Hi. trying to setup a surveillance system. Want it to run in a linux environment. My problem is that I don't know what kind of programs linux offers for my scenario (below). Any the only info I can find is for devices like the "all in wonder" or other Genaro where there is only one video source.

This is a post to a fellow that is trying to help me on the net (below)


The current system 8 bnc camera's, two four-port switch boxes, two vhs recorders, and one monochrome monitor (bnc as well I believe)

The desired system would be all 8 camera's recording to hard disc as well as displaying the current activity in near real time on a display.

The biggest problem I have; I need Video-Capture cards that can function in both a LINUX or MS WINDOWS environment. I would like LIN, but I think I may have to go MS for ease of use by other operators. But would like LIN cause of cost.

I know I need a mainboard w/ on board LAN, and possibly graphics. I also need the VID-CAP cards either two four port or one two port (bnc) (if I were two use the two switch boxes I already have, suggested by you)

I will probably get a 120 gig drive as it should be suffice and still remain under the 137 gig boundary for simplicity sake. A case with a PSU and probably a crappy 1024x780 CRT. And a simple router too so that the system can share an already existing internet account so the system can be monitored remotely.

The software for the VIDEOCAPTURE is going to be the problem, unless is comes with the VID-CAP cards. And then the dilemma... (cause the system is to be as cost effective as possible) whether I should use the existing switch boxes to save money as the VID-CAP cards are about $200-500 a piece.

So may questions to you are:
-do you know of any such cards available? as google searches have provided limited results with web pages that look quite elementary.

-VID-CAP cards that will function in a Win or Lin environment and that may have WIN software attached?

-in the case that they are cheaper without software bundled (vc cards) do you know of any third party video capturing software i could acquire on my own?

-should I use the switch boxes or just by two vc cards (8 ports total) for simplicity sake.

-I will still need onboard graphics on the mobo to display current video to monitor correct.

- will PCI express be necessary (shouldn't be) for the VC cards?

- sound is not an issue

- I need an app with an extremely easy front end

- i will be using the current camera's

My suggestion is to use Ethernet/WiFi cameras, which are OS neutral (like these).

You can then use any of several capture and display programs to take periodic snapshots (for a time-lapse) from all the cameras, and convert those to movies for archiving. Here's an example.

I do not recommend wireless networking for security cameras. People can configure out the encryption and see the the videos of the rooms or areas. I suggest using two Hauppauge ImpactVCB. It comes with Linux modules (drivers).

Linux has a few software titles to pick for video security. Go to http://freshmeat.net/search/?q=video...&Go.x=0&Go.y=0. They range to a simple GUI to a complex GUI program that provides more features than others. I think Pluto Orbitor will work for you because it works in both Linux or Windows.

I suggest buying a simple motherboard (microATX) without on-board NIC and video graphics because there is a possiblity they will not work. I recommend a PCI NIC (Linksys or 3com) and a simple AGP graphics cards (nVidia GeForce6 6200).