{"description":"Builds, use cases and product notes from the Exaviz team: Cruiser and Interceptor carrier boards for Raspberry Pi Compute Modules.","feed_url":"https://www.exaviz.com/blog/feed.json","home_page_url":"https://www.exaviz.com/blog/","items":[{"authors":[{"name":"Exaviz Team"}],"content_html":"\u003cp\u003eThe Interceptor turns a compute module into a NAS or NVR: five SATA ports with software RAID, a\n4-port Gigabit managed switch, and up to 16 PoE+ ports (10/100) with add-on PoE boards. The same carrier\ntakes the CM4 and the CM5, so you can start on a CM4 and move to a CM5 later.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"raspberry-pi-cm4-full-support-every-variant\"\u003eRaspberry Pi CM4: full support, every variant\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe CM4 is fully supported in every variant, from 1GB to 8GB of RAM. eMMC models flash on the board\nover USB, Lite models boot from SD or USB, the power button works, and Raspberry Pi says the CM4\nstays in production until at least January 2034.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"raspberry-pi-cm5-more-cpu-and-ram\"\u003eRaspberry Pi CM5: more CPU and RAM\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom Raspberry Pi\u0026rsquo;s CM5 specs:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA quad-core Cortex-A76 at 2.4GHz, up from the CM4\u0026rsquo;s Cortex-A72 at 1.5GHz. It brings the power of\nthe Raspberry Pi 5, which Raspberry Pi says delivers 2 to 3 times the CPU performance of the\nPi 4.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUp to 16GB of ECC RAM.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eeMMC (non-Lite models) at up to 400 MB/s, four times faster than previous compute modules.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith a CM5 you can also try experimental PCIe Gen 3: a link of about 1,000 MB/s, potentially double\nGen 2, which can help RAID 5 and 6. See Jeff Geerling\u0026rsquo;s \u003ca href=\"https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2023/forcing-pci-express-gen-30-speeds-on-pi-5\"\u003eGen 3 write-up\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA few things work differently on the CM5, such as USB boot and the power button; the \u003ca href=\"https://exa-pedia.com/docs/interceptor/faq/#cm5-limitations\"\u003eFAQ\u003c/a\u003e\ncovers them.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"banana-pi-cm4-ai-on-the-module\"\u003eBanana Pi CM4: AI on the module\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Banana Pi CM4 has a built-in NPU, so AI inference like object detection and video analytics can\nrun on the module. Banana Pi rates the NPU at 5 TOPS. The module runs its own\n\u003ca href=\"https://exa-pedia.com/docs/exaviz-software/downloads/\"\u003eExaviz OS build\u003c/a\u003e (2025-04-30), still available though no longer being\ndeveloped; the \u003ca href=\"https://exa-pedia.com/docs/interceptor/faq/#bananapi-limitations\"\u003eFAQ\u003c/a\u003e covers HDMI and the power button.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"which-module-fits\"\u003eWhich module fits\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\t\u003cthead\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003cth\u003eModule\u003c/th\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003cth\u003eBest for\u003c/th\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003c/tr\u003e\n\t\u003c/thead\u003e\n\t\u003ctbody\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003ctd\u003eRaspberry Pi CM4\u003c/td\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003ctd\u003eFleets that want full support and a long production run\u003c/td\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003c/tr\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003ctd\u003eRaspberry Pi CM5\u003c/td\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003ctd\u003eDemanding NAS and RAID builds, with up to 16GB of RAM\u003c/td\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003c/tr\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003ctr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003ctd\u003eBanana Pi CM4\u003c/td\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\u003ctd\u003eAI inference on the module\u003c/td\u003e\n\t\t\t\u003c/tr\u003e\n\t\u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"software\"\u003eSoftware\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith a CM4 or CM5, start from Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit, Trixie) or Ubuntu (25.10 or 26.04 LTS), add\nthe apt.exaviz.com repository (\u003ca href=\"https://exa-pedia.com/docs/interceptor/software/\"\u003esoftware guide\u003c/a\u003e), and install the Exaviz packages:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"highlight\"\u003e\u003cpre tabindex=\"0\" style=\"color:#f8f8f2;background-color:#272822;-moz-tab-size:4;-o-tab-size:4;tab-size:4;-webkit-text-size-adjust:none;\"\u003e\u003ccode class=\"language-bash\" data-lang=\"bash\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"display:flex;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003esudo apt install exaviz-dkms exaviz-pse-dkms exaviz-netplan exaviz-poe-tool\n\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/code\u003e\u003c/pre\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eUbuntu 24.04 LTS and earlier aren\u0026rsquo;t supported (\u003ca href=\"https://exa-pedia.com/docs/exaviz-software/\"\u003eUbuntu notes\u003c/a\u003e). On Ubuntu Server,\nSATA and Ethernet work out of the box, and the Exaviz packages add PoE control.