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**Guest** · October 22, 2003, 03:50 AM

... is not to serve the camera's from Homeseer webser but serve both homeseer and the camera's from a single reverse proxy.

I have just answered another question about using the (free) Apache HTTP Server as a reverse proxy here:
Using Apache HTTP Server as a reverse proxy

Might be usefull.

Richard

**huggy591** · October 22, 2003, 04:46 AM

Jake, you are probably right about the capture package bogging down HomeSeer - at the very least it could introduce minor delays if you are using CPU-intensive stuff like voice recognition in HS.

In order for the HS web server to see the files anywhere other than the <hsdir>\html subdir, you need to have the remote shares visible in that subdir structure. Alas, I know of no way to mount a remote filesystem under a Windows subdir tree (often called a soft link) - maybe someone out there does? It can easily be done in Unix/Linux, but apparently there is no equivalent method in Windows even using NFS. Windows wants mount points based on letters or words that always start at volume root levels.

Does anyone know how to insert a soft link into an NTFS directory tree?

- Gordon

"Security is EVERYONE'S business!"

**Rupp** · October 22, 2003, 08:01 AM

The easiest solution is to not use HS's server but IIS on the other machine or the web cams streaming softwares server. This is my setup which sounds a lot like what you are migrating toward. I have HS on its own server so its stable and stand alone. I have Weather Display and 2 web cam server packages ( WebCam32 and iVista) on a separate server. Then using different ports through the firewall in my router I can access all 4 web servers. This makes integrating it all via HomeSeers server easy. One other major benefit is if for some reason something happens to one machine or the other one is still available on the web.

If you need more details just ask and I can provide them.

-Rupp
Isn't Disney World a people trap operated by a mouse?

**Stevech** · October 22, 2003, 08:04 PM

bogging down with capture package -

My USB capture device (Dazzle 80), when opened for use gives my 1.8GHz PC a constant 40% CPU load. Preview display on/off has no effect. Motion detection adds just a little more, not a lot. I conclude this is the bloatware in the Microsoft WDM and DirectX layers, plus the USB interface for this is high I/O overhead (not much DMA).

I wrote a VB6 program which disconnects the video source software connection at will. This avoids the CPU load if there are no viewers or other users of the video (e.g., no motion detection).

The best way to do this is with motion detection inside the camera, as (costly) network cams do.

**Rupp** · October 23, 2003, 05:18 AM

Just the opposite here. I use 2 capture packages at the same time iVista and Netmeeting and when both are streaming it only uses around 25 % of a 1GHZ AMD processor. When idle 2-3 %. iVista serves a WinTV capture card and WebCam32 serves a USB camera. I tried one of those USB capture devices and the throughput was so low I returned it and bought a PCI TV card. Works much better.

-Rupp
Isn't Disney World a people trap operated by a mouse?

**Jake** · October 24, 2003, 09:40 AM

Thanks for all the info! I'm still formulating my final solutions.

ha, Ha, HA... did I actually say "FINAL" above... Dur... ya right!

I have made some progress in this project, however. While I still have this all on the HomeSeer machine, I'm writing a lot of the code, placing the cameras, microphones and motion sensors, etc. One kinda k00l thing I've got goin' on with my system is that I have some of the audio, (mostly music), going over my little FM radio station, so, when I'm setting up my cams and motion sensors I can actually turn on a debug routine that speaks to me over my Rio MP3/FM. I just put the Rio in my pocket, put the earbud in my ear, then run all over the house and outside placing motion sensors and testing ranges. As I'm doing this, I hear something like this... "area 1, front door", "switch to camera 1", "aera 1, front door", "aera 1, front door", "area 2, front yard", "switch to camera 2", "aera 3, driveway", "switch to camera 3"...etc. I have the motion sensors for the security and cameras set to only stay on for 5 seconds, so that allows me to place the sensor, walk around, get a few readings, adjust the placement of the sensor, walk around some more, etc., utill I get the best setup. I'm also using duck tape to make masks for the sensors. I cut a piece of duck tape the size of the sensor window, then cut a diamond shaped hole in the center, then place it on the sensor window. I use different size holes for different effects, then, I guess, once I have them right, I'll paint the sensor window to make it permanant. Oh yeah, I also use a big roll of Velcro that I have to place the sensors so they are easy to move. I put the "hooks" Velcro on the back of the sensor and use the "fuzz" Velcro to stick around where ever I need to test. I've been able to use the same "fuzz" piece over and over for the testing, I've probally used each one up to 10 times and I stuck it to wood, bricks, glass, metal, all without a problem.

