Topic: Webcam Server?

[Gor]

Hi all,

Does anyone know if there is any way that SME can be used to capture images from a webcam (I have an old logitech quickcam express) and either stream them on a port or place them on disk as image files to be served via httpd?
I'm using SME version 7.5.1

Thanks in advance!

[janet]

Gor

Here is a link to old files re using zoneminder that was originally uploaded by sognenovski.
He removed his work and no longer supported that project on sme, after he got annoyed with sme administrators for removing files from his upload area without prior notification when a major cleanup occurred.

Modules will need to be compiled for the current/latest kernel version.
http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/smeserver/contribs/rmitchell/smeserver/contribs/zoneminder/

[Gor]

Hi mary,
Thank you!
I installed this without many issues and the server seems to be working at the URL www.mydomain/zm/
The problem is that I see no image in the cam window.  When I looked deeper, I don't have any /dev/video entries.  I guess I need the quickcam driver....
I tried to install the quickcam driver from here: http://qce-ga.sourceforge.net/ but I get pages and pages of errors... 
Strange...

[janet]

Gor

Please do a forum search on zoneminder and author sognenovski

There is a good amount of information in the old posts.
See/read this whole thread in particular
http://forums.contribs.org/index.php/topic,38451.0.html

As I already advised you will need to use the bttv module that is compiled for your current sme server kernel.
As sognenovski no longer appears to be supporting this project then you will have to learn how to do this or ask on these forums if someone else has done it and is prepared to release a new rpm with each kernel release.
 
You need to use a contrib that has been developed for SME server, or you will need to spend a lot of time learning how to configure the "generic" version to run correctly on SME.
Your best starting point is the old contrib. You could try installing it on an old box using SMEv7.3, as the correct modules exist for that version.

[Gor]

Hi Mary,
Thanks again for the information - I knew something was amiss.

...ask on these forums if someone else has done it and is prepared to release a new rpm with each kernel release...

Hopefully someone has done this on 7.5.1 and can help me with an RPM~!

[janet]

Gor

This post suggests that the bttv module is compiled into the "plus" version of the centos kernel.
http://forums.contribs.org/index.php/topic,43552.msg207690.html#msg207690

It would mean you run with a non standard (although current version) kernel.
Whenever a kernel update occurs, then zoneminder would break until you manually upgrade the kernel to the matching "plus" version.

Alternatively you compile (and please release to the world), the updated bttv module, whenever a new kernel is released and upgraded on SME.
Again doing a normal upgrade of SME would temporarily break zoneminder until the bttv kernel module was compiled and installed.

Either option means handholding (manually upgrading) your SME server whenever a kernel upgrade occurs.

[janet]

Gor

Also read and look at the zoneminder site for generic information and usage etc etc.
http://www.zoneminder.com/

Also see the zoneminder wiki where all you need to know is laid out before you
http://www.zoneminder.com/wiki/index.php/Contents


Here is another old forum post/thread that speaks of camera drivers etc. It might be informative although out of date
http://forums.contribs.org/index.php/topic,25592.msg120815.html#msg120815