IPConfigure Free RaspberryPi VMS

By: Brian Karas, Published on Jun 14, 2016

IPConfigure has released a version of their Orchid VMS that runs on $50 RaspberryPi hardware and is free for commercial or personal use.

Inside we cover how to get it, and what limitations are involved.

Orchid *** *********** ********

*** *********** ***** ** Orchid ** *** ******** Orchid ********, ** ******** limitations **** ***** ** part ** **** *******.  However, ***** **** *** up ******* *** ****** of *** ** ******** fairly ******* ** **** cases.

********** **** ***** *********** demo ** *** **** received * *** ** interest *** ***** **** to **** ** ** official ********.  **** ****** this ** * *** for ***** ** *** more ******** **** ***** Orchid *******, *** *********** explore ***** ** ** new ****.

*** ***** ******** *****: 

  • ********** *** *******
  • ** *******
  • ** ******* ***********
  • ** ******* ***********
  • ** ******* **********
  • *** ** *** *******

Commercial *** *******

*********** **** **** *********** are **** ** **** systems ***** ****** **** platform, ***** *** ** licensing ************ ******** *** or ******.

No *******

*********** **** *** ***** any ******* *** *** RaspberryPi ****** *****. 

*** ******* ** ******** a *********/**** ********* ******* and ***** ***** ***** can **** *******, ** provide ******* ** *****-******* configurations.

*********** *** **** ** use **** ** ******** more **** ** ************ platform ****** ********* ******** this ****** ******** ** to *********.

No ******* ******

**** ******** ******* *** unlimited ********, *** *** connect ** **** ******* as *** ** ******** can ******, ***** ** most ****** ***** ** be ****** *** ****** the ******* *** **** low **********.

*********** ********* * ** RaspberryPi *** ****** *-* 1080p *******, ********* ** transcoding ************ (******* **** can't ****** * ****** image ****** *** ******* transcoding ** **** ***** more ****** ** ** Orchid ******).

No ******* ******

***** *** ******* *** size ***** *** ***** storage.  *** ****** *** write ** ** ** card ********* ** *** Pi, *** *********** *** found *** ** ********* to ** **** *** recommends ** ******** *** drive *******.

No ******* **********

********* **** ******** ******/*********** recorders **** *** **** a *** ** ****** or **** **** *** from * ******* ********, each *** ** ******* individually.

**** ** *** * limitation *** ********* **** only * ****** ****, but ********* *** **** to ****** ******** ****** sites **** ****** **** it ********, ***** ********* would **** ****** **** official ******** *******, ****** IPConfigure's ****** ****** * more ******* ******. 

How ** *** *******

*** ****** ********* **** ****** *** ** load * ***** ** on * ***********, *** then ******** *** ******* the ****** ********. 

Compared ** ***-**** ***'*

* **** *********** *** for * ******* ***** be ~$*** ($** *** Pi ********/****, $** *** PoE ******, $** *** 2TB *** ***).

**** ** ******* **** what **** *-**** *** NVRs *** ** ********* for, ****** ** *** factor ** *** **** of ******* *** *** not ************ ********* ***** IP *** *** **** HD ****** **** **** a ******* ***** ***** and **** **** **** of * ******** *** support.

Comments (15)

Matt Mower

06/14/16 03:20pm

Just wondering about your hardware list:

1- Which cameras are you spec'ing out a 4 IP cameras for $180?

2- Which POE switch are your spec'ing out at $50?

Thanks

Avatar

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Matt Mower | 06/14/16 03:27pm

$180 is not for 4 cameras, it is the cost of an IPConfigure/Pi micro NVR:

$50 for a Pi, Case, powersupply ex: Pi3 Kit

$80 for an external USB HDD ex: 2TB USB 3.0 HDD

$50 for a small PoE switch ex: BV-SW541-4 Port PoE switch

Total: $180

JP Wenger

06/15/16 01:55am

I set this up earlier today, and I must admit I am impressed. I am a huge fan of the RaspberryPi platform. I think I have 6 or 7 now in total!

I was able to get this software installed, and up in running in just a few minutes. While the software is barebones, it does work well. I was able to easily add several Dahua cameras via ONVIF in seconds. I was surprised even PTZ controls work!

Chrome works as well. No plugins to install. Video just worked. I was expecting a few hours in terminal to get this level of functionality. Not sure how much processing power is left for motion detect, but that might be there and I just missed it.

Despite how impressed I was with this software, it is not suitable for anything other than as a learning tool or as something to tinker with. Don't expect to see any casino's dropping in Pi clusters anytime soon.

Avatar

Matt Barber

06/17/16 04:17pm

This piqued my interest! I have installed Orchid on Windows, and Ubuntu, and my Raspberry Pi is on it's way.

The interface is super simple and sleek. There aren't a ton of features in the software.. which is good and bad....

I'm interested to see how far the Pi can be pushed, and an easy way to add a 3.5 inch hard drive to the mix and have it all in one container if possible.

