ZoneMinder Forums

Hello everybody I'm a noob to the Linux world, I am currently running Ubuntu 9.10 X64. My end goal with this application is to use web cams as security cameras to keep an eye on my apartment while I'm gone because we have had some break ins here.

I have installed Zone minder via the .deb package, and have also tried the version in the ubuntu repos. My problem is i cannot get the program to launch. I tried typing "ZoneMinder" and "ZM" into both the terminal and the app launcher and I got an error saying it cant be found. I checked my process manager and found several processes that started with "ZM". I cannot figure out how to actually access the programs gui. I suppose i should also ask if there even is a gui, or is this app terminal based.

Please help. I really want to get this up and running but i wont be able to do it without a graphical interface, Ive only been running Linux for about a month, i only know very basic terminal commands.

Bring up an instance of your web browser and use /localhost/zm for your address. ZM doesn't have it's own front end so your browser is the key.

thanks, I will try that when i get home.

I tried it and all i got was this error.

Firefox can't find the file at /localhost/zm.

Am i doing something wrong?

Rather then guessing it would much better for you to download one of the live CD's over at Linuxtracker.org under the Zoneminder category and install it all preconfigured and ready to add monitors. Using one of these will give you a painless installation and configuration. You have your choice of Mandriva, PCLinuxOS, or Arch for a base operating system plus Puppy and others have provided links in the forums for off the shelf install and go solutions. The wiki has step by step instructions for many other distributions including Ubuntu; it's never as easy as installing the package alone. Being new I recommend one of RDMelin's live CD's!

P.S. The live CD based on Arch (1.24.2) will probably require you to edit two files to get it working. The Blue Cherry live CD is available at Bluecherry.net and is based on Ubuntu