Network Camera and PC Setup

milanlad · Post by **milanlad** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 6:32 am

I've recently bought a Network camera to play around with. It's a D-Link DCS-900 wired ethernet type.

It came with a viewing software called IPView Lite. I have noticed that with this program, when viewing live video, the CPU usage is very high, at almost 100%. This happens when I view on any of the PC's on the network.

I am thinking of having a PC based CCTV setup using network cameras, where the video is recorded onto the hard drive.

A few questions:

1. Is it normal for high CPU usage with IP Cameras and IP camera viewing software?

2. Will I need a high powered or high performance PC setup?

3. Is there other software out there that can be used with my D-Link cameras?

4. Do I need a dedicated PC just for use with the CCTV setup?

All comments or suggestions appreciated.

Thanks

reader · Post by **reader** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 9:45 am

milanlad wrote: 1. Is it normal for high CPU usage with IP Cameras and IP camera viewing software?

The whole point of a network camera is that it does the serving. I've got a DLink DSC1000W and I do not show high CPU usage. In fact, when viewing from IPView or a web pop-up, CPU usage hovers at or below 10%.

This may, however, be the system polling the ports...it's busy, but there's not really any load. Web cameras typically display this type of "CPU hog" behavior...but that's what you get away from with a network camera.

Is the camera hooked to a router or your computer?

2. Will I need a high powered or high performance PC setup?

No. The network camera itself should carry the load. It is functioning as the server. Virtually any computer should be able to see it.

3. Is there other software out there that can be used with my D-Link cameras?

The IP View software is far from the best viewer, IMHO.

The best use you'll find is incorporating it as a webpage.

You can build a link on your free ISP site that will call up the image as a pop-up window, or just have it load in a webpage. That's the best way to view it. Or write your own webpage locally to call it up.

You can set that camera up and change the settings from a web page, too. I have my old wireless D-Link camera sending an image to my cellphone homepage so I get an updated shot of the front yard every 2 minutes. When anyone in the family uses their cellphone to access the internet, they see the latest image.

Other cameras, like StarDot Technologies' NETCAM can attach weather stations and switches to turn on lights, put the current weather conditions onscreen etc. My DSC-1000W has a couple of ports for that kind of thing but I don't think your camera does.

4. Do I need a dedicated PC just for use with the CCTV setup?

If I were you, I'd check out a video server. StarDot has a good one that hosts 6 cameras and eliminates the need for a dedicated computer.

While you're at their site, check out the NETCAM Megapixel. Jaw-dropping image quality.

milanlad · Post by **milanlad** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 10:22 am

reader wrote: Is the camera hooked to a router or your computer?

The camera is connected to a Netgear switch. The switch is connected to a D-Link Router.

reader · Post by **reader** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 10:30 am

hmmmm. That shouldn't produce that kind of performance demand. I wonder if there's something about the settings in IPView producing that. I just loaded it to check on my camera...I think it showed something like 20% at the start and quickly dropped back down to 7-8%.

My computer is a 3.2GHz/1GB RAM.

I also connect to a router via a switch. So that's not the issue.

What does the CPU usage show when you connect via the camera's own web page?

I assume the camera has a static address. Just enter it in your browser with th port number trailing behind a colon....

http://192.168.1.20:80

Angey · Post by **Angey** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 12:48 pm

I have also a problem with very high CPU usage with DCS-900 camera and IPView software . Did you find out solution ?

reader · Post by **reader** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 6:16 am

Angey,

This is a pretty old thread, but I wonder how much of the "CPU usage" is just the processor polling the incoming port(s) for new data.

In other words, it shows high usage but it is not the kind of activity that has an impact on other running programs.

This used to be a phenomenon common to modems that were constantly examining a com port for new data bits.

Try running another program and see if it doesn't quickly take over CPU usage, as needed, to function.

The short answer in that case might be "don't worry about it!"

;-)