Avatar

Jared Beagley

Seagate Technology
In reply to Matt Barber | 11/30/17 06:52pm

only complication I see with a 3.5" drive is the fact that the power of the USB connection is not likely going to be enough to juice it, so you'd probably still need to have the power supply for the drive. Best thing I could think to do until there's something purpose-built for it would be to have an external enclosure which supports 3.5" drives, double-sided tape the case of the Pi and maybe the power supply to the enclosure for convenience and compactness.

Been toying around in my head with the idea of doing something similar for a RetroPie build to make it easier to haul around if needed.

Avatar

Christopher Uiterwyk

IPConfigure
In reply to Jared Beagley | 11/30/17 07:17pm

WesternDigital Labs has Raspberry Pi "purpose-built" enclosures for their PiDrives that solves the power and unified enclosure pain points you mention.

http://wdlabs.wd.com/category/pidrive-enclosures/

 

Pi Drive Enclosure

Avatar

Simon Barnes

06/17/16 06:11pm

How do you access it via smartphone? Is there an app?

Avatar

Matt Barber

06/17/16 06:18pm

It's all web based from what I have played with. Browser seems to play video from my phone and remote pc.

Avatar

Simon Barnes

In reply to Matt Barber | 06/17/16 06:19pm

Thanks Matt

Sebastian Kratzke

11/29/17 07:05pm

I tried Orchid both on Raspberry and on X86 and was pretty impressed.

But I’ve got two questions:

- Why can‘t Orchid record only those sequences where motion was detected and why does it only use server based motion detection - whithout any possibillity to configure motion detection in any way (set zones etc.)?

I think this could be a real deal-breaker for many people... so does it have technical or „philosophic“ reasons?

 

- How can I use manual focus with PTZ cameras?

 

Thank you!

Avatar

R. Cortland Tompkins, PhD

IPConfigure, Inc.
In reply to Sebastian Kratzke | 11/30/17 01:24am

Sebastian, I'm VP of Engineering for IPConfigure -- thank you for sharing your experience with Orchid.

Orchid's motion detection system is the result of something of a combination of philosophical and business choices.  We have a fast and efficient motion detection system that's capable of running with minimal CPU overhead on even embedded devices like the Raspberry Pi -- and with that capability, we think there's value in having a single, consistent motion detection system that doesn't vary across camera manufacturer implementations.  Future versions of Orchid Core will likely include support for camera-based motion detection via ONVIF as well as region masking, but philosophically we'll continue to prefer server based motion detection.

With respect to recording only during motion, Orchid uses continuous recording exclusively because we feel the risk (and paranoia) associated with missing motion activity isn't worth the potential benefit.  Note that Orchid does offer a multi-framerate feature (record at one framerate during motion and another during non-motion).

 

Focus control for PTZ cameras is not part of the ONVIF Profile S driver used by Orchid for controlling PTZ cameras.  Typically customers use auto focus, and if manual focus is required that would be done only one time via the camera's interface.

Thanks again for your feedback!

 

Best,
Cort Tompkins
VP Engineering, IPConfigure

Sebastian Kratzke

11/30/17 10:38pm

Cort, thank you very much for your explanations!

Now I unterstand many of your decisions, but I think at least considering implementation manual focusing could help often when PTZ-ing live in difficult environment where trees, plants, etc. are in the sight line.

Does multi-framerate Recording work with any camera? 

Avatar

R. Cortland Tompkins, PhD

IPConfigure, Inc.
In reply to Sebastian Kratzke | 12/04/17 12:39pm

Sebastian, Orchid Core's multi-framerate recording mode works with any H.264 camera.

Sebastian Kratzke

In reply to R. Cortland Tompkins, PhD | 01/28/18 12:28pm

Since Orchid Core also is provided for other ARM devices (armv7 / Armhf) in the meanwhile I also tried on my Odroid C2, NanoPi NEO, NanoPi NEO2 and NanoPi NEO Plus2 SBCs.

But I only got it completely working on NEO which was the only model amongst these with a 32 Bit OS, while the others are 64 Bit devices. Installation worked successfully with these but then the services failed to run.

I used Armbian and C2 Ubuntu Images.

From my understanding even on Arm64 Armhf code should be able to run so what has to be done for solving this?

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

12/01/17 01:54pm

Factory prices for embedded PoE NVR's:

50-55 for 4channel, 70-80 8Channel, 110-125 for 16Channel

I love the Raspberry PI, it's an excellent device. Now It could be kind of interesting for making a small mobile recorder with solid state recording.

$60 would buy you a low end Hybrid with 16 Channel AHD, and 8IP (frame rate limited, and bitrate maxed). Prices in 2017 have eroded from many factories. See race to the bottom on main page!

Maybe soon we have the Year End sales from H & D companies, and or their distributors! Chinese year end is End of Jan so it's an all out let's keep investors happy with our fake figures and long draw out speeches about AI investment.

I don't expect a Longse sale, seems they are like Macys always a deal to be had! (and we know how well they are doing)

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