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003ca href=\"https://www.exaviz.com/products/interceptor-carrier-board-v2-0/\"\u003eInterceptor Carrier Board v2.0\u003c/a\u003e costs $79 (compute module not included), and an\n\u003ca href=\"https://www.exaviz.com/products/interceptor-poe-board/\"\u003eInterceptor PoE Board\u003c/a\u003e adds 8 PoE+ ports (10/100) for $59.\u003c/p\u003e\n","date_modified":"2026-10-08T00:00:00Z","date_published":"2026-10-08T00:00:00Z","id":"https://www.exaviz.com/blog/2026-10-08-interceptor-compute-module-choice/","image":"https://www.exaviz.com/images/blog/2026-10-08-interceptor-banana-pi-cm4.jpg","summary":"The Interceptor Carrier Board takes a Raspberry Pi CM4, a CM5, or a Banana Pi CM4. Start on a CM4 and move to a CM5 on the same board later.","tags":["Interceptor","RaspberryPi","CM5","BananaPi","ComputeModule"],"title":"One Board, Your Choice of Module: Interceptor with a CM4, CM5, or Banana Pi CM4","url":"https://www.exaviz.com/blog/2026-10-08-interceptor-compute-module-choice/"},{"authors":[{"name":"Exaviz Team"}],"content_html":"\u003cp\u003eThe Cruiser is a Mini-ITX board, but it\u0026rsquo;s not a typical one. With 8 PoE+ ports, dual SATA, 2.5GbE WAN, HDMI, USB, and barrel jack power, there\u0026rsquo;s more IO on it than any standard ITX case was designed to accommodate.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDeskPi saw that as a design opportunity.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTheir \u003ca href=\"https://deskpi.com/products/deskpi-2u-mini-rack-mount-case-pre-order-for-the-exaviz-cruiser-carrier-board\"\u003e2U Mini Rack Mount Case\u003c/a\u003e is built specifically for the Cruiser. It\u0026rsquo;s compact, rack-mountable, and has cutouts in all the right places. The front panel exposes the ports through a wide IO opening and locks in two Dell R720-style drive sleds. The whole thing drops into a desktop mini rack or sits on a shelf.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJeff Geerling featured the case in one of his latest videos, where he rebuilt his Pi-based open-source surveillance server around the Cruiser and the DeskPi enclosure:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"yt-facade\" style=\"position:relative;width:100%;aspect-ratio:16/9;background:#0b1410;border-radius:8px;overflow:hidden\"\u003e\n  \u003cbutton type=\"button\" data-yt=\"2LayXUxMjPU\" data-title=\"YouTube video\" aria-label=\"Play video: YouTube video (loads from YouTube)\"\n    style=\"position:absolute;inset:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0;cursor:pointer;background:transparent;color:#e8f5ec;font:inherit;display:flex;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:.6rem\"\u003e\n    \u003csvg width=\"68\" height=\"48\" viewBox=\"0 0 68 48\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003crect width=\"68\" height=\"48\" rx=\"12\" fill=\"#2bd46a\"/\u003e\u003cpath d=\"M27 14l20 10-20 10z\" fill=\"#0b1410\"/\u003e\u003c/svg\u003e\n    \u003cspan\u003ePlay video\u003c/span\u003e\n    \u003csmall style=\"opacity:.75\"\u003eLoads from YouTube (youtube-nocookie.com) when you click.\u003c/small\u003e\n  \u003c/button\u003e\n  \u003cnoscript\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LayXUxMjPU\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eWatch on YouTube\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/noscript\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cscript\u003edocument.querySelectorAll('.yt-facade button[data-yt]').forEach(function(b){if(b.dataset.bound)return;b.dataset.bound=1;b.addEventListener('click',function(){var f=document.createElement('iframe');f.src='https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/'+encodeURIComponent(b.dataset.yt)+'?autoplay=1';f.title=b.dataset.title;f.allow='accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; fullscreen';f.referrerPolicy='strict-origin-when-cross-origin';f.allowFullscreen=true;f.style.cssText='position:absolute;inset:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0';b.parentNode.replaceChild(f,b);});});\u003c/script\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe build he put together is worth paying attention to:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExaviz Cruiser\u003c/strong\u003e with a Compute Module 5\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeskPi 2U case\u003c/strong\u003e with two 4TB IronWolf NAS drives in R720 sleds\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHailo-8\u003c/strong\u003e AI accelerator for object detection\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOpen-source NVR software\u003c/strong\u003e running in Docker with three cameras\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJeff reported CPU usage under 5% and object detection at 10 to 11ms with three cameras.