Open Source
ZoneMinder is an open-source application, meaning its source code is freely available to the public. Users can inspect, modify, and enhance the code to suit their specific needs without incurring licensing fees.
Cost-effective
Since it is open-source, ZoneMinder can be used for free. This makes it an attractive option for small businesses and home users looking for a cost-effective surveillance solution.
Highly Customizable
Users can customize ZoneMinder through extensive configuration options and a modular design. It supports a wide range of camera types and input sources, allowing for flexible deployment.
Community Support
A large user community contributes to forums, documentation, and third-party plugins, providing a robust support network for new users.
Feature-Rich
ZoneMinder includes a wide range of features, such as motion detection, event recording, alerts, and remote access, making it a powerful surveillance solution.
ZoneMinder is considered a good solution for users looking for a highly customizable and robust video surveillance system, particularly those who are comfortable with technical setups and open-source software. It offers a great balance of features and scalability. However, it may have a steeper learning curve for users new to video surveillance software or those looking for more plug-and-play options.
We have collected here some useful links to help you find out if ZoneMinder is good.
Check the traffic stats of ZoneMinder on SimilarWeb. The key metrics to look for are: monthly visits, average visit duration, pages per visit, and traffic by country. Moreoever, check the traffic sources. For example "Direct" traffic is a good sign.
Check the "Domain Rating" of ZoneMinder on Ahrefs. The domain rating is a measure of the strength of a website's backlink profile on a scale from 0 to 100. It shows the strength of ZoneMinder's backlink profile compared to the other websites. In most cases a domain rating of 60+ is considered good and 70+ is considered very good.
Check the "Domain Authority" of ZoneMinder on MOZ. A website's domain authority (DA) is a search engine ranking score that predicts how well a website will rank on search engine result pages (SERPs). It is based on a 100-point logarithmic scale, with higher scores corresponding to a greater likelihood of ranking. This is another useful metric to check if a website is good.
The latest comments about ZoneMinder on Reddit. This can help you find out how popualr the product is and what people think about it.
Frigate is very good: https://frigate.video/ Personally, I use Zoneminder: https://zoneminder.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
I assume some of the concern around this is that folks don't want to live in a panopticon. If that's your objection, I can't really help with that. On the other hand, if your objection is that you don't want a backdoor built into your video doorbell (even one that you must opt into), I'm happy to report that there are good non-Ring options. I switched to a Reolink video doorbell, and it has decent support for... - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
I have used ZoneMinder (https://zoneminder.com/, an open source security cam software) previously for an apartment setup using webcams, but I believe it can work with ip cams, etc. And allows you to save to an external hard drive/ssd/etc... Wifi im not too sure on, you could try a new cell service but they upcharge on hotspotting... So maybe just regular internet provider or satellite (ex, starlink) As far as... - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago
I dunno if the CIA would trust them but I like Amcrest cameras https://amcrest.com/ because they have a wide range of different price points and capabilities. Use these with software like https://zoneminder.com/ which you could run on a cheap Linux box. For secure access use https://tailscale.com/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
Cameras could be built using a single board computer (like the Raspberry Pi Zero, but there are better and cheaper options) plus a USB camera module, and the necessary firmware that could well be just a simple script invoking ffmpeg or similar streaming software; all Open Source. For example: https://www.friendlyelec.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=69&product_id=244... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
I did a similar thing with the Xiongmai camera's I bought to keep an eye on a newly built barn/stable/clinic here on the farm and used the information to create a CLI tool to control the camera's: https://github.com/Yetangitu/cam. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
Many FOSS programs have been around for ages: https://zoneminder.com/ Having everything hardwired has its own set of issues. It is often better to have both a working visible "decoy wifi" kit people will identify/jam with ease, and a covert "Casino" 8k pin-hole option people will not be able to scan. Just remember mantraps (bastion double fire-doors/cages etc.) are usually illegal in most jurisdictions, and... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
So far I use the web interface to check in on Bob B live when I am in the other house (where I live) or in the house that he's in (which has two rental units under renovation) One time I saw he was on the floor and I ran over to the other house to peek in through the window on him which seemed to piss him off. So I try not to do that. https://zoneminder.com/ works with many camera brands and can do all sorts of... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
That article seemed to be mistly about hand-wavy workarounds for subscription-based services. I presume the author hasn't heard of the well-established, Open Source Zoneminder project, which has excellent camera and data management functionality in a self-hostable Linux environment. https://zoneminder.com/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
Frigate https://frigate.video/ and ZoneMinder https://zoneminder.com/ come to mind. Blue Iris https://blueirissoftware.com/ is not open source but is what I prefer to use for my PoE systems ($80/yr). Source: over 2 years ago
I think the simplest way is to set up Motion in the Odroids, and set up a Zoneminder server to manage the streams, record to disk, provide a web interface, etc. Source: almost 3 years ago
If the camera is ONVIF compatible, and most Hikvision are, it should work with Zoneminder and its mobile Open Source app zmninja. As for the cloud, if you have a public (not necessarily static) IP and your carrier doesn't filter incoming connections, you can use a dynamic DNS such as DuckDNS. It is however always advisable to put any camera behind a firewall, so that whatever it could happen (compromised or not,... - Source: Hacker News / about 3 years ago
