Networking Zoneminder Machines

A place for discussion of topics that are not specific to ZoneMinder. This could include Linux, Video4Linux, CCTV cameras or any other topic.
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meerkat746
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Nov 17, 2010 7:39 am

Networking Zoneminder Machines

Post by meerkat746 »

Scenario:
I have a friend living on a farm that would like to setup a community CCTV network, right now will be about 7 households.

The backbone will be a wireless link.

Each of the households will have a zoneminder machine servicing the cameras connected to it.

The idea is to have a centralised monitoring "station" from where he can login and check all the cameras connected to the network.

Due to cost IP cameras not really an option.

Thanx in advance
Flash_
Posts: 441
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 12:19 pm

Post by Flash_ »

Sounds like a fun project.

Don't rule out ip cameras, they're cheaper now and I know from doing several farms myself, long runs are much much easier with cat5 and you could save significantly on cabling costs.

For centralised - not sure. I have a server on each farm from which zm is viewable from each location. Maybe there's a way you can replicate the mysql databases centrally to have a big list of events, I'm not a mysql expert though.

For looking at live feeds, at least with ip cameras, that's easy with html and <img> tags to an mjpeg feed. (firefox or chrome, not ie)

You don't actually ask any questions, but as a broad idea I know having seperate installs works great, but I don't know about merging together but am not entirely sure what you want.
Alan87i
Posts: 116
Joined: Sun Jul 27, 2008 9:58 am

Post by Alan87i »

Just stick a huge computer at the most central AP of the wireless link and set up an account on each ZM box with the same login/pw ( makes it easier )
and configure for remote monitoring in (options)
. Keep in mind that video over wifi will take up a lot of bandwidth. So setting lower frame rates will help out a lot.

I have the same basic scenario here. But not every cam is monitored by the central. (indoor cams NOT) main door ways are. I set up monitors and disable them. Re-enable them when we know a house hold will be vacant for a day or more. ( saves Bandwidth)

If you haven't setup the wireless link I recommend looking at Ubiquiti M series. Up too and some times over 80 Mbps 1 way. Close to the speed of 10/100 cat5.
jonnajulee
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Jan 03, 2011 7:36 am

Post by jonnajulee »

I've never gotten Zoneminder to successfully install, though I haven't tried it in awhile. Just looking at your screenshot I see that /var/log/apt/ could be missing. Run

Code: Select all
ls -l /var/log | grep apt


and see if you get a response that looks like this:
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 2009-12-01 08:03 apt
if you do, then /var/log/apt already exists and there is some error with zoneminders installer. If you don't see apt, run

Code: Select all
sudo mkdir /var/log/apt/


to create the directory and try installing Zoneminder again.
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