Dlink DCS-910

Post here to ask any questions about hardware suitability, configuration in ZoneMinder, or experiences. If you just want to know if something works with ZoneMinder or not, please check the Hardware Compatibility sections in the forum, and the Wiki first. Also search this topic as well.
bb99
Posts: 943
Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:04 am

Post by bb99 »

Only experienced with DCS-900a's; bring up an instance of your browser and enter camera IP. Then enter credentials to access; with camera displayed, right click on picture and make note of the path. Enter in path of camera in ZM monitor configuration path entry. My experience with DCS-900's (lot's of posts) was only marginal at best. RDMelin's 1.21.3 livecd performed better than anything I ever put together but still only rendered 3-5 fps. Be sure to set ZM monitor and camera to the same res. After this, you must be patient as it seems to take a while on the feed (over 30 sec.). Remember in your browser you are probably viewing on port 80 (?).
riddlebox
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2009 1:11 am

Post by riddlebox »

I could not get the resolution any higher and I kinda just gave up on that
sorry
justDIY
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:12 am

Post by justDIY »

hello all!

I too am attempting to make a Dlink dcs-910 work with zone minder 1.23.3, under Ubuntu 9.04. I have the monitor setup as described in the wiki, with netcams regex turned off (no check).

My source is defined as zm:zm@192.168.2.201 (I added a normal user "zm" to the camera so not to use the "root" password). Zone minder shows me a "broken image" link when I click on the monitor, for both stream and stills mode. Any suggestions?


Steps I took to troubleshoot:
1. Visit http://zm:zm@192.168.2.201/VIDEO.CGI? under firefox, I receive a blank page. Opening /IMAGE.JPG? under firefox gets me a non-live image.

2. Visit the camera's normal url (http://192.168.2.201), and sign in, then I can open /VIDEO.CGI? in another window and have the motion jpeg stream running.

3. On the linux machine, I am able to wget /IMAGE.JPG? as a legitimate jpeg image. I cannot however wget /VIDEO.CGI? ... wget says it timed out.

4. Mplayer seems to indicate there is a data stream at /VIDEO.CGI? however, it will not play or decode it.

Additional Info:
Under ZM, the function "Monitor" shows up orange, and the ip address shows up red; if those color codes indicate some manner of trouble?

Here is some of my /var/log/messages file... it's the same thing over and over. /var/log/zm is empty, there are no log files preset.

Code: Select all

May 31 21:28:11 htpc zmwatch[12535]: INF [Restarting capture daemon for cam01, shared memory not valid]
May 31 21:28:11 htpc zmdc[26456]: INF ['zmc -m 3' started at 09/05/31 21:28:11]
May 31 21:28:11 htpc zmc_m3[26456]: INF [Debug Level = 0, Debug Log = <none>]
May 31 21:28:11 htpc zmdc[12506]: INF ['zmc -m 3' starting at 09/05/31 21:28:11, pid = 26456]
May 31 21:28:11 htpc zmwatch[12535]: INF ['zmc -m 3' starting at 09/05/31 21:28:11, pid = 26456]
May 31 21:28:21 htpc zmwatch[12535]: INF [Restarting capture daemon for cam01, shared memory not valid]
May 31 21:28:21 htpc zmdc[26458]: INF ['zmc -m 3' started at 09/05/31 21:28:21]
May 31 21:28:21 htpc zmc_m3[26458]: INF [Debug Level = 0, Debug Log = <none>]
May 31 21:28:21 htpc zmdc[12506]: INF ['zmc -m 3' starting at 09/05/31 21:28:21, pid = 26458]
May 31 21:28:21 htpc zmwatch[12535]: INF ['zmc -m 3' starting at 09/05/31 21:28:21, pid = 26458]
EDIT / UPDATE:

I found the debug option and got that turned on. It seems there may be some sort of permissions problem with the ubuntu package'd zone minder?

