Get Started#

The Visual Pipeline and Platform Evaluation Tool helps hardware decision-makers and software developers select the optimal Intel® platform by adjusting workload parameters and analyzing the provided performance metrics. Through its intuitive web-based interface, users can run the Smart NVR pipeline and evaluate key metrics such as throughput, CPU and GPU metrics, enabling them to assess platform performance and determine the ideal sizing for their needs.

By following this guide, you will learn how to:

  • Set up the sample application: Use Docker Compose tool to quickly deploy the application in your environment.

  • Run a predefined pipeline: Execute the Smart NVR pipeline and observe metrics.

Prerequisites#

Set up and First Use#

  1. Set Up Environment Variables:

    • Create and navigate to the directory:

      mkdir -p visual-pipeline-and-platform-evaluation-tool/models
mkdir -p visual-pipeline-and-platform-evaluation-tool/shared/models
cd visual-pipeline-and-platform-evaluation-tool

    • Download all required files:

      curl -LO "https://github.com/open-edge-platform/edge-ai-libraries/raw/refs/heads/main/tools/visual-pipeline-and-platform-evaluation-tool/setup_env.sh"
curl -LO "https://github.com/open-edge-platform/edge-ai-libraries/raw/refs/heads/main/tools/visual-pipeline-and-platform-evaluation-tool/compose.yml"
curl -LO "https://github.com/open-edge-platform/edge-ai-libraries/raw/refs/heads/main/tools/visual-pipeline-and-platform-evaluation-tool/Makefile"
curl -Lo models/Dockerfile "https://github.com/open-edge-platform/edge-ai-libraries/raw/refs/heads/main/tools/visual-pipeline-and-platform-evaluation-tool/models/Dockerfile"
curl -Lo models/model_manager.sh "https://github.com/open-edge-platform/edge-ai-libraries/raw/refs/heads/main/tools/visual-pipeline-and-platform-evaluation-tool/models/model_manager.sh"
curl -Lo shared/models/supported_models.lst "https://github.com/open-edge-platform/edge-ai-libraries/raw/refs/heads/main/tools/visual-pipeline-and-platform-evaluation-tool/shared/models/supported_models.lst"
chmod +x models/model_manager.sh

  2. Start the Application:

    • Run the following command:

      make build-models run

  3. Verify the Application:

    • Check that the application is running:

      docker compose ps

  4. Access the Application:

    • Open a browser and go to http://localhost:7860/?__theme=light to access the application UI.

    • Expected Results:

      • The microservice’s UI loads successfully.

      • The Smart NVR or Simple VS pipeline is automatically executed when the “Run” button is clicked, and the output video is shown with device metrics.

Validation#

  1. Verify Build Success:

    • Check the logs. Look for confirmation messages indicating that the microservice has started successfully.

Advanced Setup Options#

For alternative ways to set up the sample application, see:

Model Installation and Management#

When you first launch the Visual Pipeline and Platform Evaluation Tool, you will be prompted to select and install the models you wish to use. This step allows you to choose only the models relevant to your intended pipelines.

If you want to manage your installed models again, run the following command:

make install-models-force

Known Issues#

  • Issue 1: The Visual Pipeline and Platform Evaluation Tool container fails to start the analysis when the “Run” button is clicked in the UI, specifically for systems without GPU. This results in the analysis process either failing or becoming unresponsive for users without GPU hardware.

    • Solution: To avoid this issue, consider upgrading the hardware to meet the required specifications for optimal performance.

Troubleshooting#

  1. Containers Not Starting:

    • Check the Docker logs for errors:

      docker compose logs

  2. Port Conflicts:

    • Update the ports section in the Docker Compose file to resolve conflicts.

Supporting Resources#