Building a video surveillance PC

[NoodleTech]

I am building a video surveillance PC for a friend.

He will be running 8-12 cameras and wants to store 1 month's worth of video on it.
It must be rackmounted.

Since this is my first time dealing with a server type build, I need some input as to what's going to go into the PC.

What I have so far:
Supermicro SYS-5026T-3FB Barebone
Intel Xeon E5504
Kingston ValueRAM 6GB DDR3 1333Mhz
(3) Western Digital 1.5TB WD15EVDS in RAID 5

How much storage do you think he will need to store 1 month's worth of 8-12 camera feeds of video? Do you think he needs RAID? If so, what kind of controller card should I get?

What capture card would you recommend? Avermedia and geovision seem to be popular brands.

Is this setup overkill for his needs?

Feel free to make changes to the parts I listed above as well.

Thanks in advance

 

[caspur]

I use an Avermedia capture card, most come with 4 inputs, but you can add extension cards (little 4 channel cards) that increase it up to 16 cameras. Keep in mind that most capture cards only do up to about 120fps. So if you have 12 cameras, the max you can record is 10 fps/camera.

The nice thing with Avermedia's new software is it allows 1080p output. This allows you to output to an HDTV without having to run it at a non-native res.

I only record at 7-8 fps per camera, so my weekly data files are only about 15gb per camera. You can also select the type of encoding to use. I run static cameras, I'm not sure if there are any differences if you use a PTZ setup. The encoding is in real time, though even with h264 on, it doesn't tax an old P4 BTX dell system.

I use a single Maxtor Quickview (only non-standard PC part) on a PCI controller card. There isn't enough data transfer to justify raid...even with 24/7 recording (ie. motion off). If you do backups, it might be worthwhile, however I have mine set to overwrite data after 7 days.

I've used prebuilt Honeywell Fusion unit at work that could handle 30+ cameras. With only 12 cameras in your setup, you probably don't need anything this high end. A normal consumer level capture card in an old PC is more than sufficient. I'd worry more about camera quality, housing, IR emitters, etc. For business use, consider a good PTZ dome camera. The Avermedia software comes with the controls built right in.

As far as the above hardware, a Xeon with 6gb ram and raid 5, would be great if you are using the video surveillance machine to do other things. For example, if you were running VM's with email servers, POS software, general business stuff, etc. than it might be useful.

For home use, a surveillance PC can also double as a NAS, media server, or in my case a dedicated torrent machine. I also plug my fax and magic jack into it, since it is on 24/7.

 

[wwswimming]

what i would like to figure out is, is there a way to use a program like Pinnacle Video Rev.8 to do the automated capture.

it would require a script to start & stop recording sessions, then to delete the video files after a period of time.

for example, if it's starting a recording session at 10 AM on a Thursday, and there's been no manual intervention, how does it delete the 2day old file ?

obviously if there's been a theft or you need the video for some reason, you can do a manual intervention, copy the video(s) that captured the crime over the network or to a USB drive, etc.

 

[JackMDS]

Depending on the environment it is easier and better to use IP cameras.

Most of them comes with software that can control 12-16 cameras for viewing and recording.

It works over Ethernet (wire, or Wireless) No need for capture cards, can be controlled over the Internet too.

Can be used with their own software, or and web browser.

Wire only, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16881102002

Wire & Wireless, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16881102017

 

[Modelworks]

Sometimes it is better to get hardware designed for the specific task than it is to adapt general purpose hardware to fit.

I would get one of the new blackfin dsp DVR , that DSP is one great performer.
The box has more features than you will be able to set up on a pc build without a lot of work. It is ready to go, no need to worry about OS, drivers, or any of that stuff.
http://www.worldeyecam.com/store/blackfin-dsp-8ch-commercial-class-digital-video-recorder.html

 

[NoodleTech]

thanks for the suggestions

IP cameras are out of the question and don't fit his needs.

This is for a business (restaurant) by the way.

Speaking of fps, what kind of frame rate would be considered "ideal?" 10 fps per cam seems a bit low.

My friend gave me an old P4 socket 478 rackmount box but the motherboard and HD are both dead and there is only 256MB of RAM in it. Seeing how outdated it was, I suggested building a new box since that would be more cost effective and would last longer. Maybe I should reconsider replacing the bad parts?