Code: Select all

05/31/2009 21:47:39.698537 zmwatch[12535].INF ['zmc -m 3' starting at 09/05/31 21:47:39, pid = 671]
05/31/2009 21:47:49.699840 zmwatch[12535].ERR [Can't get shared memory id '7a6d0003', 3: No such file or directory]
05/31/2009 21:47:49.700147 zmwatch[12535].INF [Restarting capture daemon for cam01, shared memory not valid]

Code: Select all

# tail zm_debug.log.32668
05/31/09 21:46:16.747058 zmc_m3[32668].INF-zm_debug.c/305 [New Debug Level = 1, New Debug Log = /tmp/zm_debug.log.32668]
05/31/09 21:46:16.747403 zmc_m3[32668].DB1-zm_monitor.cpp/1964 [Got 1 monitors]
05/31/09 21:46:16.752116 zmc_m3[32668].DB1-zm_monitor.cpp/259 [monitor purpose=1]
05/31/09 21:46:16.752161 zmc_m3[32668].DB1-zm_monitor.cpp/266 [shm.size=36865188]
05/31/09 21:46:16.752214 zmc_m3[32668].ERR-zm_monitor.cpp/270 [Can't shmget, probably not enough shared memory space free: Invalid argument]
The zoneminder scripts seem to be running as the "www-data" user, rather than root. I am using the /usr/bin/zmpkg.pl script to start / stop zoneminder, so that script must be setting the user somehow. Any ideas?
rcswrc
Posts: 29
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 10:19 pm
Location: Costa Rica

Post by rcswrc »

Hi there, last time I said it was working ok, but now I have a problem. It seems that the /video.cgi path doesn't work until you login with a browser and select java for streaming.

It is like if it waits for you to send that option and then it can stream on the path told before.

I've been trying to look for solution, like a cron that can send that option.

I tried with wget, but it only downloads the htm file. Tried to access with links but doesn't do the trick.

Any more ideas?

Actually the problem is that I don't know if it actually needs java to initiate the sreaming or it is just a variable that activates streaming.
bb99
Posts: 943
Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:04 am

Post by bb99 »

What port are you pointing ZM to (I don't expect an answer, just covering the basics)? I trashed my DCS-900a's awhile ago but if I'm remembering correctly you had to open a second port on the camera server (I think I used 8080 or 8081) and pointed ZM to that port (Remote Host/Port/Path :
Use these fields to enter the full URL of the camera. Basically if your camera is at http://camserver.home.net:8192/cameras/camera1.jpg then these fields will be camserver.home.net, 8192 and /cameras/camera1.jpg respectively. Leave the port at 80 if there is no special port required. If you require authentication to access your camera then add this onto the host name in the form <username>:<password>@<hostname>.com. This will usually be 24 bit color even if the image looks black and white. Look in Supported Hardware > Network Cameras section, how to obtain these strings that may apply to your camera). I was never able to get the port 80 to consistently work, also I was running ZM 1.21.3 (Ross Melin's live cd) at the time and it seemed to take some time to acquire the stream and process it, but once it was running it was rock solid including motion detection. Just brought up a seed for the 1.21.3 livecd at linuxtracker.org if your wanting to use it for troubleshooting and configuration.
rcswrc
Posts: 29
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 10:19 pm
Location: Costa Rica

Post by rcswrc »

Well it also works with port 8080, but when I change the running state, it stops working, then I have to login to the camera diretly and choose java for streaming, so that zoneminder can get any video. After that I can logout, but will have to do it again if there is any running state change.