Myself, I use Zoneminder, but I'm aware that is not a viable answer for most. What do you recommend? Source: about 3 years ago
I use ZoneMinder for my cameras and it integrates into HA without much hasstle, you can't point and click like many of the other integrations but the config isn't difficult. Source: about 3 years ago
I'd have to circle back and look again because it's been a few years. I was able to get Zoneminder to do 95% of what I wanted even if it felt a bit clunky. Shinobi was an up-and-comer last time I was looking around, but I remember having some frustrations and decided to stick with BI. Source: about 3 years ago
This a hundred times. ONVIF cameras plus Zoneminder can make a great video security system, totally ad and spyware free thanks to 100% open source software. https://zoneminder.com/ A firewall is however needed, since the cameras firmware can't be audited, therefore one should assume the worst. Just allow secure connections from trusted sources outside only and block any access from the IP cameras subnet to... - Source: Hacker News / about 3 years ago
I use these cameras: https://www.ebay.com/itm/165872590539 and ZoneMinder: https://zoneminder.com/. IMO ZoneMinder can be a bit difficult to configure and I have thought about trying Blue Iris: but never seem to get around to it, mostly because I prefer Linux. I have the cameras on their own VLAN, and ZoneMinder on a VM with two NICs, one in the camera VLAN and the other in my main LAN for writing to the NAS and... Source: about 3 years ago
Hey HN! We're expecting soon, and I'm wondering what the latest advice is for setting up a multi-camera system is. I'd like it to be secure (cameras should be dumb), always-on, so powered by USB, some kind of standard protocol (e.g. RTSP), good quality/dynamic range (doesnt need to be 1080p, even 720p is fine). General plan is to have a 1-3 VLANed cameras, preferably with safe/integrated auto-IR mode when dark and... - Source: Hacker News / about 3 years ago
Not necessarily a recommendation, but what about zoneminder https://zoneminder.com/. Source: over 3 years ago
One of the most popular open-source self-hosted CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) services is ZoneMinder https://zoneminder.com/. It's a comprehensive video surveillance solution that supports IP, USB, and analog cameras. It provides functionalities like motion detection, live streaming, and event notifications. Source: over 3 years ago
Just buy your own standalone cameras and hook them up to a computerโno fees necessary. ZoneMinder with a few Reolink RLC-520 cameras wasn't too difficult for me to set up. Source: over 3 years ago
ZoneMinder continues to be a highly regarded solution within the realm of open-source video surveillance, praised for its robust features, manageability, and adaptability. As a software platform, ZoneMinder competes with commercial offerings while standing alongside other popular open-source alternatives like Blue Iris, Frigate NVR, iSpy, and Shinobi. This positions ZoneMinder as a prominent choice for users who prefer flexibility and customization over proprietary security solutions.
One of the most significant strengths of ZoneMinder is its open-source nature, which allows users to modify the software to suit their specific requirements. Many users highlight the accessibility of ZoneMinder's source code as a major benefit, promoting innovation and the building of personalized features. This capability makes ZoneMinder particularly appealing for tech-savvy users managing Linux-based systems. Its compatibility extends across a wide range of camera types, including both IP-enabled and standard PC webcams, which adds to its versatility.
ZoneMinder also boasts a rich set of features typical of professional-grade surveillance systems. These include motion detection, live streaming, and event notificationsโall essential for both residential and commercial surveillance setups. Furthermore, with support for Android and iOS apps, ZoneMinder users can conveniently monitor their systems remotely.
Despite its advantages, ZoneMinder does come with its share of challenges and complexity. Setting up and configuring ZoneMinder can be daunting, particularly for those without a strong technical background. Some users have noted that the system may feel "clunky" at times, which may not be as intuitive compared to some commercial alternatives. Furthermore, managing video storage and deploying ZoneMinder within certain network infrastructures might require additional adjustments, such as installing spare SSDs or configuring separate network setups for camera feeds.
ZoneMinder is frequently mentioned within discussions about secure and private surveillance setups. Its open-source nature is highlighted as a key element in avoiding the privacy pitfalls associated with closed-source consumer surveillance products, which have been criticized for being potential security risks or subject to unauthorized data transmission. By self-hosting ZoneMinder, users can maintain control over their surveillance data, minimizing exposure to third-party services.
ZoneMinder benefits from a broad and active user community, which provides support and develops integrations with other tools and platforms. Users often mention the software's ability to integrate with HomeAssistant and use scripts to enhance functionality. This open community is a valuable resource for troubleshooting and sharing best practices.
In summary, ZoneMinder is celebrated for its openness and flexibility, making it suitable for a wide spectrum of surveillance applications, from DIY home setups to more complex commercial installations. While it may present an initial learning curve for some, its open-source ethos and strong feature set provide a compelling value proposition for users seeking a customizable video surveillance solution.
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Is ZoneMinder good? This is an informative page that will help you find out. Moreover, you can review and discuss ZoneMinder here. The primary details have not been verified within the last quarter, and they might be outdated. If you think we are missing something, please use the means on this page to comment or suggest changes. All reviews and comments are highly encouranged and appreciated as they help everyone in the community to make an informed choice. Please always be kind and objective when evaluating a product and sharing your opinion.
