Looking for Linux-friendly network cameras
James H. Newman
one that I can operate from Linux. Looking into what is out there, all
vendors so far seem to supply Windows-only software to run their cameras
- even to configure them. This despite of the fact that many of those
cameras run on Linux themselves.
Any members of this forum have experience on the subject? Can
anybody recommend network cameras that work with Linux?
James H. Newman
Robert Heller
>
> I am in the market for a network camera, and I would want to get
> one that I can operate from Linux. Looking into what is out there, all
> vendors so far seem to supply Windows-only software to run their cameras
> - even to configure them. This despite of the fact that many of those
> cameras run on Linux themselves.
I suspect that most of them just run a web server (one of the various
small-scale web servers that are commonly used in various sorts of
'network appliances' (eg routers and such). The add on Windows software
is just a more "user-friendly" interface or for additional
functionallity.
>
> Any members of this forum have experience on the subject? Can
> anybody recommend network cameras that work with Linux?
Did you look at Axis Communications (www.axis.com). Unless they have
changed radically, the only software needed to run or configure their
cameras is a web browser. They use dhcp to get their IP address. At
least that is how we worked with the one we had while I was working at
the UMass CVRL a few years back. I really doubt they have changed the
basic camers themselves.
I was able to write a simple embedded live video viewer using one of
the internal web server's cgi scripts that fed a jpeg, using <img ...>
HTML tag. If you want to display a bunch of camera views, you should be
able to use this same trick.
Yep, they still use plain old embeded web servers in their cameras.
From the URL http://www.axis.com/products/video/index.htm:
"Access to live video at anytime, from anywhere
Axis' award-winning network video products are designed with built-in
computers so they do not require a direct connection to a PC or any
additional software to stream live video and audio over networks. Simply
connect the network video products to an IP network (such as a LAN,
intranet or Internet) and view live images from any local or remote,
networked computer with a standard Web browser. Learn more about the
benefits and technology of Axis network video products."
>
--
Robert Heller -- 978-544-6933
Deepwoods Software -- Download the Model Railroad System
http://www.deepsoft.com/ -- Binaries for Linux and MS-Windows
hel...@deepsoft.com -- http://www.deepsoft.com/ModelRailroadSystem/
James H. Newman
> At Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:09:45 +0000 (UTC) "James H. Newman"
> <NewJ...@exicite.com> wrote:
>
>
>> I am in the market for a network camera, and I would want to get
>> one that I can operate from Linux. Looking into what is out there, all
>> vendors so far seem to supply Windows-only software to run their
>> cameras - even to configure them. This despite of the fact that many of
>> those cameras run on Linux themselves.
>
> I suspect that most of them just run a web server (one of the various
> small-scale web servers that are commonly used in various sorts of
> 'network appliances' (eg routers and such). The add on Windows software
> is just a more "user-friendly" interface or for additional
> functionallity.
What worries me is that in some cases they explicitly mention
that you need things like DirectX, which is Windows-only, I believe.
>> Any members of this forum have experience on the subject? Can
>> anybody recommend network cameras that work with Linux?
>
> Did you look at Axis Communications (www.axis.com). Unless they have
> changed radically, the only software needed to run or configure their
> cameras is a web browser. They use dhcp to get their IP address. At
> least that is how we worked with the one we had while I was working at
> the UMass CVRL a few years back. I really doubt they have changed the
> basic camers themselves.
>
> I was able to write a simple embedded live video viewer using one of the
> internal web server's cgi scripts that fed a jpeg, using <img ...> HTML
> tag. If you want to display a bunch of camera views, you should be able
> to use this same trick.
>
> Yep, they still use plain old embeded web servers in their cameras.
>
> From the URL http://www.axis.com/products/video/index.htm:
>
> "Access to live video at anytime, from anywhere Axis' award-winning
> network video products are designed with built-in computers so they do
> not require a direct connection to a PC or any additional software to
> stream live video and audio over networks. Simply connect the network
> video products to an IP network (such as a LAN, intranet or Internet)
> and view live images from any local or remote, networked computer with a
> standard Web browser. Learn more about the benefits and technology of
> Axis network video products."
Thanks for the feedback. In fact, my top candidate so far is an
Axis camera. They seem to the most forthcoming when it comes to dealing
with non-Windows platforms.
James H. Newman
> At Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:09:45 +0000 (UTC) "James H. Newman"
> <NewJ...@exicite.com> wrote:
>
>
>> I am in the market for a network camera, and I would want to get
>> one that I can operate from Linux. Looking into what is out there, all
>> vendors so far seem to supply Windows-only software to run their
>> cameras - even to configure them. This despite of the fact that many of
>> those cameras run on Linux themselves.
