# Hardware and host integrations

Edge reports a hardware feature as available only when it works on that Player. A missing CEC adapter, DDC/CI support, microphone, or Wi-Fi adapter turns that feature off with a reason. Normal playback continues.

The Edge software for each of these features is complete. Real TVs, monitors, microphones, and Wi-Fi adapters haven't been qualified yet, so check each feature on your own hardware before you depend on it.

## Check what a Player can do

Studio shows the hardware features each screen reports. On the Edge computer, `tilecastctl capabilities` lists every feature with its state and a reason code:

```sh title="On the Edge computer"
/opt/tilecast-edge/current/bin/tilecastctl capabilities
```

A reason such as `cec_adapter_absent`, `ddc_ci_not_responding`, or `no_microphone` tells you what to fix. The [engineering capability matrix](https://github.com/gbyo/tilecast/blob/main/docs/tilecast-edge-capabilities.md#hardware-capabilities-m9) lists every state and reason.

## Display Control

Edge talks to the Linux HDMI-CEC and I²C/DDC devices directly. It doesn't need `cec-ctl` or `ddcutil`. It supports power and input over HDMI-CEC, and brightness, volume, and mute over DDC/CI.

Edge reports a display change as confirmed only when the display reads it back. Input switching over CEC has no readback, so Edge reports it as sent. See [Display Control](../../screens/display-control/) for the Studio side.

## Presentation Network

Edge uses the same small root helper as the stable Linux Player to set up the Presentation Network through NetworkManager. The main Edge service gets no general network-control access. The computer needs NetworkManager and a Wi-Fi adapter. See [Presentation Networks](../../administration/presentation-networks/).

## Noise Meter

The Noise Meter needs an audio input on the Linux computer. A small process in the `tilecast` account's session measures the level through PipeWire, and Edge sends only the levels to Tilecast Server, never audio. The microphone is open only while a Noise Meter is on screen. See [Noise Meter](../../operations/plugins/noise-meter/).

## Device permissions

The Edge installer gives the `tilecast` account access to the CEC and I²C devices through a dedicated group and udev rule. Don't run `tilecastd` as root to work around a device permission problem.