Re: PC Based DVR

[river <riverpc100@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Aug 19, 8:59=A0pm, "Just Looking" <S...@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I have found units with Windows XP Embedded work well as PC based units g=
o.
> I think once a certain number of cameras are reached it is easier to use =
a
> total Windows based PC solution. Genetec and Verint use a Windows approac=
h
> where Intransa and AD Video Edge use a Linux Kernel. It is easier to use =
PC
> units with certain types of systems where integration with access control
> and such is necessary.
>
> DM makes a cheap DVR line too. The EcoSense units start at less than a gr=
and
> for a dealer. The thing I like about certain PC based units over units li=
ke
> DM is that WHEN the hard drive fails ( AND IT ALWAYS DOES) you can instal=
l a
> new hard drive and recover the units with having to send it in for repair=
.
>
> "Bob La Londe" <nos...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in messagenews:h5sk54$mg0$1@news.=
eternal-september.org...
>
> > I've not sold any. =A0I've been sticking with DM, but I lose a lot of
> > business to the PC based systems. =A0I have installed a few for clients=
 who
> > purchased units themselves, but had no clue how to set them up. =A0My
> > experience has been that they are not that stable. =A0Atleast not Windo=
ws
> > based units. =A0If you put in a seven day auto reboot they work better,=
 and
> > some like Pelco's units have it as part of their setup. =A0(I guess I h=
ave
> > sold a windows PC based DVR afterall. =A0Forgot about those.)
>
> > Still. =A0It seems to me that unless the customer can be trained to che=
ck
> > the unit regularly they run a very high risk of finding their recorder
> > locked up when they really need to review some video. =A0What do you do=
 to
> > prevent this?
>
> > Are Linux based machines any better?
>
> > How about building your own. =A0I'm sure some of you guys do that. =A0W=
hat do
> > you use for a PC so that you have a really good machine to stick your
> > card(s) in?
>
> > I've only played with a couple cards stuck in my own PC type applicatio=
ns,
> > and I was not totally thrilled with the performance.
>
> > With cheap PC based recorders it seems like the logical thing to do wou=
ld
> > be to install two units for redundant recording, but when people see
> > "cheap" its awfully hard to get them to step back up and spend a little
> > more money to make up for the "cheap" part.

hi all,
  Stumbled on this post today.
I have some input on this subject since I've always
wondered which would be better.  I have experience with both stand
alone and
PC based DVR's.  Since I also do repair on windows PCs I don't have
much
faith in the security of windows so although I've worked with them,
I'd never sell a DVR
with a windows OS,  it seems that someone @ the DVR location always
ends up trying
to use it as a desktop.

  A couple of years ago i did a search on PC based DVRs and Zoneminder
came up.
If you haven't heard of it it's linux based and very stable.  You can
build the hardware
with or without raid,  and once it's up and going it pretty much just
does it's thing.
I built 3 of them 1 - 6 cam,  1- 8 cam,  and 1- 3 cam @ my home.  All
are doing fine,
and the owners love them.

  When you look @ them cost vers features of stand alone DVRs,
Zoneminder comes out ahead,
an 8 camera DVR with 25 fps per cam and 1 TB hard drive would cost you
about 700.00.
Build,  test,  install, and  hook it to a UPS back-up and spend 30
min's showing the user
how to use it.

For those wanting to give it a try,  I use Ubuntu 8.04.2 LTS desktop,
Apache basic auth,
 fail2ban,  and apcupsd for the "auto power down & power up".  once
built and tested i turn off
the desktop and the PC runs as a headless server only booting to a
login prompt.

   For remote access i usually use a open source router with built in
ddns update.

my 2 cents,  it;s worth a look.