

Do you want to turn your ordinary webcam into a motion-detecting security spy camera? Do you want to automatically upload the captured images or videos from your webcam to a remote server? Do you want to know who has been stealing your chickens? If you answered yes to any of the questions above, then you should read on.



But first, you will need these: a Linux box; a supported webcam; and a few



Now it's time to walk you through the process of installing your very own homemade security spy camera on Ubuntu. Take note that this can be done using other Linux distros as well. But before going on, I'm assuming that your webcam has the right driver and is fully working already.

But first, you will need these: a Linux box; a supported webcam; and a few free and open source software packages that I'm going to specify later on.Now it's time to walk you through the process of installing your very own homemade security spy camera on Ubuntu. Take note that this can be done using other Linux distros as well. But before going on, I'm assuming that your webcam has the right driver and is fully working already.

Step-1: Install the motion detector software that's appropriately called "



You can install it via Synaptic Package Manager GUI or via the terminal:



sudo apt-get install motion Step-2: After installation, you have officially converted your ordinary webcam into a motion-detecting camera. The only thing that you need to do now is to start tracking movement and capture images by running "Motion" from the terminal:

Install the motion detector software that's appropriately called " Motion ".You can install it via Synaptic Package Manager GUI or via the terminal:After installation, you have officially converted your ordinary webcam into a motion-detecting camera. The only thing that you need to do now is to start tracking movement and capture images by running "Motion" from the terminal:

sudo motion

CTRL+C

"/tmp/motion " by default. However, you can configure and change the default settings by navigating to " /etc/motion " and editing " motion.conf ". Like if you want to change the directory where the captured images are saved, just find and edit this line: " target_dir /tmp/motion "



You can go



Step-3: Actually we can stop at "Step 2" because we already have a reliable camera that can be used for security purposes. But that may sound boring to some of our adventure seeking advanced users. So let's go on and set-up "Motion" to send and save the captured images to a remote FTP server.

The captured time stamped images are saved at" by default. However, you can configure and change the default settings by navigating to "" and editing "". Like if you want to change the directory where the captured images are saved, just find and edit this line: "You can go HERE to know about several “Motion” config file options.Actually we can stop at "Step 2" because we already have a reliable camera that can be used for security purposes. But that may sound boring to some of our adventure seeking advanced users. So let's go on and set-up "Motion" to send and save the captured images to a remote FTP server.

sudo apt-get install wput

After it, edit “ motion.conf ” with your favorite text editor, and then add the following line at the end section:



on_picture_save wput ftp://username:password@yourserver %f

If you want to start Motion automatically with your server, just add Motion to your "Startup Programs".





Step-4:

localhost:8000

XXX.XXX.X.XXX:8000

localhost:8001

XXX.XXX.X.XXX:8001





That's about it. Enjoy your new motion-detecting spy camera. Now it's your job to put that webcam on the right spot and perhaps apply a camouflage to hide it.



Always remember to be responsible and use that homemade spy camera for good things only. Like maybe catching that fried-chicken-eating thief :-)

Let me add that it's possible to connect and use multiple webcams. You can go HERE for set-up instructions.That's about it. Enjoy your new motion-detecting spy camera. Now it's your job to put that webcam on the right spot and perhaps apply a camouflage to hide it.





So let's get down to business:Saving captured images...You can stop "Motion" by pressingFirst, let's install "wput". --It's a command line FTP client:You will now be able to open the Motion web interface by typing infrom the server itself orfrom a remote computer's web browser. To view a live stream of your webcam typefrom the server orfrom a web browser.