Docker image for arm64?

[Jack_Burton505]

Hello, I have been using NextPVR for 5-6 years but am new to posting on the forum.  I have been running the server and client on a Windows 10 computer but it's too old to upgrade to Win11 and I want to get away from Microsoft.  I've purchased a Mac Mini M4 and I had planned to run the NextPVR server in Mac OS, but after reading about issues surrounding that I decided it would be easier to try a Docker container installation instead.  I have a recently purchased NAS on my network, but I thought I'd use some of that Apple computing power instead, because the Mac Mini is only being used as a media computer.  BTW, I've been using PC's and Windows since the MS-DOS days, but I'm new to Mac's, NAS's, Docker, linux, etc.

So to get closer to my question:  I just realized there isn't a NextPVR Docker image for arm64.  What I've been able to find (after asking my friend Google multiple questions) says the arm32v7 image won't work with M4 machines and the amd64 image is for Intel machines.  But, I also saw that Docker has some sort of built-in emulation process, and using the amd64 image might work in Docker (or maybe Orbstack instead) on Mac OS on an M4 machine.  Can anyone offer any advice on this?

Failing being able to run in a Docker container on the Mac, at this point I think my only other options are to add a Raspberry Pi 3 to the network and run the server on it in linux or Docker (but I'd rather not add another device I have to manage and pay attention to) or run it in a Docker container on the NAS, which has an Intel chip.

The NextPVR forum has been very helpful to me, and I thank you in advance for any help you can provide.

[mvallevand]

I think it may be time for am arm64 Docker but installing that as a service is probably just as complicated as installing NextPVR as a service on macOS. What specific issues are you talking about? Remember this is a support forum so you don't get too many posts about successes. After all you have used it for 5-6 years and this is your first post.

Also what tuner are you using?

Martin

[Jack_Burton505]

Hello! On the current Win10 PC I'm using a HDHomerun that's the same vintage as my use of NextPVR, as well as a legacy ATI TV tuner card. Whatever I end up with going forward I'll just be using the HDHomerun (which is a dual tuner version).

As for the Mac OS install I was thinking mainly about ongoing maintenance and updating. I found great information in threads like https://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php?tid=64509 and I'm sure I could get it working, but it seems like updating dotnet and the nextpvr server might get complicated. It sounded like updating a Docker image would be simpler. It's like why I don't drive cars from the 70's anymore, I don't want to have to tinker with them all the time just to get them to work.

[mvallevand]

You'd still have to figure out how to install Docker, and make it run as a service, which hasn't been documented here at all. Here is a relevant thread for hard metal https://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php?tid=66111

Martin

[Jack_Burton505]

Thank you, I had seen the thread you linked. Maybe I'm not using terminology correctly, I thought running the NextPVR image in a Docker container (or using the linux installation on a RaspberryPi) would get me the recording capability like I have with my Win10 installation. I know that I'll need Kodi or some other client for watching and controlling (if I don't simply use a web browser). Installing and running Docker has been the subject of other questions I've asked my friend Google, and I think I have a handle on that.

[mvallevand]

With NextPVR on macOS you will get the same server side support for the HDHR. The issue is setting it up so it runs independently from your user account to leave on 24/7 should you choose. That might be how Dicker works on macOS but I am not sure and I am not sure who will guide you.

Martin

[Jack_Burton505]

With NextPVR on macOS you will get the same server side support for the HDHR.  The issue is setting it up so it runs independently from your user account to leave on 24/7 should you choose.  That might be how Dicker works on macOS but I am not sure and I am not sure who will guide you.

Martin

Thank you.  If instead of running in a Docker container I used a linux install on something like a Raspberry Pi would I get the same kind of server support for the HDHR?  In that case, if having a terminal window always open is required, it wouldn't be a problem because that RPi wouldn't be used for anything else.

[mvallevand]

On Windows and Linux (with the deb installer) they run as services so no terminal Window is required. The disadvantage to any RPI, is they are not powerful enough to transcode to the web player so you need direct play clients like Kodi.

Martin

[Jack_Burton505]

Yeah, regardless of how I do the server side I was planning on using some sort of client, Kodi or the NextPVR client for AppleTV or something like that. Thank you for your help.