the old way vs. cruiser
| Component | Traditional Build | With Cruiser |
|---|---|---|
| CM5 Carrier Board | Separate board | Built-in |
| PoE Switch | External switch ($50-100) | 8 ports built-in |
| USB Hub | External hub ($15-30) | 3x USB 3.0 + 4x USB 2.0 |
| Zigbee Coordinator | USB dongle ($25-40) | ESP32-C6 built-in |
| NVMe Adapter | HAT or adapter ($15-25) | M.2 Key-M slot |
| SATA Controller | USB adapter ($20-40) | 2x SATA on dedicated bus |
| Power Supplies | Multiple | One 48V barrel jack |
what will you build?
DIY Network Video Recorder
Power 8 IP cameras via PoE+. Record to NVMe for speed or SATA for capacity. Run Frigate with a Coral TPU in the M.2 slot for real-time object detection. 2.5GbE backhaul keeps up with all 8 streams.
Smart Home Brain
Run Home Assistant on CM5 with built-in Zigbee — no USB dongle. Use CM5 WiFi for networking and ESP32-C6 for Zigbee coordination (no RF conflicts). PoE sensors and switches plug right in.
Edge AI Gateway
Drop a Hailo-8 (26 TOPS) or Coral TPU into the M.2 slot. Pair with PoE cameras for real-time analytics — license plates, people counting, object detection — all processed locally.
NAS + NVR Combo
Two SATA ports for bulk storage, NVMe for OS and cache, 8 PoE ports for cameras. One box for your file server and surveillance. Add a JMB585 M.2 adapter for up to 7 SATA drives total.
free home assistant plugin
exaviz poe integration — available via hacs
Real-time PoE port monitoring with per-port power draw
Custom Lovelace card with color-coded port status
Per-port power control (enable/disable from dashboard)
Board health monitoring (temp, firmware, system info)
Auto-detection of board type and connected devices
Works on both Cruiser and Interceptor boards
Install from HACS: Search for "Exaviz" • Free, no subscription • v1.0.5