Frustration finding a straightforward install

[praxidice]

We still have a few issues, albeit probably only minor ones. Seems MySQL is still the main culprit This is the later of your two files, will try the earlier one again next as I thought that was OK except for missing apache which I generally have little trouble with.

I've been through the instructions several times and I believe I've done everything correctly. The hard drive installer recognizes the hard drive but absolutely refuses to install from the USB stick however that isn't the first issue I've encountered with USB sticks. When I get a minute I'll burn a CD and try installing to the hard drive from that. Using something like Puppy as the O/S has to be a better solution than most others and even then it could be trimmed down. Its hard to imagine a good reason to put ZoneMinder on top of a full operating system.

root# zoneminder start
Starting Zoneminder: DBI connect ('database=zm;host=localhost' , 'zmuser;, ...) failed: Can't connect to local MySQL server through socket '/var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock' (2) at usr/share/perl5/ZoneMinder/Config.pm line 92
Can't connect to db at /usr/share/perl5/ZoneMinder/Config.pm line 119
BEGIN failed--compllation aborted at usr/share//perl5/ZoneMinder/config.pm line 119
Compilation failed in require at usr/share//perl5/ZoneMinder.pm line 33
BEGIN failed--compllation aborted at usr/share//perl5/ZoneMinder.pm line 33
Compilation failed in require at usr/bin/zmpkg.pl line 48
BEGIN failed--compllation aborted at usr/bin/zmpkg.pl line 48
failure

[praxidice]

Since I'm stuck for the present with the Puppy installation, I had a go at Centos 6 (since Centos 7 doesn't want to know about 32 bit hardware) installation from CD. That worked fine until I attempted to use 'yum' when I struck the 'couldn't resolve host' issue / broken network configuration. It didn't take a lot of browsing to discover this is an endemic issue that despite numerous questions on who knows how many websites, doesn't seem to have a straightforward solution after an installation has been completed. I notice one comment states that there is a network config button that pops up partway through the install but few people notice it ... I certainly didn't, but then my attention was diverted by umpty-zillion other things at the time. This is a perfect example of minor but absolutely critical items that are all too often ignored by experts who attempt to help. Why Centos developers have chosen to implement such a fiddly network setup is another question. Seems the easiest way forward is another fresh install, this time keeping an eye on the button I didn't see last time.

[praxidice]

There certainly is a network configuration button down at the bottom of the page that asks for a system name. Given how critical that appears to be, it would save a lot of hair tearing out if it was on its very own page. Hopefully now the thing will go online and find the requisite repositories.

[praxidice]

OK, that fixed the network problem, next issue is that the zmrepo repository specified at https://zmrepo.zoneminder.com/ gives a 404 not found response. Can anyone provide a workable solution ??

[praxidice]

Since the file I wanted was visible in the repository even though yum didn't recognize it, I downloaded it with links and when I tried yum again on the downloaded file it worked. Now yum zoneminder looks like its working so its a matter of wait and see what happens. I'm amazed by the number of files needed, over 400Mb which is more than the size of the complete Centos operating system. That begs the question of why zoneminder is so huge when those cheap chinese DVRs manage to put all the software they need on a chip. Maybe they don't have all the bells and whistles, although one is inclined to wonder why zoneminder is the size it is. Assuming this installation works, I'll have a good look around at what there is under the bonnet (under the hood for yankees)

[praxidice]

Well I think everything is installed but there are numerous things not explained regarding mysql which leads to all manner of complaints. Among other things I'm getting Access denied for user zmuser@localhost and complaints about Config.pm lines 92 and 119, zoneminder.pm line 33 and zmpkg.pl line 48. Interestingly these are the same errors I encountered with Puppy. I notice a mention of a mariadb in the information provided about Centos 7. Might that not be an alternative to mysql which appears to be a catalog of unfriendly features ?

[praxidice]

In view of the apparent inability of Centos 6 to communicate with Android devices, I've had thoughts about scrapping Centos and possibly Puppy (if it has the same animosity to Android) and giving Fedora a try. Question is whether or not there is an alternative to MySQL ? I've manage to avoid MySQL in the past after hearing the horror stories but is it strictly necessary / are there user-friendly alternatives ?

[praxidice]

If perchance I decide to try Fedora in order to get ZoneMinder to communicate with Androids, what do I do with this 'Fedora users should place the line "exclude=zoneminder*" into their base' What FFS is meant by 'place the line "exclude=Zoneminder" into their base ?? Would someone kindly translate that into english ??

