Detecting movements with Motion
WHO GOES THERE?
The motion detector software, Motion, monitors the video signal from one or multiple cameras and is able to detect whether a significant part of the picture has changed, record and track movement, or launch arbitrary external commands to trigger other actions.
The free Motion [1] software, by Jeroen Vreeken and Kenneth Jahn Lavrsen, can help monitor your office or home while you are away. Motion takes photos and captures videos when movement occurs and, if needed, the computer running the software can mail or text you the images. You can install Motion locally or use a web interface to control it. If needed, the software can monitor multiple cameras.
The install on Ubuntu is relatively simple. Feisty Fawn (7.04) and Edgy Eft (6.10) include version 3.2.3 of the software in their Universe repositories. You also need to install the FFmpeg and nasm packages. Users with Ubuntu 6.10 and 6.06, Debian Sid, and Fedora Core 4 can use the latest version 3.2.7 of Motion. Users with Ubuntu Feisty Fawn will need to build from the source code to have the latest version. Users with SUSE (SUSE Linux 10.1 or openSUSE 10.2) will need to build Motion whatever, as the “Building Motion” box describes.
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Linux Servers Targeted by Akira Ransomware
A group of bad actors who have already extorted $42 million have their sights set on the Linux platform.
-
TUXEDO Computers Unveils Linux Laptop Featuring AMD Ryzen CPU
This latest release is the first laptop to include the new CPU from Ryzen and Linux preinstalled.
-
XZ Gets the All-Clear
The back door xz vulnerability has been officially reverted for Fedora 40 and versions 38 and 39 were never affected.
-
Canonical Collaborates with Qualcomm on New Venture
This new joint effort is geared toward bringing Ubuntu and Ubuntu Core to Qualcomm-powered devices.
-
Kodi 21.0 Open-Source Entertainment Hub Released
After a year of development, the award-winning Kodi cross-platform, media center software is now available with many new additions and improvements.
-
Linux Usage Increases in Two Key Areas
If market share is your thing, you'll be happy to know that Linux is on the rise in two areas that, if they keep climbing, could have serious meaning for Linux's future.
-
Vulnerability Discovered in xz Libraries
An urgent alert for Fedora 40 has been posted and users should pay attention.
-
Canonical Bumps LTS Support to 12 years
If you're worried that your Ubuntu LTS release won't be supported long enough to last, Canonical has a surprise for you in the form of 12 years of security coverage.
-
Fedora 40 Beta Released Soon
With the official release of Fedora 40 coming in April, it's almost time to download the beta and see what's new.
-
New Pentesting Distribution to Compete with Kali Linux
SnoopGod is now available for your testing needs