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat makes this case impressive for the mini rack community is that it solves the enclosure problem cleanly. The Cruiser replaces a PoE switch, a Pi, and a storage server with one board. The DeskPi 2U case gives that board a proper home, with drive bays, ventilation and a front panel power button, all in a 2U footprint that fits a desktop rack.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe case is currently a prototype in pre-order at \u003ca href=\"https://deskpi.com/products/deskpi-2u-mini-rack-mount-case-pre-order-for-the-exaviz-cruiser-carrier-board\"\u003e$69.99 from DeskPi\u003c/a\u003e. Jeff noted a few areas DeskPi is still refining (drive sled cabling, a power LED, and airflow direction over the CM5), but the bones are solid.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can read Jeff\u0026rsquo;s full writeup on \u003ca href=\"https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2026/upgrading-my-open-source-pi-surveillance-server-frigate/\"\u003ehis blog\u003c/a\u003e or watch the video above.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSee the \u003ca href=\"https://www.exaviz.com/products/cruiser-carrier-board-v1-0/\"\u003eCruiser Carrier Board\u003c/a\u003e. Documentation is at \u003ca href=\"https://exa-pedia.com/docs/cruiser/\"\u003eexa-pedia.com\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n","date_modified":"2026-03-07T00:00:00Z","date_published":"2026-03-07T00:00:00Z","id":"https://www.exaviz.com/blog/2026-03-07-deskpi-2u-mini-rack-case/","summary":"DeskPi built a 2U mini rack enclosure specifically for the Exaviz Cruiser. Jeff Geerling put it through its paces in his latest video.","tags":["MiniRack","DeskPi","HomeLab","PoE","RaspberryPi"],"title":"The DeskPi 2U Case: A Purpose-Built Home for the Cruiser","url":"https://www.exaviz.com/blog/2026-03-07-deskpi-2u-mini-rack-case/"},{"authors":[{"name":"Exaviz Team"}],"content_html":"\u003cp\u003eThe Interceptor has RS-485. The Cruiser doesn\u0026rsquo;t.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf that sounds like we removed a feature, keep reading.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRS-485 is a serial bus. It connects one class of device: industrial controllers, sensors with serial output, Modbus equipment. It requires custom wiring, termination resistors, and possibly an oscilloscope when things go wrong.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Cruiser has two Qwiic ports instead.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eQwiic is a standardized I2C connector. A 4-pin JST plug shared by SparkFun Electronics, Adafruit Industries (STEMMA QT), and dozens of other manufacturers. No soldering, no termination, no wiring. Click it in. It works. And the ecosystem has hundreds of modules.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere\u0026rsquo;s the part some people may miss: because Qwiic carries I2C, it opens the door to I2C-to-UART bridge hardware that supports RS-485 signaling. The capability isn\u0026rsquo;t gone. It\u0026rsquo;s one adapter away instead of being hard-wired to a single protocol. And now you also get access to everything else.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat \u0026ldquo;everything else\u0026rdquo; looks like:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Qwiic Single Relay ($18, SparkFun).\u003c/strong\u003e Switch a 240VAC / 5.5A circuit over I2C. Lighting, irrigation, garage doors, HVAC. Controllable from Home Assistant.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAn SCD-40 true CO2 sensor ($45, Adafruit).\u003c/strong\u003e Server room or grow tent air quality monitoring with temperature and humidity. Automated alerts when ventilation fails.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAn MCP9601 thermocouple amplifier ($15, Adafruit).\u003c/strong\u003e Read K, J, T, N, S, E, B, and R type thermocouples over I2C. 3D printer enclosures, kilns, HVAC ducts.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Qwiic Scale with NAU7802 ADC ($18.50, SparkFun).\u003c/strong\u003e 24-bit load cell measurements. Propane tank level, beehive weight, package detection.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA PA1010D GPS module ($30, Adafruit).