ZoneMinder Forums

I have Zoneminder 1.22.3 running on a Ubuntu Server 8.04 test server. I have a couple of best practices questions for four computer labs I'm monitoring.

When creating zones for my particular use, should I disable the default zone and create my zones as needed or overlap my zones on the default zone? I would like to monitor the doors as well as specific areas of interest, e.g. around the LCD projector, but also would like to keep an eye on students.

I have created two filters, a purge after 30 days and 95% full. Is this a preferred setup so I have a good purge but not fill up the disk at the same time?

Right now I'm testing motion detection with the default zone and it's not working out, even after tweaking, but willing to try until it works. I'm taking a picture every four seconds and using that for now, but would prefer motion detection so I can use less disk and longer archive.

I would also like to know what others are doing if monitoring computer labs. Some are classroom labs and others are research labs. One thing I thought of is if I can take four second snapshots during class and open lab times and motion detection off hours. Possible?

Ken

1) I still think 8.04 has some issues. One is the new policy kit that breaks in ssh, and the other is failsafe X which causes problems with many monitors. And if you are viewing on the console, FF has been causing a few hard locks as well. This is why my production systems are froze at Gutsy. I have 2 hardy test systems, but they still ain't stable.

2) Your filter of >30 + >95% means you could fill the hard drive. I would leave it at just >95% and make sure you get enough days. Otherwise you could fill up and not get new data, or crash.

3) Motion detection is a pain. I just modify the default zone, but yes you will tweak it for a while.

One is the new policy kit that breaks in ssh

Are you referring to Apparmor? SSH seems to be working fine.

...and the other is failsafe X which causes problems with many monitors. And if you are viewing on the console, FF has been causing a few hard locks as well.

I'm using Ubuntu Server w/o GUI, so no problems there.

2) Your filter of >30 + >95% means you could fill the hard drive. I would leave it at just >95% and make sure you get enough days. Otherwise you could fill up and not get new data, or crash.

I was hoping the two filters would work as 'or' and not 'and', i.e. purge > 30 days -or- purge at 95% disk usage.

3) Motion detection is a pain. I just modify the default zone, but yes you will tweak it for a while.

I think I'm going to agree that Motion Detection won't work in my environment. I'm going to stick with a picture every four seconds.

Which brings up another question I wonder if I can set the FPS to .25 to record a picture every four seconds. What I'm doing now is setting max FPS to 5.00 Seconds and skipping 19 frames which is kind of a kludge because it seems that I'm not guaranteed 5 FPS.

Thanks for the input,
Ken

I often use GUI tools via ssh. But try users-admin with 8.04. There is no way to "unlock" it. I know there are other ways to administer users, but all of the "locked" gui tools stay locked. I just hate it when they break things for no benefit...

And you can set it as 'or' but why bother? Setting 95% is fine.

And yes you can do fractional rates. But if you think motion detect is bad now...

Ah, well I use Webmin for managing users.

Yea, I guess 95% would be fine.

I wasn't thinking of doing .25 FPS with motion detection, but with Recording. Which does work, except when monitoring you don't get the streaming view, but 4 second intervals. So, if I want the stream view I will need to fall back to 5 FPS and skip 19 frames for recording.