Using a Raspberry Pi for a home surveillance system can be a cost-effective and customizable solution. One of the most important aspects of a Raspberry Pi surveillance system is the software used to process and store the video footage. In this post, we'll take a look at the different types of software available for a Raspberry Pi surveillance system.

Operating System

The first step in setting up a Raspberry Pi surveillance system is to choose an operating system. The most popular options include:

• Raspbian: Raspbian is a free operating system based on Debian that is optimized for the Raspberry Pi. It is the official supported operating system for the Raspberry Pi and is easy to use.

• Ubuntu: Ubuntu is a popular Linux-based operating system that can also be used on the Raspberry Pi. It is a more advanced operating system and requires more technical knowledge to set up and use.

Video Surveillance Software

Once you have chosen an operating system, you can install video surveillance software to process and store the video footage. Some popular options include:

• Motion: Motion is a popular open-source video surveillance software that can be used with the Raspberry Pi. It supports multiple camera inputs and can be configured to send email or push notifications when motion is detected.

• Zoneminder: Zoneminder is another popular open-source video surveillance software that can be used with the Raspberry Pi. It supports a wide range of cameras and can be configured to send email or push notifications when motion is detected.

• Blue Iris: Blue Iris is a powerful video surveillance software that can be used with the Raspberry Pi. It supports a wide range of cameras and can be configured to send email or push notifications when motion is detected. It also offers advanced features such as remote access and audio support.

Storage

The video footage captured by a Raspberry Pi surveillance system can be stored on a variety of storage devices. Some popular options include:

• SD Card: The video footage can be stored on the SD card used to boot the Raspberry Pi. This is a convenient option, but the SD card has limited storage capacity, so it may need to be frequently swapped or upgraded.

• External Hard Drive: The video footage can also be stored on an external hard drive connected to the Raspberry Pi. This gives you more storage capacity and allows for easy access to the footage, but it also requires an additional power supply for the hard drive.

• Cloud Storage: The video footage can also be stored on cloud storage such as Amazon S3 or Google Drive. This gives you unlimited storage capacity and allows for easy access to the footage from anywhere, but it also requires an internet connection and may incur additional costs.

Conclusion

A Raspberry Pi surveillance system can be a cost-effective and customizable solution for monitoring your home. The software used to process and store the video footage is an important aspect of the system. Some of the options include Raspbian, Ubuntu, Motion, Zoneminder, and Blue Iris. The storage options include SD card, external hard drive, and cloud storage. The choice of software and storage will depend on the specific needs and technical expertise of the user.

In summary, the Operating system choices for Raspberry Pi surveillance system are Raspbian and Ubuntu, while the video surveillance software choices are Motion, Zoneminder, and Blue Iris. The storage options for video footage are SD card, external hard drive and cloud storage. The choice of software and storage will depend on user's needs and technical expertise.