\u003c/strong\u003e Precision location and time over I2C. Asset tracking, NTP time source, geofencing.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA 128x32 OLED display ($12.50, Adafruit).\u003c/strong\u003e Mount it on your rack enclosure and show live PoE power draw per port, system uptime, IP address.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the first things a hardware integrator asked us for on the Interceptor was GPIO and I2C access. It would have required a custom add-on board. On the Cruiser, it\u0026rsquo;s two Qwiic ports, built in. 3.3V by default, with 5V available through a solder bridge. Daisy-chainable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat\u0026rsquo;s one protocol traded for an ecosystem.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOh, and the Cruiser\u0026rsquo;s Qwiic ports are also compatible with Adafruit\u0026rsquo;s STEMMA QT connector. But that\u0026rsquo;s a post for another day.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSee the \u003ca href=\"https://www.exaviz.com/products/cruiser-carrier-board-v1-0/\"\u003eCruiser Carrier Board\u003c/a\u003e. Documentation is at \u003ca href=\"https://exa-pedia.com/docs/cruiser/\"\u003eexa-pedia.com\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n","date_modified":"2026-03-04T00:00:00Z","date_published":"2026-03-04T00:00:00Z","id":"https://www.exaviz.com/blog/2026-03-04-qwiic-not-rs485/","summary":"The Interceptor has RS-485. The Cruiser doesn't. If that sounds like we removed a feature, keep reading.","tags":["Qwiic","IoT","Maker","RaspberryPi"],"title":"Why the Cruiser Has Qwiic Instead of RS-485","url":"https://www.exaviz.com/blog/2026-03-04-qwiic-not-rs485/"},{"authors":[{"name":"Exaviz Team"}],"content_html":"\u003cp\u003eA typical home lab rack looks something like this:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Raspberry Pi running Home Assistant. A PoE switch next to it to power everything else. Two power supplies. A handful of cables. It works, but it\u0026rsquo;s two devices doing a job one device could do.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Exaviz Cruiser flips that around. The PoE switch is built into the board. You get 8 ports of PoE+ (add an Interceptor PoE Board for 8 more at 10/100), a CM5 running your stack, NVMe storage, and 2.5GbE WAN, all in one Mini-ITX form factor. There is no separate switch.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat means your PoE ports are free to do something useful:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA Raspberry Pi running Pi-hole for network-wide ad blocking\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA JetKVM for remote keyboard/video/mouse access to other machines in the rack\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn ADS-B SDR receiver for aircraft tracking\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA PoE-powered GL-iNet router as a dedicated VPN gateway\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA second Pi as a Docker or Kubernetes worker node\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery one of those devices is standard 802.3af. Eight class 3 devices reserve 15W each, which lands exactly on the Cruiser\u0026rsquo;s 120W PoE budget (firmware 1.1.2 or later). One cable per device, power and data together. No power bricks, no outlet hunting.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd for this kind of build, you can run the whole thing off our \u003ca href=\"https://www.exaviz.com/products/48v-4a-power-supply/\"\u003e48V 4A power supply\u003c/a\u003e. One small power brick covering the Cruiser and every device hanging off it. That\u0026rsquo;s your entire rack on a single supply. If you add the PoE Board for 16 ports, size the supply at 6.5 to 7A.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mini rack community has been building toward this kind of setup for years. The Cruiser just removes the layer where you need a separate switch to make it work.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSee the \u003ca href=\"https://www.exaviz.com/products/cruiser-carrier-board-v1-0/\"\u003eCruiser Carrier Board\u003c/a\u003e. Documentation is at \u003ca href=\"https://exa-pedia.com/docs/cruiser/\"\u003eexa-pedia.com\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n","date_modified":"2026-02-27T00:00:00Z","date_published":"2026-02-27T00:00:00Z","id":"https://www.exaviz.com/blog/2026-02-27-home-lab-mini-rack/","summary":"A typical home lab rack is two devices doing a job one device could do. The Exaviz Cruiser removes the layer where you need a separate switch.","tags":["HomeLab","MiniRack","PoE","RaspberryPi"],"title":"The Cruiser and the Mini Rack: One Board to Run It All","url":"https://www.exaviz.com/blog/2026-02-27-home-lab-mini-rack/"}],"language":"en-US","title":"Exaviz blog","version":"https://jsonfeed.org/version/1.1"}