Webcam streaming and configuration

[LAM_]

Hi Folks,

I would like to help a friend of mine that has a child-care center to stream live video from his center to the internet so that parents can watch their kids at all times if they choose to.

The place already have the cameras installed on each class and the patio and everything is being recorded into a DVR.

The project now would be to stream the 8 different channels to the internet.

The requirements:

1. We need to preserve the digital recording of the video. We either do it with current hardware or we get a different solution.
2. Parents should be able to select a channel (classroom) they want to see from a computer OR a smartphone!
3. The setup should confortable serve 80 users.

The questions:

1. Do I need to set up a computer as a server?
   1. What type of hardware should I get?
   2. What type of server software should I install
2. Should I install an appliance instead of a computer?
   1. What appliance woud do the job?
3. What type of internet connection should we get?
   1. DSL
   2. Cable
   3. T1

Thanks a lot in advance!

LAM.

[Bjs]

1: Take a look at sopcast ... free and the MOST important requirement is "viewer" authentication.

2: Highspeed dsl would be more stable but it depends on the final "cost" and "type" which are available in the area.

3: DVR ... for security ? ... To intergrate the two you may need to split each camera's return line ... one to dvr and the other to the server ... this way it shouldn't interfere with the dvr.

4: There are DVR cards with 8 ports available for pc's which you could then setup each as individual channels in sopcast.

5: IP address ... When checking for ISP's you may find it much easier if you obtain a "static ip address" ... this way parents only need the ip address to your sopcast server ... each channel will have a dedicated "port number" address ... I would say this be the most important ... easier all round.

If no static ip address then you may find no-ip helpful.