axis 207

[nixnooi]

I decided to 'trail' a cheaper (even MORE budget) camera Panasonic BL-C10A. It's wired so it was a whole different thing .. but it worked. I'm still interested in the Axis and it's much later (calendar time) now ... I'd love to know about the Aixis

[skippy]

Hi everyone i am new to zoneminder and camera operations and im learning fast.

I purchased 2 axis 207 units and upgraded the firmware to 4.40

I note FTP operations are now a smiple menu option rather then using the plain text config.

I note the record and then ftp only runs for a short period even when set as a manual trigger and FTPs the stream after the completion, im getting around 1.5mins on low res settings. I beleave this is because of memory limitations of the cam.

I have managed to get mjpg images to record with zoneminder but at a low frame rate of around 2.5 fps


zonefinder Mpeg streaming does not seem to work, could be i am not putting the source information correctly. can anyone post an example of how they have the settings for mpeg streaming?


My network is setup like this.

Cameras are located on a dedicated 1mb * 1mb SHDLS in our Sydney Office

Zoneminder server is located in our Data center in south Australia.

I am trying to Record events in the Sydney office and allow access to the streams once a day from the company website located on the same server as zoneminder in South Australia.

I have each cam on the local network with ports forwarded: example

WWW
Public IP with ports forward 84 85 554 555
Cam 1 is on local 192.168.1.60 and set to port 84 & 554
Cam 2 is on Local 192.168.1.65 and set to port 85 & 555

Note have ports cam1 554 and cam 2 555 port forwarded


Live view pages on ports 84 & 85 can be access and viewed without issue in both motion- mjpg and mpeg streaming


But i note i can not get this to function in zoneminder.

I am using the latest version of zoneminder


ffmpeg is installed

Anyone else note this with remote connections to axis 207 in zoneminder


Cheers
skippy

[Flash_]

mpeg won't work because ZM doesn't support it.

2.5fps is on the low side for a 1mbit synchronous link - what other traffic is involved? The camera is able to support much higher fps in all resolutions, so it's almost certainly the link unless your ZM server is very slow. To test this - note the filesize of one of the jpg's created at your normal res&colour. Work out how many bytes/second your link can support (ftp'ing or wgetting a big file is a good working guide to realworld speed) and see if your img/size multiplied by the number of fps is about equal.

Alternatively, it could be you've set a cap on max_fps on either camera or Zoneminder...

Not sure about what you mean with "allow access once a day..." - but it sounds like a basic apache issue rather than a zm one?

Forwarding ports is easy with Axis - just set the relevant port on the camera and allow your firewall/router direct access to it. (Use user security if your firewall doesn't restrict by source ip). Or just use a VPN and access it as if it was on your own lan.

[skippy]

mpeg won't work because ZM doesn't support it.

2.5fps is on the low side for a 1mbit synchronous link - what other traffic is involved? The camera is able to support much higher fps in all resolutions, so it's almost certainly the link unless your ZM server is very slow. To test this - note the filesize of one of the jpg's created at your normal res&colour. Work out how many bytes/second your link can support (ftp'ing or wgetting a big file is a good working guide to realworld speed) and see if your img/size multiplied by the number of fps is about equal.

Alternatively, it could be you've set a cap on max_fps on either camera or Zoneminder...

Not sure about what you mean with "allow access once a day..." - but it sounds like a basic apache issue rather than a zm one?

Forwarding ports is easy with Axis - just set the relevant port on the camera and allow your firewall/router direct access to it. (Use user security if your firewall doesn't restrict by source ip). Or just use a VPN and access it as if it was on your own lan.

Hi Thanks for the reply:

The 1mb * 1MB SHDSL service is dedicated and no other systems or devices are connected to the service apart form the 2 cameras.

The server in the South Australian Data center is a Intel Dual Zeon 3.0ghz cpu with 4gig of ram and is on 1000 ethernet. The service connection is 100mb * 100mb with optical fiber backbone.

I do have VPN available.

I am now thinking a better option might be to place a server in the same location as the Cam units and stream/record to that server.

I am trying to work out what operating system to use. If zoneminder can not do mpeg then maybe i should put a windows server in place and use milestone. but hey i have never owned a windows server and never thought i would neeed or want to.

