Server Room IP CCTV Camera Required

[RabbieBurns]

Looking for something to monitor our server room, motion detection, doesnt have to record especially, just email stills when it detects motion.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Also it will need to be something that I will be able to get over here too, so no point recommending UK only companies

[Ric_]

If it's purely to see when someone is in there (rather than being able to recognise faces in low light, etc.) then the budget end of the Panasonic IP cameras will suffice.

 

I've got a previous incarnation of http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_GB/Products/Home-Office+Security+Systems/Home+Use/BL-C101E/Overview/2398261/index.html and it works a treat. The pictures are quite good in low light too!

[Ric_]

If it's purely to see when someone is in there (rather than being able to recognise faces in low light, etc.) then the budget end of the Panasonic IP cameras will suffice.

 

I've got a previous incarnation of Home/Office Security Systems - Home Use - BL-C101E - Overview - UK & Ireland and it works a treat. The pictures are quite good in low light too!

[timbo343]

@ Ric..

 

I dont suppose you know much about these do you? Ive got 2 on my desk now that are "blocked". One just askes me to update the firmware, if i do it dies and the other one i cannot get into but the other 2 around school have been god sends.

 

Tim

[Ric_]

@ Ric..

 

I dont suppose you know much about these do you? Ive got 2 on my desk now that are "blocked". One just askes me to update the firmware, if i do it dies and the other one i cannot get into but the other 2 around school have been god sends.

 

Tim

 

The best thing to do with them is press the reset button to return to factory defaults and then use the supplied software to reconfigure the camera. I know that the older model which I have MUST be configured with the software before first use.

[CyberDrac]

Make sure that they are positioned towards a static vista such as the door since pointing them anywhere near a Server or Switch will result in a multitude of e-Mails along the lines of "the server HDD just flashed ... and again ... and again ... and again ...."

[RabbieBurns]

Cheers Ric. Someone else recommended Panasonic too and gave me a link to a stream of one and it looks good.

 

Budget is $450 AUD (~£200) each but not sure how much those ones are?

[timbo343]

The best thing to do with them is press the reset button to return to factory defaults and then use the supplied software to reconfigure the camera. I know that the older model which I have MUST be configured with the software before first use.

 

Ive tried that some many times. I even rang panasonic and they said there will be at least a £40 pick up charge plus whatever needs doing to them. Might as well buy some new cameras for that.

[Ric_]

Cheers Ric. Someone else recommended Panasonic too and gave me a link to a stream of one and it looks good.

 

Budget is $450 AUD (~£200) each but not sure how much those ones are?

 

They are under £100 so you could even get a camera to monitor the camera!

[Ric_]

Ive tried that some many times. I even rang panasonic and they said there will be at least a £40 pick up charge plus whatever needs doing to them. Might as well buy some new cameras for that.

 

Given that you can pick them up for £70 each... probably not worth it.

[lindsey]

Probably over your budget, but have a look at APC's Netbotz range as it will also give you temp\humity montitoring as well...

[spacevortex]

If it's purely to see when someone is in there (rather than being able to recognise faces in low light, etc.) then the budget end of the Panasonic IP cameras will suffice.

 

I've got a previous incarnation of Home/Office Security Systems - Home Use - BL-C101E - Overview - UK & Ireland and it works a treat. The pictures are quite good in low light too!

 

I got one on the above last year for security reasons in the server room, with several items going missing and damage I can't just go out and blame external companies who freely wonder through the server room doing a variety of checks on other applicances, electrical, health and safety, air con etc...

[tech_guy]

I installed six of these recently in a business:

 

Linksys - Wireless-G Internet Home Monitoring Camera: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

 

They do the job and the customer (a retail outlet with offices and a small warehouse) was very happy.

 

EDIT: I got these cheaper than Amazon are selling them for - I think I got them from Dabs.

[RabbieBurns]

Probably over your budget, but have a look at APC's Netbotz range as it will also give you temp\humity montitoring as well...

 

We had APC in to give us a quote already.

 

Turns out our existing UPS are sensor upgradeable, so we just added some sensors to them, and just need to get a camera for each server room. Total cost = 1/2 APC for the exact same functionality.

[RabbieBurns]

They are under £100 so you could even get a camera to monitor the camera!

 

I can only find the BL-C111 rather than the 101..

 

BL-C111 | Camera Line-up | Network Camera | Office Products | Products & Solutions | Panasonic Global

 

Is there much difference?

[plexer]

You need one of these

 

Ben

[AceDaz]

Post em my way

 

@ Ric..

 

I dont suppose you know much about these do you? Ive got 2 on my desk now that are "blocked". One just askes me to update the firmware, if i do it dies and the other one i cannot get into but the other 2 around school have been god sends.

 

Tim

[Ric_]

I can only find the BL-C111 rather than the 101..

 

BL-C111 | Camera Line-up | Network Camera | Office Products | Products & Solutions | Panasonic Global

 

Is there much difference?

 

I also have the pre-decessor of the wired version of that. First difference is that it is wireless and the picture quality isn't as good IMHO. It also does very basic PTZ functionality.

 

Maybe see if you can get an older model of Fleabay?

[RabbieBurns]

Had to get the purchase order signed off by today (so no ebay etc) so just went for the 111. Its not wireless though. Hope their good enough.

 

Plexor: The axis looks good, but too late for me

[plexer]

Sorry The Axis is very good wired and wireless, pir sensor and high power white led.

 

Ben

[RabbieBurns]

No worries.

 

If the panasonics are crap Ill just send them back hopefully.

[zag]

How did you find the panasonics in the end? I'm looking at the Axis ones but the pannys are cheaper.

[RabbieBurns]

the panasonics are great. They do exactly what we want them to do, the motion detection and then email the snaps is working great. Can log in to one and watch the stream from them both in the one window.. Dont have them recording just now, they just email stills every 30 secs on motion detection (configured from the built in interface), but they supply software you can install which will do recording etc..

[RabbieBurns]

Also, from where I have them, the pan and tilt works grreat and covers all angles I need.. I dont think they have a zoom though, but we have used them in each of our server rooms wich arent exactly massive anwyay

[kevinbrd]

I never got this, enlighten me. Who on earth would steal a bunc of servers? I have never read of an incident where someone broke in a business or data center to steal some racks. I mean sure, banks and whatnot will have some very sensitive information on there, but it should be encrypted anyway....

 

Anyway I would probably go with one of those Wlan security cams, a half decent one can be had for around 150$