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Ask Slashdot: Linux-Based Home Security
Grady Martin writes: I got a new job. Everything about it is perfect, except for one thing: The overwhelming majority of affordable housing within driving distance lies in an area known for its high crime rate. A home security system would afford some peace of mind, and a system whose code I could tinker with would afford even more. What Linux-based options are available? What experience do you have with such systems?
Home security systems is a "problem" that has been completely solved in hardware. No DIY system, Linux or otherwise will compare in regards to available sensors, reliability, speed, battery backup, cellular backup, and more of a hardware panel. Many/most people want remote monitoring and thus pay for it. People ignore alarm sirens. What's the point of annoying your neighbors with noise while the crook takes his time packing your stuff into his van? You being on Slashdot means you'll want free, so I'll skip the subscription monitoring services.
DSC makes rock solid and inexpensive hardware systems. If you want to roll you own monitoring/alerting DSC systems can be integrated with other stuff including your own crappy and broken Linux implementable. You can also integrate a DCS panel with a home automation system like Vera or openHAB.
Home made security systems are not cost effective, reliable, effective, or worth the effort.
I think OP sabotaged himself by giving Slashdot a context - one they could pull apart instead of answering his questions.
"Hi Slashdot. I'm looking to install a home security system and wanted to know if any of you are familiar with Linux-based implementations. Thanks."
Instead, now all you have is people telling you alternatives to security systems (commuting further, changing jobs, blah blah blah).
Good luck with your new home/job.
Why not a network of some raspberry Pi's outfitted with cameras and IR lights. One could even add a $8 usb sound dongle for sound detection. Couple that with either a WiFi or Cellular network, and instant home security. Could even add voice recognition "panic switch", something like "Linus, compile my kernel" which would call the police/911/999 with an automated message. Add a few cheap servo motors, and you can get pan/tilt cameras. Total cost of a camera, with servos, power supply, camera, raspi, about $60-$80. Still almost 2X cheaper than the crappy "ip cameras" dlink/linksys et al peddle.
Then add 1000 hours of labor to get it all working. The OP was looking for a *pre-existing* system that he could tinker with, not ideas for something he would build from scratch. Even at minimum wage, 1000 hours is $10,000. That'll buy one very spiffy security system.
I wish I had a good sig, but all the good ones are copyrighted
"it's not like the locks are going to stop a well-placed boot." Mine will.
steel door jamb and steel door with security grade door latch and deadbolt, even cops with their battering ram can't get through it. It's certified to LPS1175 Issue 7 SR4 so no wannabe door kicker is going to do anything but hurt himself.
I love finding stuff at surplus sales.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
he is 200% correct. or do you have information on high crime mostly white neighborhoods?
Blacks make up 90% of the bottom 5% of income. They are poor as fuck, and uneducated as fuck. rich white cracker moves in, guess what is gonna happen.
When black families get good jobs and education, they don't live in the hoods, they live near the white crackers. This is a complete undisputed and proven fact. I don't see 50cent living in compton. He lives with whities because he doesn't want to be robbed.
I've had horrible luck with those DVRs, not recording, not rotating videos properly, recording all of the time even when on motion settings, failing to send alerts, being unable to use sort of modern browser (I had to keep an IE6 VM around to manage one). ZoneMinder I haven't bothered to look at for a couple of years but I agree about it being a mess the last time I did.
I'm not sure if Bluecherry's DVR software is any better but it is Linux compatible. Ubiquiti isn't horrible and runs on linux, but does lock in to their cameras which prevents me from recommending it in most cases. Most DVRs I do now are either Milestone or BlueIris with a Windows 7 base.
Synology, QNAP and several other NAS vendors actually do have a DVR system built in which may be sufficient for what is needed.
Camera side Dahua and Hikvision make decent quality cameras on the cheap (their firmware interface is often horrible however) - ACTi is what I tend to use for higher end options (again interface on camera = horrible). Once you get them setup on your DVR (nvr) you shouldn't really need to get in to the camera interface again. I always put the cameras on their own private vlan with the NVR being dual homed so it can send out alerts and let you view cameras remotely.