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Update a simpler camera server authored by null pointer's avatar null pointer
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a-simpler-camera-server.md
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......@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ http://admin:YWRtaW4%3D@my_lan_ip:8080/snapshot.jpg
#### default ip, default username, default password
this is the default ip address that the
the default ip address is the ip that the
camera will use if there is no internet
connection e.g. when it is connected
directly to a desktop/laptop
......@@ -49,22 +49,23 @@ for the **tp-link nc200**, when the camera
fresh out of the box and connected directly
to a computer, the following is applicable:
* default ip: 192.168.0.10
* username: admin
* password: admin
* default ip: `192.168.0.10`
* username: `admin`
* password: `admin`
## initial camera setup
### ensure that you can connect to the camera
* plug the camera network directly into a computer
* plug the camera network directly into a computer,
usually with a network cable
* switch everything on, give everything time to start up
* give the computer a temporary static ip address in the
same range as the camera default ip e.g. if the default
ip is 192.168.0.10, then give the computer any ip from
192.168.0.1 to 192.168.0.254 (EXCEPT the same ip as the
camera)
* open a browser, and in the address bar provide the
ip is `192.168.0.10`, then give the computer any ip from
`192.168.0.1` to `192.168.0.254` (EXCEPT the same ip as
the camera)
* open a browser, then in the address bar provide the
default camera ip and hit ENTER
* login into the camera using the default username/password
......@@ -77,20 +78,21 @@ note: do any of these as required by your local environment
* setup a connection to your wireless lan
* setup the actual fixed ip
IMPORTANT: changing the username and password may break
the snapshot url temporarily - this is because some types
of cameras encode the username and password as part of
the link. in the case of the tplink nc200, the username
is in plaintext ("admin") but the password is base64-encoded
("YWRtaW4" base64 decoded is "admin"). therefore, if you
change the password, then you must base64 encode the new
password using a script or an online service like
https://www.base64encode.org/ - when in doubt, research
the brand/model snapshot url with google
EXAMPLE: with the **tplink nc200** - if the username is
"admin" and the password changed to "abc123" and the ip
changed to 192.168.0.87:
IMPORTANT: changing the camera username and password may
break the snapshot url temporarily - this is because
some types of cameras encode the username and password
as part of the link. in the case of the **tplink nc200**,
the username is in plaintext (`admin`) but the password
is base64-encoded (`YWRtaW4` base64-decoded is `admin`).
therefore, if you change the password, then you must
base64-encode the new password using a script or an
online service like https://www.base64encode.org/ -
when in doubt, research the brand/model with google.
EXAMPLE: for the **tplink nc200** with ip set to
`192.168.0.87`; username `admin`; and the password
changed to `abc123`, the correct snapshot url will be:
```
http://admin:YWJjMTIz@192.168.0.87:8080/snapshot.jpg
......@@ -98,27 +100,34 @@ http://admin:YWJjMTIz@192.168.0.87:8080/snapshot.jpg
once everything is setup, connect the camera to the LAN
wia wifi or cable, and ensure the ip is setup properly.
finally, test the snapshot url AGAIN on the actual network
finally, test the snapshot url AGAIN on the actual network.
### test the camera from the raspberry pi
to test the URL on the raspberry pi:
1. open the terminal
1. open a terminal
2. type `wget <full snapshot url> -O now.jpg`, hit ENTER
3. a picture should be downloaded as `now.jpg`
note: running step 2 over and over again, will fetch a new
image from the camera and overwrite any existing now.jpg
note: running step 2 over and over again will fetch a new
image from the camera and overwrite any existing `now.jpg`
## raspberry pi
setup a raspberry pi:
* OS: [rasbpian jessie/buster with desktop](https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspbian/)
* has an internet connection
* connected to the same lan as the camera
### create the automatic snapshot download script
1. open the terminal
1. open a terminal
2. `mkdir camera` - make a new directory for the camera project
3. `cd camera` - (change directory)/enter into the camera folder
4. `nano camera.sh` - create/edit a file called 'camera.sh'
4. `nano camera.sh` - create/edit a file called 'camera.sh' with
the `nano` editor
5. enter the following "shell code":
```
......@@ -127,27 +136,29 @@ sleep 3 # in seconds, between frames
./camera.sh
```
6. to save the file, press CTRL-O (output), then confirm the
filename with enter
7. to exit, press CTRL-X
8. back to terminal, type `chmod +x camera.sh` - this makes the
file "runnable"
6. in `nano`, to save the file, press `CTRL-O` (O for output),
then confirm the filename with the ENTER key
7. to exit `nano`, press `CTRL-X`
8. back to terminal, type `chmod +x camera.sh` - this makes
the file "runnable" in linux
9. run the file with `./camera.sh`
note: do not close the terminal window, let it run endlessly
in case the window gets closed, just re-do step 1, 3, 9
advanced: if you have more cameras, repeat these steps, and open
more terminal windows (one per camera) fetching the unique camera
snapshot url. don't forget to change the "-O" option so that each
snapshot url. don't forget to change the `-O` parameter so that each
camera will be written to a different snapshot file e.g.
"`wget ... -O cam1.jpg`", "`wget ... -O cam2.jpg`", etc
just in case the window gets closed, just do step 1, 3, 9
### camera server - part 1: preparing the environment
we must install php on the raspberry pi so we can make a simple
server - we only have to do this once per pi
we must install `php` on the raspberry pi so we can run a
simple server - we only have to do this once per pi
important: this part requires an internet connection
1. open a terminal
2. run `sudo apt update`
......@@ -171,7 +182,7 @@ close the terminal when done OR use it for part 2...
note: do not close the terminal window, let it run endlessly
just in case the window gets closed, just do step 1, 2, 3, 4
in case the window gets closed, just do step 1, 2, 3, 4
### camera server - part 3: make a web page
......@@ -194,15 +205,15 @@ just in case the window gets closed, just do step 1, 2, 3, 4
</html>
```
6. to save the file in `nano`, CTRL-O, enter to confirm name
7. to exit `nano`, CTRL-X
6. to save the file in `nano`, `CTRL-O`, enter to confirm name
7. to exit `nano`, `CTRL-X`
8. on a separate computer/mobile, use a browser and access:
`http://<ip address of pi>:8010` - you no longer have to
have `/now.jpg` at the end
notes:
* the meta tag in the code at step 4 will make the page refresh
every 5 seconds automatically.
* the meta tag in the step 4 code will make the page refresh
every 5 seconds automatically.
* you can close this terminal when done
advanced: for multiple cameras, just add more `img` tags with
......@@ -218,4 +229,5 @@ suggestion for improvements:
* change the camera server from PHP to a python mini-server
with `python3 -m http.server`
* make the page look better!
* making everything run on pi reboot (hint: use `cron`)
* ...and much much more!
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