Is it only me?
rcswrc
Posts: 29
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 10:19 pm
Location: Costa Rica

Post by rcswrc »

Indeed, I've been testing the camera for a week and noticed that it seems like the camera stops giving images on /video.cgi after I change the state of the camera. Any possible solution?
rcswrc
Posts: 29
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 10:19 pm
Location: Costa Rica

Post by rcswrc »

rcswrc wrote:Indeed, I've been testing the camera for a week and noticed that it seems like the camera stops giving images on /video.cgi after I change the state of the camera. Any possible solution?
Solved it with an upgrade to 1.24.2, now my dlink dcs-910 works, but image quality sucks.
dyu
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Aug 16, 2009 5:34 pm

Post by dyu »

rcswrc wrote:
rcswrc wrote:Indeed, I've been testing the camera for a week and noticed that it seems like the camera stops giving images on /video.cgi after I change the state of the camera. Any possible solution?
Solved it with an upgrade to 1.24.2, now my dlink dcs-910 works, but image quality sucks.
When you reboot your pc, did you still need to access your camera via browser first (and have java enabled) for ZM to stream from /video.cgi?

Hopefully its no longer needed ...
rcswrc
Posts: 29
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 10:19 pm
Location: Costa Rica

Post by rcswrc »

Yes, it is no longer needed. But I wouldn't recommend that camera.
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kp4djt
Posts: 221
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 1:53 am
Location: Tampa, FL

DCS-910

Post by kp4djt »

I just bought one of these units, and then I found the end of the comments on this camera. The video looks good, but I have found the same thing, I have to set the java tic on the live image page in order to get video out of
the unit. I am using /mjpeg.cgi as it appears to be a bit more reliable than the /video.cgi?.
320 X 240 works great, but when you move up to 640 X 480 that is when it appears to become a real PITA. If anyone has any other ideas, would be most happy to see it, I guess I am going to have to build me a 1.24.2 machine, right now I am using 1.23.3. I have a couple of Trendnet ipv-110's these things work just great but I can no longer get them locally, so when lightning takes one out I have to order it or find a replacement, there were a boat load of these at CompUSA, so I got one after reading the first page of comments on the unit, which appeared to indicate that it was working, should have read the next page...
Chuck Hast -- KP4DJT --
Web site www.wchast.com
ZM demo www.wchast.com/zm
rcswrc
Posts: 29
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 10:19 pm
Location: Costa Rica

sorry to hear that

Post by rcswrc »

I'm sorry to read that kp4djt, I just edited my post so that it does not happen again. I hate this camera, the image quality is definitely not what I expected, BL-C1 works much better for me. I use 640x480 on all my cameras, and I'm very dissappointed with this camera.

BTW I updated the firmware, which seems to make no changes.
User avatar
kp4djt
Posts: 221
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 1:53 am
Location: Tampa, FL

dcs-910

Post by kp4djt »

Well, I got it up and running, left it running all night, of the 3 cams I have on the system it has the nicest video. Also it is spitting out frames at 10fps. Here is my observations on it at this point.
1. In order to get streaming video out of it you have to go into the web interface and make sure that java is tic'd.
2. You can use either /video.cgi? or /mjpeg.cgi both appear to work.

What is needed is a way to make sure that java is enabled on the cam, too bad that DLINK screwed this one up as it is really a nice cam, and appears to want to work quite well once you know the secret of the java tic...

I see your location as Costa Rica, where are you located there??
Chuck Hast -- KP4DJT --
Web site www.wchast.com
ZM demo www.wchast.com/zm
rcswrc
Posts: 29
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 10:19 pm
Location: Costa Rica

Post by rcswrc »

but I don't have to do that java thing anymore with 1.24.2. San Jose, Costa Rica.
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kp4djt
Posts: 221
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 1:53 am
Location: Tampa, FL

DCS-910

Post by kp4djt »

I am going to have to break down and learn how to build up the whole ZM stack. I have just been using live CD's and installing the things, they work great and it has been a quick way for me to get a ZM box on line. I was using the Trendnet IPV-110 but the local place that sold them stopped stocking them and went to these DCS-910 cams, these boxes have better
video, but having to make sure the java button is pushed is stupid. I saw a comment that the video did not look good on 1.24.2, I wonder what that was
as these cams have pretty nice video compared to what I have had here.

I have also played around with some cams from my ex-employment, and
these do about as well as any I have seen.
Chuck Hast -- KP4DJT --
Web site www.wchast.com
ZM demo www.wchast.com/zm
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