Cannot Get Video With Foscam FI8918W Using ZoneMinder 1.24.2

[alteredstate]

For some reason I am unable to get any video through the ZoneMinder interface using a Foscam FI8918W IP camera (Device Firmware: 11.22.2.30 & WebUI: 2.4.18.15) but I can Pan and Tilt the device. According to the Zoneminder Wiki http://www.zoneminder.com/wiki/index.php/Foscam I am suppose to enter /videostream.cgi?user=admin&pwd= (assuming you have an admin user on the cam with no password) under the Remote Host Path field, is this correct for my model of camera? When I input the correct IP of the camera under the Remote Host Name field I get black video feed but if I put a random IP address then I get a blank screen. Judging by all that, I assume ZoneMinder is communicating with the camera but not able to interpret the video feed? Any will be greatly appreciated!

[PacoLM]

Hi,

First try the link http://your.ip.add.ress/videostream.cgi?user=admin&pwd= in a browser, if you get the image, then it will work for zoneminder, even that it's better to use http://your.ip.add.ress/snapshot.cgi?user=admin&pwd= with Zoneminder (try this last also in a browser).

If it works, then take a look to your shared memory settings, the black screen looks like you don't have the correct settings. As a guide, try to edit your /etc/sysctl.conf file and add these lines if you already haven't:

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kernel.shmmax= 473787187
kernel.shmall= 128523

Save the file, apply the settings by running, or just restart your system :

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sysctl -p

If it works, these settings depends on your buffer settings, maybe you have to tweak them a little bit. If still do not works, let's take a look to the /var/log/syslog file.

Post results. Good luck,

PacoLM

[alteredstate]

Hello and thank you for you prompt reply! Thanks to your guidance I figured it out; it turns out I had the resolution of the camera set to 640 X 480 (in the camera's WebUI) but I had ZoneMinder set to 320 X 240 (from the Wiki Tutorial)...wow, I feel stupid. When I set the camera's WebUI to 320 X 240, bingo!! ZoneMinder had video. The videostream.cgi and snapshot.cgi links you gave me worked so I knew my setup should definitely work with ZoneMinder. When I viewed the syslog file it said this:

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Mar 25 10:32:36 desktop zmc_m2[2055]: INF [Starting Capture]
Mar 25 10:32:36 desktop zmc_m2[2055]: ERR [Captured image does not match expected size, check width, height and colour depth]
Mar 25 10:32:36 desktop zmc_m2[2055]: ERR [Failed to capture image from monitor 2 (0/1)]
Mar 25 10:32:36 desktop zmdc[1753]: ERR ['zmc -m 2' exited abnormally, exit status 255]
One question though, you stated I need to set the shared memory to: [code]kernel.shmmax= 473787187

kernel.shmall= 128523[/code] but the Wiki stated it needs to be:

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kernel.shmall = 134217728
kernel.shmmax = 134217728

, is that a problem? Again, thank you for your help!!

[PacoLM]

The values I posted are the settings I'm using in my system with 3 cameras, calculated according a script that the user Tada posted. The ones you're using are the default and shoud work in general, but maybe be need some fine tuning depending on your buffers.

PacoLM

[alteredstate]

The values I posted are the settings I'm using in my system with 3 cameras, calculated according a script that the user Tada posted. The ones you're using are the default and shoud work in general, but maybe be need some fine tuning depending on your buffers.

PacoLM

Ok, I really appreciate your help...thank you!