LINUX Stream webcam for embedding in webpage

[jonfear]

Hi All

This may have been asked before but I have been unable to resolve my problems even with the search.

I Run an amateur weather website here in the UK. I run the weather software on a windows machine in a tucked away place. I run the server using centos 5.5 and apache in the same tucked away place. I have an Ubuntu 10.10 machine in an ideal place for a webcam pointing out the window showing the sky and some country. I would like to have a webcam page on my website!

The Ubuntu machine sees the Logitec C510 camera OK. I do not run Xwindows, only command line.

I need to figure the command line to serve an mms video only stream at 1600x1200 to my server and hence my web page.

Server is 192.168.10.1
Ubuntu is 192.168.10.20.

The page code used previously is:

<OBJECT ID="MediaPlayer" width=640 height=480
classid="CLSID:22D6F312-B0F6-11D0-94AB-0080C74C7E95"
codebase="http://activex.microsoft.com/activex/co ... =,1,52,701"
standby="Loading Microsoft Windows Media Player components..."
type="application/x-oleobject">
<PARAM name="FileName" value="mms://192.168.10.10:85">
<EMBED type="application/x-mplayer2"
pluginspage="http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/Downlo ... diaPlayer/"
SRC="mms://192.168.10.10:85"
name="MediaPlayer"
width=640
height=480>
</EMBED>
</OBJECT>

This was taking a IP cam stream into my weather software and the calling the output. I would like to do this direct and not use the weather software.

Any thoughts or help would be greatly appreciated! I am frazzled.

Best wishes

Jon

[Greg]

If you are used to Windows and still wish to specifically use mms then, use mmsh:// instead of http:// with the following:
This simple method
http://wiki.videolan.org/Simple_Stream_VLC_to_Website
is almost a direct replacement for the Windows media encoder, except you dont have to use the specific web page embed like you have been used to using....Eg
<OBJECT ID="MediaPlayer" width=640 height=480
classid="CLSID:22D6F312-B0F6-11D0-94AB-0080C74C7E95"
codebase="http://activex.microsoft.com/activex/co ... =,1,52,701" Etc, etc etc...

This will still work OK, if you want/prefer to continue to use MSMP embed. But using...
<embed src="localstream1234.asx” height=”370” width=”400">
works equally well, and does not force/ need the use of Windows Media Player, The client Browser will use whatever .asf player is available.

Using http:// rather than being constrained by mms:// may be a better and more flexable option if you are happy with it?
The follow on wiki describes a method of using one box to capture and another to webserve. Although the methods are rather GUI orientated, the Appendix describes a deconstruction of a command line. Take a look at the example code. The linux version would be much the same except for the syntax 'xxx' rather than "xxx" and no need to quotate your input devices. Providing you can determine your input devices and play VLC, then the '#sout....' will be the same as the .asf code example
http://wiki.videolan.org/Stream_VLC_to_ ... _and_Flash
This may be of interest/info
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=85114

The Windows MP/.asf methods work well but do use more bandwidth than the h264/.flv methods.

stream at 1600x1200 to my serve

Perhaps stating the obvious, but don't try to transcode at this resolution unless you have "Serious!" cpu capability and bandwidth to match!

[jonfear]

Hi Greg

Many thanks for your comprehensive reply....brain still addled! I am not hung up on any MS formats, indeed I would love to move away. Point taken about 1600x1200. The main concern is that I run from command line with High Quality video presented on the web page. The page itself is password protected and redirects after 5 minutes back to the home page to reduce bandwidth. The one thing I do not want is poor quality pixelated video. I would be happy with flv or mov. The webcam stream is initially up 720p so anything like 852x480 should suffice.

Any further greatly appreciated, slightly worn out at present due to the weather in the UK.

Jon

[Greg]

We got off without too much "weather" in mid Suffolk,but V chilly all the same.

.mov is not an option with VLC live capture/streaming. Best bet is h264/.flv as per wiki link for best quality at minimal bandwidth.
You will need libx264-98 + ffmpeg libavdevice-extra52 installed
If you don't overload the transcode, then you won't get pixelation/blocking. You can display on web page any size you want, but it will be digitally expanded from the original stream. Suggest you experiment with your cpu/system for best quality tradeoff. 256x192 a good starting point. Increase until your average cpu is at approx 60%, you could push it further, but only you can determine the quality you require at the cpu/bandwidth available.
The command line should be apparent from the previous links?
Not running "X" won't make a teriffic difference, but will help
You will need decent hardware Eg a fast 2.4GHz P4 minimum for 256x192, ...upwards, then more cpu