My understanding of Zoneminder is with the ffmpeg i could record in mpeg, avi etc and ftp the stream to the server in South Australia.
When you say zoneminder does not support mpeg do you mean it does not support the previewing of it but with ffmpeg it will record it?

I note the file size of jpg images recorded in zoneminder is 11k

When i said i wish to allow access once per day. This is for a Radio program. The program runs for 3 hours once per day. I am trying to record the daily event and allow access to the event from the company website. Within the website i have created in php a module that turns the streaming on and off each day at the same preset time. (this is embedded)

The audio stream comes from a different stream, this also is available on the website as a broadcast. This streams all day every day on the site. ( shoutCast Service) Long term i wish to use one of the input pins to patch the Audio from the control pannel in the studio and capture the audio with the video stream so its all nice and sync. however untill i can get the video to record and display correctly no point in adding extra issues.

Options:

1: Add dedicated server with zoneminder / ffmpeg encoding mpeg , avi or something usable

2: Use a VPN in the new server to the Server hosting the website. to transfer the encoded stream.

3: Use same embbed code to display the stream in the site.

All seems simple enough


Anyone have an idea of best options here with zoneminder

Please note if you are interested in what im trying to do with the axis 207 cams, zoneminder, website and wish to get involved, or help out please feel free to contact me at admin at talkinsport dot com dot au

I will give access and supply msn details etc.

[cordel]

In short, ZM currently does not support capturing from an mpeg source, only mjpeg and jpeg is currently supported. Other than camera compatibility, I don't beleave there is much of a push for mpeg as the quality of image is considerably less than jpeg. It is on the to do list and I think Phil has been working on it off and on but I'm sure it requires a good bit of restructuring the current code.

There is however a linux project that is capable of mpeg if I remember correctly Devolution Security System project.

Might be worth a shot if your bound to mpeg.

[skippy]

In short, ZM currently does not support capturing from an mpeg source, only mjpeg and jpeg is currently supported. Other than camera compatibility, I don't beleave there is much of a push for mpeg as the quality of image is considerably less than jpeg. It is on the to do list and I think Phil has been working on it off and on but I'm sure it requires a good bit of restructuring the current code.

There is however a linux project that is capable of mpeg if I remember correctly Devolution Security System project.

Might be worth a shot if your bound to mpeg.

Thanks for the information.

Do i use the Viewmax branch of zoneminder or the newly renamed project iDVR (formerly Devolution Security System)

Thanks again

[cordel]

The latter as I think there veiwmax project is just a web frontend for ZM.

[intelio]

Thanks for the information.

Do i use the Viewmax branch of zoneminder or the newly renamed project iDVR (formerly Devolution Security System)

Thanks again

Use iDVr 3.0.6, as cordel points out ViewMAX is simply a web ui replacement/overlay for ZoneMinder.

[skippy]

Thanks for the information.

Do i use the Viewmax branch of zoneminder or the newly renamed project iDVR (formerly Devolution Security System)

Thanks again

Use iDVr 3.0.6, as cordel points out ViewMAX is simply a web ui replacement/overlay for ZoneMinder.

Ok i have now built the server to go onsite and download the IDVr 3.0.6 beta release i think.

I note in some posts saying this may not be working. New release is due out this month with some fixes. I think i will test it anyway. If it fails i will go with a windows server insteed.

cheers for all the advice
Skippy

[intelio]

Ok i have now built the server to go onsite and download the IDVr 3.0.6 beta release i think.

I note in some posts saying this may not be working. New release is due out this month with some fixes. I think i will test it anyway. If it fails i will go with a windows server insteed.

cheers for all the advice
Skippy

Skippy, iDVR is not for production as you can see from it's current status. If you are not comfortable working the code to make it work on your specific hardware configuration (just as ZoneMinder often requires) under linux then I'd suggest you turn to commercially available software which would come with a support package. Even the Windows opensource projects along these lines will require you to be familiar with and comfortable at tweaking and experimenting your system to get it to work as desired. In short iDVR will require you to be very intimate with Debian GNU/Linux and it's spaw Ubuntu as well as the differences between the two. You will also need to spend alot of time READING DOCUMENTATION on V4L and mpeg4ip, you will additionally need to know C and be comfortable in massaging C code for your instance.

