Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2000 19:35:28 -0500 (CDT) From: BWS - Offwhite <brennan@offwhite.net> To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: streaming webcam Message-ID: <Pine.BSF.4.21.0006021914580.28156-100000@home.offwhite.net>
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I run a website for a local Milwaukee City Guide. And this weekend the city festivals kick off with River Splash, a very large party along the river downtown. To have a little fun, we wanted to have a webcam set up to take some shots of the streets as the people walk by. It is now set up, but I would like to do it better, and I think I can do it with FreeBSD, but would like some opinions on hardware. Here is the current cam, if you are curious. http://www.onmilwaukee.com/webcam/bsdcam.html This cam was set up by another company for the website as I have been busy preparing the relaunch of our updated site. The image is uploaded via ftp every 30 seconds. I do not know what OS is being used, but I would guess they are using Windows. It is also using a plain old modem to get an internet connection. The camera is a Quickcam. Hardware and Camera What I would like do is build a very low cost box with basic hardware which includes a small harddrive, minimal memory, decent modem and a camera of some sort. The camera I am not sure about. I would like one which is both inexpensive but can also be adjusted to zoom in on the city streets as it will likely be positioned up high. What camera hardware can be used here? Has anyone set this up before? The OS, FreeBSD Next I want FreeBSD to be on the box, maybe even PicoBSD if it can handle it. I like the idea of running without a harddrive and being able to do an install by simply copying a disk. It also drops the cost down, allowing us to do even more cams more quickly. Web Server Once it is up, I would install a slimmed down version of apache or maybe even another webserver like zeus so that the public webserver can pull the images from the box, and not wait for an ftp connection. I like to detect if I can get the http connection and act accordingly. Modem Once I have a webserver, I need an internet connection. I could have a modem set up to dial out to on of the local ISPs, but it needs to stay online, at least from 6am to 3am. I have never scripted a modem connection, so I need suggestions here. I may also be missing some other areas where I can use FreeBSD to my advantage, but I cannot think of them now. Once I do put together a solution with FreeBSD, I hope to write up the instructions and send them to be posted on FreeBSDDiary.org. Then everyone can build a nice webcam. I would even put up the configs for PicoBSD if I go that route. The world needs more webcams! And in a couple hours I should be in the bar below that webcam, have a frosty brew. Thanks in advance, Brennan Stehling - web developer and sys admin projects: www.greasydaemon.com | www.onmilwaukee.com | www.sncalumni.com Microsoft: Will you get a macro virus today? http://www.greasydaemon.com/noms/ <- Why avoid MS? To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message
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