How to turn your computer into a video server for cameras: 2 easy steps

Full-fledged video surveillance assumes the presence of a recording device or a cloud. But to not buy a lot of additional equipment, the entire system can be connected to a PC. This article will tell you how we turn a computer into a video server for video surveillance.

What to do if you want to save money? 

It is generally accepted that video surveillance is an expensive solution. But what if you need monitoring but want to save money?

In this case, you can organize a system that will work through a PC. This method is reliable, functional, and easy to use. The main thing is to assemble the computer correctly. 

We turn a computer into a video server for cameras

The computer should be assembled specifically for monitoring tasks. Read about it below.

PC requirements

Even if you now have a computer or laptop, this does not mean that cameras can be connected to it. Test your device with the following list of technical requirements:

• hard drive of 2 TB memory or more;
• 500 W power supply;
• powerful processor (from Intel i3 and above). The power depends on the number of connected cameras, but it is better to always take with a margin;
• RAM (8 GB for a small object; from 16 GB for a large observation area);
• not built-in, but a separate video card. Otherwise, the card will take some of the power from the processor.

2 easy steps

To turn a personal computer into a video server for cameras, you need to:

connect cameras to the power supply and a standard PC router;

enable special software. Usually, it is provided with the camera or downloaded from the manufacturer’s official website.

After connecting the cameras and the software installation, the system is ready.

We create a surveillance system using 2 phones and a cloud

Video surveillance from Faceter provides a more budget-friendly monitoring option.

You will have access to:

• smart service with analytics function;
• cloud storage at budget rates;
• advanced functionality for home and business;
• alarm system;
• ease of installation;
• remote control and access to cameras.

To use the functionality, you need two phones. One will be the camera, and the other will be the monitor. You will need to install the “Faceter” application on smartphones and connect them to a single network to implement the service. The interface in the service is intuitively simple; even a beginner can figure it out.

Read more about using your phone as a camera and monitor in our article: “Turn an old smartphone into a surveillance camera. Complete instruction.“

With Faceter, you don’t need to upgrade your computer or connect it to the system at all. Everything is available on the phone.

Conclusion

It is believed that the monitoring system must necessarily interact with a computer that acts as a monitor. This option takes place if you have a powerful PC. If not, take a look at Faceter’s video analytics service. The app will turn your video surveillance into a pocket version.

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