The blackfin dsp looks good but would it be able to be rackmounted? That's the only problem.

 

[Modelworks]

f
Speaking of fps, what kind of frame rate would be considered "ideal?" 10 fps per cam seems a bit low.
The blackfin dsp looks good but would it be able to be rackmounted? That's the only problem.

The fps on the blackfin is 8 channels at 30fps in CIF or 4 at 60fps or mix and match with all channels at 4CIF & 7.5fps or 6 CIF and 2 4CIF & 15fps each.

It specs as 2U rack mountable but if it was going somewhere I didn't trust the people to not mess with the controls I would put it in a dvr lockbox. They only cost about $100 and the box just sits inside it with a locked cover.


Thought I better explain this CIF stuff. CIF resolution is 360x240 . The other resolution is 4CIF (704x480) . There is only one DVR that can do 4CIF at 30fps on all channels :
http://www.securitycameraking.com/8-channel-ultimate-series-h-58047-prd1.html


What most people do is put some cameras on CIF and others on 4CIF. Remember the higher the fps and resolution the more hard drive space it will take. 8 channels , CIF, 30 days is between 500GB and 1TB.

 

[NoodleTech]

thanks for the info modelworks. yeah I don't need the dvr lockbox. Where can I find the rackmount kit?

For the black fin dvr, it specifies that it is raid 1. Does that mean it comes with 2x 250GB hard drives? hence the price for a 1TB upgrade is an outrageous $261. Is the OS embedded in the board or is it on the hard drive? I am thinking about replacing the drive myself.

 

[Operandi]

I'm in the process of researching a similar system, only more cameras.

Just curious why have you rulled out IP cameras, they seem far more felxible and overall better quality. Is it cost?

 

[NoodleTech]

I'm in the process of researching a similar system, only more cameras.

Just curious why have you rulled out IP cameras, they seem far more felxible and overall better quality. Is it cost?

my friend already has existing PTZ cameras that aren't IP. it's just that his old computer DVR's motherboard and HD died on him so we're only replacing the DVR

 

[Operandi]

my friend already has existing PTZ cameras that aren't IP. it's just that his old computer DVR's motherboard and HD died on him so we're only replacing the DVR

Ah, that makes sense. Have you considered repairing the motherboard? Depending on what failed that can often be a viable alternative if the existing system has the features your friend needs/wants.

 

[NoodleTech]

yeah but it's a socket 478 P4 (IMO outdated but maybe good enough for his needs). It only has 256MB of RAM so we'd have to drop 2-4GB DDR in there. And the hard drive is dead too and the board that died only has IDE.

i was thinking about replacing it with an intel D865PERL but that's at least $80-90 shipped on ebay for an outdated board.

 

[Operandi]

What failed on it? If its the capacitors, thats an easy fix.

 

[NoodleTech]

I don't know and I just don't think it's worth the effort

 

[Modelworks]

yeah but it's a socket 478 P4 (IMO outdated but maybe good enough for his needs). It only has 256MB of RAM so we'd have to drop 2-4GB DDR in there. And the hard drive is dead too and the board that died only has IDE.

i was thinking about replacing it with an intel D865PERL but that's at least $80-90 shipped on ebay for an outdated board.

damn, I wish you had posted sooner.
I sold a friend my intel 865PERL with cpu, and 2GB ram for $75

 

[Modelworks]

thanks for the info modelworks. yeah I don't need the dvr lockbox. Where can I find the rackmount kit?

For the black fin dvr, it specifies that it is raid 1. Does that mean it comes with 2x 250GB hard drives? hence the price for a 1TB upgrade is an outrageous $261. Is the OS embedded in the board or is it on the hard drive? I am thinking about replacing the drive myself.

The OS is on the hard drive and main board. You can do the raid yourself though , it isn't hard and the box will walk you through it in the options. You put in the extra hard drive and it will ask if you want to do raid and then it will do the setup for you.

If you get the black fin just tell them that you need to mount it in a rack , I think the brackets are like $20.

 

[NoodleTech]

aw I would've bought the combo off you. anyways yeah I will look into that. thanks for the help modelworks!