Looking for recommendations for decent PoE security cameras that are Linux friendly?

[Red Squirrel]

Looking at setting up cameras around the house, theft is super bad in my city now so I just want better monitoring. Problem is it seems lot of cameras use stupid BS plugins so the video does not work in Linux. I want to be able to just connect straight to the camera to see what it sees. I will figure out a DVR solution later as that will be a bigger expense.

I have a Trendnet TV-IP110W that I was experimenting with but I just can't get the image to show. It probably uses ActiveX or some other crap like that.

Unfortunately selection is pretty slim here in Canada as we don't have a lot of web stores to buy computer stuff from, so hopefully anything recommended I can actaully get here. I see a lot of Dlink stuff mostly. Don't want any of the cloud stuff I strictly want PoE wired that I can manage myself.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Maybe you should be shopping at "Security" shops (who specialize in CCTV/security DVRs for institutions), rather than consumer gear focused companies like BestBuy/FutureShop/etc.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Any recommendations for such shops in Canada? I know there's a lot on Amazon too, but also lot of fakes from China with backdoors, so I want to avoid Amazon.

 

[mxnerd]

Finding the BEST 4K Security Camera NVR Package (Reolink vs Amcrest vs Swann)

Review does not talk about Linux.

==

Amazon.ca : reolink poe

 

[mxnerd]

Found some info about Reolink Client on Linux

Linux client support ?

Hi, I've just bought a RLC-411WS on Ebay to be used as a webcam displaying current weather at my location. Buying the camera was based on what looked like very good specs and the fact that it seemed to be based on embedded version of Linux. I was therefor...

reolink.com

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah there's tons of them but I'm looking specifically for something that will work in Linux. Plug and play. no activeX BS or anything like that. I just want to be able to go to the http address and see the live view.

 

[mxnerd]

Don't know why it seems a lot of security camera still rely on years old Flash plug-in technology.

No other html5 video players that can compete with Flash?

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah it's really annoying. Didn't Firefox drop support for that a while back? You would think that would be a good indicator to stop using that crap.

Absolute worse case scenario I can setup a windows VM just for the cameras but I really hate relying on Windows. It's still a windows machine I have to manage whether it's a VM or not.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Mozilla can still run Flash for now, but you have to give it permission on each session instance when called for.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Only on Windows I think though. Never seen it work in Linux. Probably a bunch of hoops to jump through to get it to work. Rather a camera that won't require that.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Security systems are just one example of a niche industry that moves too slowly to evolve. I remember when I bought my wife the first iPad back in 2010 and the following year a plethora of Android tablets sitting on display at Microcenter. By 2012 those Android tablets were <$90 and I asked myself (not my beautiful wife) how these can't be used as controllers for many, many things, like HVAC controllers, security system controllers, etc., etc., etc.

Well, it isn't that they can't be used but those industries work on a basis of Billion year lifecycles and proprietary approaches. Now we have Internet ready appliances and yet still sluggish and niche markets will not move to the ready and waiting for off the shelf technologies. Personally, I am surprised--no, shocked--Google or Amazon hadn't come out with a 24-camera Android powered, custom encrypted wireless home security system on the cheap and mated that effort with the tract home builders. Imagine the data mining that could result.

Almost anyone buying a new tract home since 2000 had it pre-installed with some form of home security system. The wiring and detectors and the main hub were all in place and installed by some local vendor for ADT or Brinks just salivating over these new home buying customers wanting to protect themselves. And it cost and the hardship on installation was already 99% complete and done for free to the builder and the home buyer.

Until someone takes the first step (again, Google, Amazon) then it'll continue to be Chinese crap from the 20th century.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Actually long life cycles is a GOOD thing. The issue with ipads and all the security crap that supports it is the life cycles are so retarded short. I avoid anything that has an app (usually it's required for most features to work) for that reason. You invest time and money into it and a few years later it's all obsolete.

Mind you lot of the wireless security systems are the same thing, it's all proprietary stuff and years down the line you probably can't get support or new parts.

Ideally if I go with a POE camera route the standards they support are going to be decently established and keep working for a long time. Also won't be relying on any kind of phone app that will be incompatible with newer devices in 5-10 years. But I just wish they would stop using flash and BS like that for their own web server interface. Use html5 at least.

Worse case think I'll just setup a zoneminder server too and not care about being able to connect directly to the cameras. I can just make sure the cams I get are compatible with it. Was going to do that eventually anyway I was just hoping to get stand alone cameras for now.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I wasn't trying to advocate Android, but merely point out an example of how off the shelf tech is there but not being used, and in favor of proprietary solutions that are age-old.

 

[Steltek]

Have you looked at something like ZoneMinder? I've not used it, but I believe it works on a lot of Linux distros and it is open source to boot. There is also always Blue Iris - it is Windows only, but is under active development. With either of these, you should be able to build your own security PC. Also, I think that a lot of the larger camera manufacturers have their own OEM software that you can install on a PC.

A good place to look for this type of info is the forums at IP Cam Talk. They have a lot of stuff there, including camera reviews, camera OEM identification and firmaware flashing, and trustworthy sources for good quality cameras from Dahua, Hikvision, etc.

Other software packages: Xeoma (they have a free version) and Kerberos.io,

 

[Red Squirrel]

I eventually want to look at building a box to run Zoneminder but that's step 2... I'm hoping to get stand alone cameras that I can just connect to directly in Linux. At least then once I get them going I can start looking at DVR solutions. Last time I tried Zoneminder it was lackluster but that was quite a few years back so it might be better now.

 

[xgsound]

Two sites with loads of info and active participants.
CCTV Forum -
IP Cam Talk