Pay to configure Zoneminder v1.22 LiveCD installation

[billlunney]

Hello folks,

Is anyone interested in remotely configuring (via www.gotomypc.com) a ZoneMinder installation I have for a fee?

I've installed v1.22 of the LiveCD Zoneminder into a VMWare installation on my Windows Server 2003 system. Install appears fine but video capture device doesn't work. I'm using a 4 port BT878 card.

I have absolutely no Linux knowledge but ZoneMinder looks like such a good tool that I'm keen to try this.

I've trawled the forums and to be honest it gives me more questions than answers. It does look like the LiveCD has native support for these cards that may simply need configured via file settings.

Bottom line is I want to try ZoneMinder but don't want to go through the Linux learning curve in order to do so.

[rdmelin]

I would be surprised if this installation will work. The problem is that the bt878 card is installed in your server machine and the zoneminder system is installed in a virtual machine (the VM in VMWare) So it has no access to the card, only to whatever virtual hardware VMWare emulates.

It will can probably be made to work with IP cameras if your VMWare network is configured properly.

If you boot the (real) machine from the CD you will probably find that you can check out zoneminder without any configuring. At least with the one preconfigured camera/monitor.

[billlunney]

Doh!

Of course, it will never work. The VMWare HAL knows nothing about the extra hardware such as this video card.

I wanted to ensure I put a reply in for this for anyone who makes the same oversight!

[Doug]

If there is a way to make Windows expose the video card inputs as IP cameras then ZoneMinder in the VM should be capable of "seeing" them. Otherwise, unique hardware like that typically does not get virtualized by the VMware system.

[cordel]

You might be able to install some software on the host system, but I personally I think it unwise to install any unnecessary software on the host for security and stability reasons. okay if you vm takes a dive, bad bad bad if the host does
But hey, some times you gotta do what you gotta do

[l3iodeez]

I am trying to set up a 1.22 LiveCD (upgraded to 1.23.1) under Vmware Sever with USB webcams. Has anybody done this? Do I need to install any drivers for the webcam to work? also is there such a thing as a USB capture card? Is there one that is known to work with ZM? If there was then I could run my whole system under VM, and reimage easily in case anything goes wrong.

[gola10]

I imagine that Windows would have to recognize the webcam for it to be used in the vmware system.
Mandriva 2007.1 (Linux) as the base system and from it i can run Linux +Zoneminder running on a virtual appliance using one webcan.
I understand (not sure) that you need one original UBS port for each webcam.
So those appliances that you connect to a USB port in order to have more USB ports (1 to many) should be avoided.

[madmanzero]

just curious.. i have a ESX and a mac mini setup.. but no dedicated linux host right now.

[ironhorse7]

Now I know virtualbox can share files between the virtual system and the hosting one. Would it be possible to export video(maybe with vlc?) into a file from windows then set zoneminder's source to the file? Just my two cents...I am still fighting with a logitech webcam right now.

[hushpuppy]

I'd configure a zm system for you, preferably my own Live CD ( i know it inside out).
Wouldn't need gotomypc or anything, just web access (port 80) and probably ssh access.

Hardware info would help, and if you've got a bttv card, i'm pretty confident i could configure the whole thing in less than 10 minutes.

If i had to talk you through network configuration, it could take a while longer.

I wouldn't accept a fee, but if youre happy with the outcome, maybe a donation to zoneminder if you felt so inclined.

Message me if you'd like to take this further.