>
> I suspect that most of them just run a web server (one of the various
> small-scale web servers that are commonly used in various sorts of
> 'network appliances' (eg routers and such). The add on Windows software
> is just a more "user-friendly" interface or for additional
> functionallity.
What worries me is that in some cases they explicitly mention
that you need things like DirectX, which is Windows-only, I believe.
>> Any members of this forum have experience on the subject? Can
>> anybody recommend network cameras that work with Linux?
>
> Did you look at Axis Communications (www.axis.com). Unless they have
> changed radically, the only software needed to run or configure their
> cameras is a web browser. They use dhcp to get their IP address. At
> least that is how we worked with the one we had while I was working at
> the UMass CVRL a few years back. I really doubt they have changed the
> basic camers themselves.
>
> I was able to write a simple embedded live video viewer using one of the
> internal web server's cgi scripts that fed a jpeg, using <img ...> HTML
> tag. If you want to display a bunch of camera views, you should be able
> to use this same trick.
>
> Yep, they still use plain old embeded web servers in their cameras.
>
> From the URL http://www.axis.com/products/video/index.htm:
>
> "Access to live video at anytime, from anywhere Axis' award-winning
> network video products are designed with built-in computers so they do
> not require a direct connection to a PC or any additional software to
> stream live video and audio over networks. Simply connect the network
> video products to an IP network (such as a LAN, intranet or Internet)
> and view live images from any local or remote, networked computer with a
> standard Web browser. Learn more about the benefits and technology of
> Axis network video products."
Thanks for the feedback. In fact, my top candidate so far is an
General Schvantzkoph
I'm using DLINK cameras, they have a little Linux server built in. All of
the configuration and access is done via a web browser. I'm pretty sure
that almost all cameras in this class are basically similar.
General Schvantzkoph
The DLinks have a chioce of Java or Active X on their interface,
obviously I'm using the Java option.
Robert Heller
I think the Axis cameras also have a choice of Java or Active X. I
wonder if the DLinks cameras are re-branded Axis cameras...
Knorpi
Knorpi
Robert Heller
>
> What is a network camera?
It is a self-contained camera with some sort of network interface (eg
10BaseT EtherNet). Does not connect to a computer. Instead you jack it
into a LAN. Some network cameras are wireless -- they have a wireless
NIC interface (eg IEEE 802.11<mumble>) and connect to the a local
wireless network. Generally, they have an embedded processor (often
running Linux), usually with some smart hardware/firmware for grabbing
images (or video) from a CCD camera and shoving it out onto the network,
generally with a built-in web server.
>
> Knorpi
General Schvantzkoph
> At Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:05:37 +0200 Knorpi <kno...@mailinator.com> wrote:
>
>
>> What is a network camera?
>
> It is a self-contained camera with some sort of network interface (eg
> 10BaseT EtherNet). Does not connect to a computer. Instead you jack it
> into a LAN. Some network cameras are wireless -- they have a wireless
> NIC interface (eg IEEE 802.11<mumble>) and connect to the a local
> wireless network. Generally, they have an embedded processor (often
> running Linux), usually with some smart hardware/firmware for grabbing
> images (or video) from a CCD camera and shoving it out onto the network,
> generally with a built-in web server.
>
>
>> Knorpi
>>
Here is an example,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16881103015
Knorpi
Can I access the images without any (Windows-) software provided by the
vendor?
However, I access my images using the USB connector and gphoto2. This also
works without any vendor specific software. Are there disadvantages
compared to network cameras?
Knorpi
Robert Heller
>
> And the advantage?
You can use any computer anywhere on the LAN (or public internet, if
things are so configured). Locally *or* remotely. From a different
room, building, city, state, country, etc.
>
> Can I access the images without any (Windows-) software provided by the
> vendor?
Yes. All you need is a network connection and a web browser.
>
> However, I access my images using the USB connector and gphoto2. This also
> works without any vendor specific software. Are there disadvantages
> compared to network cameras?
>
Yes, you have to connect the camera to a *specific* computer's USB port.
If the camera is in a different room, building, city, state, country,
etc. it cannot be accessed.
General Schvantzkoph
These cameras are web servers, you don't need any Windows software to
access them just a browser. They are meant to be used as security cameras
so you can access them remotely over the web. The simple way to do this
if you have multiple cameras is to put each camera's http port on a
different port and then port forward from your router. I have a bunch of
them set up in my 91 year old mother's apartment so that I can check up
her when no one else is at home.