I guess what I am getting at is it sounds like you are looking for a polished product, which iDVR is currently not. Perhaps in a year or so, but not today.

[skippy]

Ok i have now built the server to go onsite and download the IDVr 3.0.6 beta release i think.

I note in some posts saying this may not be working. New release is due out this month with some fixes. I think i will test it anyway. If it fails i will go with a windows server insteed.

cheers for all the advice
Skippy

Skippy, iDVR is not for production as you can see from it's current status. If you are not comfortable working the code to make it work on your specific hardware configuration (just as ZoneMinder often requires) under linux then I'd suggest you turn to commercially available software which would come with a support package. Even the Windows opensource projects along these lines will require you to be familiar with and comfortable at tweaking and experimenting your system to get it to work as desired. In short iDVR will require you to be very intimate with Debian GNU/Linux and it's spaw Ubuntu as well as the differences between the two. You will also need to spend alot of time READING DOCUMENTATION on V4L and mpeg4ip, you will additionally need to know C and be comfortable in massaging C code for your instance.

I guess what I am getting at is it sounds like you are looking for a polished product, which iDVR is currently not. Perhaps in a year or so, but not today.

Yes i agree it is a long way from polished. I am an old timer to Linux and C++ i have compiled all items required and spent many hours reading and tweaking. No luck yet but i believe i am close to getting it operational.
I have found a few errors when compiling and have made some minor changes to the code.

Stay tuned i will release my changes and a how to doc once its working.
Anyone interested in helping sing out via email and ill give access to the dev system im testing this on.

Cheers
Skippy

[RoundSparrow]

Have the lockups been resolved on this camera?

[cordel]

As I recall, Axis has fixed the lockup issues.

[RoundSparrow]

I put the latest firmware on my 207 one week ago and it has been running for 5 days without a lockup. Out of the box (new from Amazon) it was only slightly behind on Firmware, but I'm a believer that they don't make new firmware for the fun of it [ New version is almost always better = my belief from 20 years of experience.]

So my official word is that the 207 Ethernet seems stable. Will update here if I have any problems.

[ioclaudio]

Hi,
I've installed ZoneMinder 1.23 on an Ubuntu Workstation (8.0,4) and i'm using an Axis Camera 207 with firmware v 4.40.1.
I've added a monitor that uses this cam and is configured in this way:

root@argo:/home/claudio# zmu -m 1 -q
Id : 1
Name : PrimaWebCam
Type : Remote
Host : 192.168.16.77
Port : 80
Path : /axis-cgi/jpg/image.cgi?resolution=320x240
Width : 320
Height : 240
Palette : 4
Colours : 3
Event Prefix : Event-
Label Format : %N - %y/%m/%d %H:%M:%S
Label Coord : 0,0
Image Buffer Count : 40
Warmup Count : 25
Pre Event Count : 10
Post Event Count : 10
Stream Replay Buffer : 1000
Alarm Frame Count : 1
Section Length : 600
Maximum FPS : 5.00
Alarm Maximum FPS : 0.00
Reference Blend %ge : 7
Track Motion : 0
Function: 2 - Monitor Only
Zones : 1
Id : 1
Label : All
Type: 1 - Active
Shape : 4 points
0: 0,0
1: 319,0
2: 319,239
3: 0,239
Alarm RGB : ff0000
Check Method: 3 - Blobs
Min Pixel Threshold : 25
Max Pixel Threshold : 0
Min Alarm Pixels : 2304
Max Alarm Pixels : 57600
Filter Box : 3,3
Min Filter Pixels : 2304
Max Filter Pixels : 57600
Min Blob Pixels : 1536
Max Blob Pixels : 0
Min Blobs : 1
Max Blobs : 0

The problem is that if I click on the name of the monitor (in the control panel) I can see only a broken icon and no images.
However if I click on Zones i can see a photo.
Which is the difference between the two views (watch and zones) ?
How can I find the problem?

thank you for your suggestions

c.