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Security Camera-to-DVR Setup on Linux?

Posted by Cliff on from the open-source-vs-proprietary dept.

mrperkins asks: "I have been asked to help a friend setup a Linux DVR (Digital Video Recording) system for security cameras. Previously this has been done on Windows XP using Avermedia video capture cards from the MP3000 and MP5000 series, and using their bundled software. They have a Linux version but the software is horribly broken. The Windows software allows playback/recording/backup from 4-16 cameras. This works reasonably well but certainly has it's share of problems - the PC's hardware being only one. Can this be done on Linux using Free Software and compatible hardware? I have heard that the frame rates achievable under video4linux are simply too slow, but I would like to prove otherwise! Are there any software packages that can do this kind of thing (not just a single stream but a fully featured package)? Also, what cards (pref. up to max $200US) would you recommend? If anyone is already doing this kind of thing please let me know what you're using!"

4 of 36 comments (clear)

  1. I've been looking for this too - by chuckcolby · · Score: 3, Interesting
    I've been casting about for this as well. So far, the best one I've found is here. Check it out, it's pretty feature rich. Like anything, it will take a little up front configuration.

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  2. Re:Motion by GigsVT · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I have a very similar setup. It's mostly only limited by the number of PCI slots you have.

    I didn't bother with "outdoor rated" cameras. I just used cheap B+W cube cameras, put a line of silicone around any seals on them, and used artic silver thermal epoxy to glue a small heat sink on the back of them (they get surprisingly hot).

    The outdoor ones aren't in direct weather, but generally under eaves and the like.

    Good move not saying exactly how many cameras you have, I would have probably let that slip. :)

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  3. linux sec. cams by bobsalt · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I don't record full motion as what I am doing is just for security purposes. I setup up a location with 4-8 Panasonic cameras. they come in different flavors. kx-hcm270 is a wireless outdoor model. It can pan and tilt and has pretty good range. I've gotten over a 1000' range using a wap11 with an ext omni. I set the cameras to upload a pic every 5 seconds. I set up scripts that embed a time stamp on the pic using image magicks convert command. I have a bunch of folders that I share out so people can go back up to 88 hours to look at the pics, at the end of 88 hours, I use ffmpeg to pack the days images into a mpeg file. works great, if someone is interested, I will put together a howto on it.

  4. Re:Motion by spaceyhackerlady · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Allow me to second the suggestion for Motion.

    I've quietly run a security camera with Motion in my cubicle at work for a couple of years now. It's picked up lots of interesting things, and cost a bad security guard his job.

    Hardware? I've experimented. My current setup is a Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000 on USB. I tried a cheapie BT878 card but wasn't happy with the results. The hardware is a 733 MHz Pentium 3 running a heavily patched and upgraded system that started life as RedHat 7.3.

    If things look interesting during the day I use CamStream and mjpegtools to make timelapse videos of the view out my window.

    ...laura