Web Cam Security Network Project

[TechBoyJK]

The company I work for has asked me to look into setting up a web cam based security system. We have four elevators on our floor (the whole floor is ours) and they all are at the same point. I want a web cam facing each elevator door, and it needs either snap photos everytime the elevator opens, or the cam senses movement, or video would be nice. We will have a server setup with probably a 120 gig drive to store everything. I also want a few more web cams in the office, and at least four more in the datacenter. I also want a camera on both sides of the datacenter door. I was thinking about ethernet based web cams because USB cams can only have the cable stretch so far. Wireless would be nice too. Are there 802.11 cams on the market yet? Also, what would be a good software package to manage this? We would like to be able to view the cams from our intranet.

Any input is greatly appreciated. Now I'm off to scour google.

 

[ScottMac]

Cisco has a new line of Ethernet-Attached cameras, with security being one of the primary target markets.

I don't have any additional or more specific information right now, If I find anything else out, I'll re-post.

Good Luck

Scott

 

[mobly99]

might be overkill for the elevator doors, but for the datacenter check out NetBotz
It is a network based camera system plus environmental monitoring (temp, humidity, etc - add on power and paging modules available)

-Dave

 

[spidey07]

Any reason not to use regular security cameras and digital VCRs?

One monitor, a few cameras and a panasonic VCR would have you all set.

-edit- the panny VCRs are really cool, they have a web interface that lets you view current and archived footage.

 

[n0cmonkey]

There was an article in a recent (4 months at most) Linux magazine about setting up Linux and a webcam to have it "turn on" when it senses movement.

 

[Oaf357]

I worked on a similar project a while back and the company I was working for actually developed a partnership with StarDot Technologies

You might want to check them out.

 

[gaidin123]

Check out the Axis network cameras. Toms hardware has done reviews on them...ethernet/linux based and they have a new version with pan/tilt/zoom. They can dump images at specified intervals to an FTP server and have lots of configuration. I believe DLink actually makes an 802.11b network camera as well. Toms Hardware also reviewed that one...

Gaidin

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: gaidin123
Check out the Axis network cameras. Toms hardware has done reviews on them...ethernet/linux based and they have a new version with pan/tilt/zoom. They can dump images at specified intervals to an FTP server and have lots of configuration. I believe DLink actually makes an 802.11b network camera as well. Toms Hardware also reviewed that one...

Gaidin

One of the government facilities in Herndon/Reston VA. has the 802.11b network cameras and did not bother to secure them at all. 😕