Using ZoneMinder with 2 Displays at a Dell Optiplex 7060 Micro

[B.Stromberg]

Hi Guys!
I was using ZoneMinder for Years in the past. Then i bought Reolink Cams and used the Reolink App.
Now I am trying to show my 6 Cameras on 2 Display, connected at the Dells Display Ports. Of course with the Reolink App its not working.

Can Zoneminder handle 2 Displays?

If i search here in the Forum, I can see lots of Threads talking about Multi Monitors. But its not exactly what I am searching for I guess?

My Goal is to show 2 Cameras at 1 Disyplay and the other 4 Cameras on the other Display.

Is that possible with ZoneMinder?

[mikb]

I would say it is possible with Zoneminder, but you will need to set up the operating system to support two monitors first. That's not a Zoneminder problem, it's a Linux/Window Manager/Desktop (or Windows ...) problem.

Once you've got two displays, either separate or combined as a wide virtual desktop split between them, you can have Zoneminder open a browser displaying a montage of images on one, AND the other, with whatever combinations of cameras you want to see.

[rockedge]

I like it....interesting....never tried it.

I can see the usefulness. We'll have to look at the possibilities if it is implementable!

I think the above idea posted above by mikb makes sense

[B.Stromberg]

I would say it is possible with Zoneminder, but you will need to set up the operating system to support two monitors first. That's not a Zoneminder problem, it's a Linux/Window Manager/Desktop (or Windows ...) problem.

Once you've got two displays, either separate or combined as a wide virtual desktop split between them, you can have Zoneminder open a browser displaying a montage of images on one, AND the other, with whatever combinations of cameras you want to see.

Thats exactly the Problem I have with Windows, Reolink App or Browser Windows

I want to Switch of the Display at Night Time and switch them on again in the Morning. Windows is that "clever" that all Windows will mess up when switching on the Displays again.
I am afraid, that Linux isnt even better in that Point.

Next Point is the forced Disconnetion of the Internet Provider that let the Cameras log in into the Browser Window again, so its stucked at Log In Page. (ok, that wont happen with ZoneMinder, I know).

[dougmccrary]

I am afraid, that Linux isnt even better in that Point.

Seems most of that is the black magic of the monitor startup. Not much the OS can do about it.

[B.Stromberg]

I am afraid, that Linux isnt even better in that Point.

Seems most of that is the black magic of the monitor startup. Not much the OS can do about it.

Well, that of course can be the Issue.

The 2nd Display needs some Time till it shows a Picture from Windows, but thats also a Windows Problem in my Eyes. Because the 2nd Display was never disconnected. Only Windows needs a ton of time to recognize it.

Just for the Record:
I am only switching off the Displays / Monitors but the Dell Server runs 24/7

So why Mr. Gates you cut off Signal from 2nd Display? Its still connected but only Power is switched off.

But it seems like i need to look for a Dummy DP Inverter?
Never found it, I know about HDMI Dummy Inverter but DP?

[dougmccrary]

I suspect DP is HDMI, or at least there are adapters.
In my experience, monitor off is disconnected, although that may be an interface levels option.
Maybe an electrically switched KVM would work to keep the monitor looking "on".

[B.Stromberg]

Ok, but next Question would be, if it make Sense to use KVM Switch. Because I think the Switch will need more Power than the 2 Displays...
So I could also run the 2 Displays 24/7

[dougmccrary]

Maybe. I haven't looked n a while. I'd guess <10 watts, so unless your monitors are really small and/or efficient...

[B.Stromberg]

Maybe. I haven't looked n a while. I'd guess <10 watts, so unless your monitors are really small and/or efficient...

Well, I tested with a Lenovo KVM Switch I had. Its about 1W if Monitors are switched off, thats OK to.

Just tell me, its been a long time I used Zoneminder.

Zoneminder is only Browser based, right? So its nearly same as if I watch the RTSP Stream of the Web Interface from me Reolink Cam?

I am looking for an APP with what I can only show the Picture of one Cam to place it at the Monitor in what Size I want. No Information or Header like at a browser.
At Android I know FullyKiosk do that Job very well, but I d never found a Browser like that for Windows.

[mikb]

So its nearly same as if I watch the RTSP Stream of the Web Interface from me Reolink Cam?

I do something like that on Linux/Firefox. I hand-created a "montage" HTML page which directly gets the .JPG image from each of my cameras, browser-scales it to a sensible size for viewing/tiling. Each image is a hyperlink to the proper events thing within Zoneminder if I want to click through.

This doesn't get me live video, but a constant full-screen multiple-view of everything. Without loading down the PC too much. The firefox window is set to full-screen mode, nailed to a particular virtual desktop so it's always there at a quick Ctrl-F4!

But the whole thing with "turning my monitor off makes the PC mess up my window layout" sounds ridiculous. It can't be normal operation to have that.I can't speak for Windows but Linux does have config files where you can specifically say what monitor should occupy what positional relationship to others (e.g. above/to the left/right) and whether to join them into a huge monitor (sliding windows from one onto another) or independent workspaces.

If these are set up correctly, I wouldn't expect the monitor being off/disconnected while the system is up to be a showstopper. If the monitor is missing at STARTUP there might be some complaining! Whether you can recover from that by switching it on, I don't know.