Recording Hardware

[tlpitch]

I've recently purchased the 2 camera license from Vitamin D and overall I'm very satisfied with the functionality. I'm using it on a PC and I'd love the software to have a web interface for remote play back and more importantly have it run as a service so when my computer reboots at night from getting updates it will start recording again. But that's not why I'm here today.

At this moment I'm using a laptop to record everything. All of my cameras, including the laptop, are wireless and the solution is working out very well for me. However, I'm concerned that if someone were to break in the laptop would be one of the first things someone would steal so recording to the laptop was only meant to be temporary. I'm looking for something small and quiet that I can tuck away in a closet so if/when we have an incident I can go get the computer. I'm looking for alternative solutions, something outside the box.

I'm considering something like the Zotac ZBOX nano AD10 Desktop Computer and sticking in on a bookshelf or my closet with my gateway equipment. I wanted to find out what the general community was using.

[ryan]

Hiya tlpitch -

Just a few quick and dirty suggestions, there's always the bolted down/locked in a drawer external hardware option. You could also have a small (netbookish, or even raspberry pi based system if you wanna get really DIY) system tucked/locked away somewhere in your house running an ftp server and use the ftp rule to blast all clips for rules you care about there.

[DrBunsen]

Also note that in my testing I was able to use 2 cameras with VDV on a 2.8GHz P4, which is quite slow by today's standards. I did notice that it would hammer that old CPU pretty badly if VDV wasn't minimized, but that wasn't a big deal. So I'm sure that any modern CPU, other than an Intel Atom, would work well for you. I'd go for small size and low power consumption.

[JPElectron]

I've had great luck with using these...
http://www.cdw.com/shop/search/Computer ... hscope=All
Lenovo ThinkCentre M72e 4004 - Tiny desktop

There is a kingston lock port built in, but most people can strong arm/break those off with a large screwdriver. Rather, I like using the included mounting bracket and hiding it in a cupboard/closet somewhere, using security screws to affix the bracket to a stud, and security screws to affix the Tiny desktop to the bracket. Putting it up high inside a closet (like above the door) where most people won't be looking is a good option too.

[DrBunsen]

I did forget to mention that my resolution was 640x480. I'm finally coming back 'round to this project (working on some wiring today, in fact), and should note that the cameras that I'm wanting to put in now have a max resolution of 1280x960, which will require a lot more CPU for VDV to handle. I only have one such camera, but I'm hoping to have a total of 5 or 6, depending on how much my the Core i5 2400 will handle.