ehhh... I guess that's enough ramblin' for now. Just passing on and reliving the adventure!

**Renegade** · October 24, 2003, 10:19 AM

I see a couple of different ways to do this, depending on what's available, and what you're willing to spend.

The cheapest and easiest would be to copy the files you want over the PC with homeseer on a scheduled basis, like you originally mentioned. You're not going to get live video or sound this way though.

You could also setup a webserver on the second pc and use it to serve the video and sound. It should be relatively "simple" to reverse proxy that connection as was suggested. Or embed the page inside of a homeseer webpage using a iframe.

If you're feeling lucky you could setup a Windows 2003 server and use DFS maps. I know with DFS you can make "virtual" filesystems. You can mount a DFS share inside a folder. So you could have C:\dir1 and D:\dir2, show up like c:\dir1\dir2. More or less.

As I'm typing all this I thought of one other. You could map a drive from the second PC to the homeseer PC. Then you could have whatever capture app you're using save it files onto that drive. Then the files would automatically available to homeseer.

**Percy** · October 25, 2003, 05:06 AM

Shor answer:
Check out www.conquercam.com
The software is shareware ($10) US and has its own server. You add the following script to you web page. You can see live streaming video.

<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">


</SCRIPT>

The Long answer:

I have 8 vidoe cameras plus sound coming into a multiplexer. The multiplexer is pluged into a product called XBOB. XBOB allows me to overlay text over the vidoe signal. I use if primary for call ID. The XBOB is pluged into a modulator which puts the signal onto channel 125. This is combined with the cable signal. I can get security vido on any TV by turning to channel 125 (as long as it is not attached to a cable smart box). I can also bring up the websit from any computer and view the same image from the security cameras.

Radio shack has an expensive modulator product number 15-1243. While I have a expensive dual quad multiplexer I found an inexpensee four camera switch at Compusa for $49.00. Swann AV multi-Switcher with remote control. Their websit is www.swann.com.au

Home

**zoomkat** · October 26, 2003, 09:41 PM

Just to give my 10 year old 486X66, 16mb ram, box something to do, I've hooked one of my cams to it. Not the speediest at ~1 fps, but still could be useful. With nobody watching, the cpu useage is only 10%, and 90% with a viewer (frame rate drops by half with two viewers). Capture cards are the way to go in the cpu area. I'll probably connect a switcher to it and add my $30 harbor freight cam (demo good vs cheap cams). Old boxes can be made into somewhat useful webcam setups. this box is in another part of the house and connected to the router with a long run of cat3 phone wire.

http://www.geocities.com/zoomkat/486X66.htm

**zoomkat** · October 27, 2003, 07:27 PM

The near extinct webmedia webcam software can be found at the below link. The webmedia 2.3.4 and webvideo 2.2.2 are still there. Shareware, but I think the chat feature is what is limited with out registration ($10). Seems to be pretty well setup for shareware.

http://tinyurl.com/sm6o

**ldragon99** · December 14, 2003, 05:45 PM

I am intereseted in usingthe live feed script from above with conqueer cam. what are the details for setup?

**zoomkat** · December 14, 2003, 08:15 PM

Just as a followup on the webmedia webcam software, I've put up a temporary page below to check it out. It could use an enhansemet or two, and I'm still figuring it out, but the price is low.

http://www.geocities.com/zoomkat/webmedia.htm

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Webserve security camera files from second computer?

Webserve security camera files from second computer?

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