---
title: Alternative Servers
slug: ncam-reality/alternative-servers
docTags: 
createdAt: 2022-01-02T00:13:26.000Z
---

The use of the a connection box allows for the Mk2 server to be replaced by an alternative computer.  There are a number of reasons why a user may wish to do this:

**Cost** - Customers may already have the required computer hardware needed to run Ncam Reality, purchasing Mk2 servers in this case is unnecessary

**Performance** - Certain use cases benefit from having more powerful processing available. These include trying to track very large spaces (cable cameras for instance) or when rendering inside Ncam Reality using the Motionbuilder Geometry streaming plugin

This page contains a list of requirements and considerations for using your own hardware to run Ncam Reality

:::hint{type="info"}
### Limited Hardware Testing

Currently Ncam has conducted quite limited testing on 3rd party computers, we strongly advise thoroughly checking all specifications prior to investing in any hardware
:::

## Ubuntu Certified

Ncam Reality runs on the Ubuntu 18.04.5 operating system, to ensure proper driver support we recommended using hardware that is "Ubuntu Certified"

The Ubuntu Certified [website ](https://ubuntu.com/certified/desktops?release=18.04%20LTS)provides details of all supported hardware

## Video Acquisition

Ncam Reality 2022 has been tested on the following video cards:

- Blackmagic Decklink Series of cards
- Aja Corvid 44

The **Decklink SDI 4k** is the preferred choice, we **do not **recommend the use of the mini monitor card

### Thunderbolt

If the server/laptop you are using has thunderbolt 3 support then it is possible to use the [UltraStudio HD Mini](https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/nz/products/ultrastudio) thunderbolt device for video acquisition.

If intending to use a thunderbolt video acquisition device, make sure that the thunderbolt drivers for your server are properly supported on Ubuntu 18.04

### AJA

For AJA cards only the corvid 44 has been tested, it is likely the corvid 88 and Kona series of cards will work without issue however these have not been explicitly tested yet.

## Network Interfaces

It is recommended to have at least 2 network interfaces on the server, a Ubuntu supported USB to Ethernet dongle can be used if a 2nd network interface is not available

## Minimum Specification

CPU - Intel i7 8th gen or comparable equivalent

RAM - 16Gb

GPU - Intel UHD onboard graphics

HDD - 256Gb SATA SSD

## Extended Specification

Certain use cases of the Ncam system may benefit from more powerful hardware, tracking large environments using the natural tracking core or using the MotionBuilder Geometry streaming plugin for instance.  We provide the following specification for these use cases

CPU - Intel i9 or comparable equivalent

RAM - 16Gb

GPU - Discrete Nvidia GPU (AMD GPU's are **not **supported)

HDD - 512Gb SATA SSD

## Supported Hardware

The following off the shelf computers have been tested and are confirmed working with Ncam Reality 2022, these are primarily servers from the previous hardware generation of Ncam

- HP Z4 workstation
- HP Z2 mini - Requires the use of the Decklink micro from [Blackmagic](https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/nz/products/decklink/techspecs/W-DLK-35)
- HP Z2 G5 with Nvida GPU

## Known Issues

AMD GPU's are not supported at all by Ncam Reality