[rockedge]

I am constructing a new ISO of Puppy Linux tahr 6.0.5 and ZM 1.30.1 that is trouble free. Seems the version your struggling with has too much to repair to make it any fun to work with. I will try to make it a turn the key and go set up.

I think there are database files missing and possibly missing the mysql user "zmuser". I may have sent a version of the iso that has to have these setup and probably the database ZM is missing all together. Anyway I am working on it now to create a smoother user experience. OR we could attempt to guide you through the process to fix it. see if after you start the puppy linux up and apache and mysql are running in a browser try http://localhost/phpmyadmin user= root password = admin. is the ZM database on the list?
using phpmyadmin add a user "zmuser", localhost, "zmpass" give global permissions. then create a database called "zm" then import and browse over to /usr/share/zoneminder/db and select "zm_create.sql" and click Go. Then try to start zoneminder again.

This is why I am constructing a more complete version.

[praxidice]

I'm OK with apache but not with mysql which I've always found troublesome. The database issues I found with your files appear identical to the ones with the Centos 6 ones. They are probably fixable but only with a lot more information, bearing in mind that I'm not at all familiar with mysql witchcraft. As I recall, zm database was on the list but I'd need to fire it up again to be certain. My state of ignorance of mysql is such that creating and importing a database will entail a day or two research and that means a week or more with other commitments. Is a database as complex as mysql really necessary, particularly when it adds to the number of hurdles to be overcome ? I see a few people are starting to question use of traditional SQL so I'm not the only one unimpressed with it. The FreeBSD trial didn't go anywhere due to the number of additional things needing to be installed. It took several days to fetch everything and then there were at least a dozen fatal error messages, each of which would have taken days to get to the bottom of.

[rockedge]

I am halfway finished with a complete, working out of the box version of Puppy Linux Tahr 6.0.5 with ZM 1.30.1. This one you will be able to burn a CD or install directly to USB or a frugal or a full install as well. The system will start on bootup with Apache,mysql and ZoneMinder running. Opening the browser using localhost/zm will open the consol and you should be able to add cameras and filters email, the whole the schmear ready to go. I will then make the iso avialable for download.

[praxidice]

That would be appreciated. I guess there is no option but to study up on mysql if I am to get on top of this thing. Presumably most zoneminder installers are thoroughly familiar with mysql before they tackle zoneminder. That said, a lot of the initial issues I had appear to be USB stick related as CD installs (at least O/S ones) are fine. The weird username / password problem with the Ubuntu live distribution is a good example and from what I've read elsewhere, any others have encountered the same thing. Why FFS would simply using Unetbootin or Rufus to make a bootable USB stick create a username / password that nobody knows ? Maybe something similar happened with other files. I'll certainly be a lot more wary of USB sticks in the future. It will be an interesting exercise when time permits to revisit things that failed with the USB stick when I burn CDs.

[rockedge]

Download and burn to CD or install to HDD. Zoneminder will run on boot...WAIT 2-3 minutes for the servers to start.

IMPORTANT --- ON FIRST RUN. Let ZoneMinder start up. Then open a terminal and enter->

Code: Select all

#zoneminder stop
#killall mysqld
#mysqld

close the terminal. Open a new terminal and

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#zoneminder start

this is to ensure the MySQL server is on the correct Time. and event Export and Video generation and Stills view work.

Here is the link :tahr605zm1301.iso

in a browser http://localhost/zm

Runs completely in RAM as a LiveCD when burned to cd. Can be frugaly or full installed to HDD. Use a save folder/file to save all settings in the frugal or RAM mode. Works well installed to USB.
Puppy Linux Tahr 6.0.5
ZoneMinder 1.30.1
Apache/2.4.7 (Ubuntu)
MySQL 5.5.35-1ubuntu1 - (Ubuntu)
PHP extension: mysql, curl, mbstring
PHP version: 5.5.9-1ubuntu4

phpmyadmin
user = root
password = admin
change samba password

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#smbpasswd -a root

All other passwords are "admin" or "woofwoof"

Good Luck!
p.s. Please let me know how it works.

[rockedge]

here is an easy way to make a USB drive install of the above ISO after booting into the above ISO as a CD
1. format the USB drive using GParted and format to ext4 or ext2
2. create a folder/directory called tahr605 (for example)
3. open up the ISO by clicking on it. copy the entire contents of the ISO to the directory on the USB stick.
4. use GRUB4DOS AND select search only the USB drive. and go through the steps.
now reboot into the USB stick.

[praxidice]

Thanks. I'll be away from home on advocacy business til next Wednesday evening but will follow your instructions as soon as I'm back home.