I continue working on the VibeNVR installation process.
