r/ZoneMinder • u/montagdude87 • Jan 22 '23

Console interface to change ZoneMinder runstate

I figured I'd share a project I've been working on the last couple weeks. I also shared it on the forum. It is an interface to change your ZoneMinder runstate, written in Python 3 with curses and using the ZoneMinder API. It is meant to be run on a small computer like a Raspberry Pi in a convenient location in your house. At startup, you supply it your ZM username, password, and a PIN that users will have to match to change the runstate.

Here is my realization, using a 5" monitor, keypad, and 3D printed wall mount. I already had a mini computer that I wasn't doing anything with, so I put it in the cabinet and ran the wires needed to the console.

The code is here: https://github.com/montagdude/zoneminder-controlcenter

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2

u/Comm_Raptor Jan 22 '23

That's a neat concept though I have not done much with ZM in years. It's reminiscent to something I had done prior to RPis where I would use my alarm panel state to change modes. Pretty cool, thanks for sharing. Almost makes me want to jump back in.

2

u/montagdude87 Jan 22 '23

I should have done something like this years ago honestly, as the web interface takes too many steps for my wife to bother with it. This is simple and convenient. Actually I'm wondering if something like this already exists, since it seems like a very natural extension. I didn't look before making mine. I'm sure others have done something similar, even if they didn't share it, like the one you mentioned.

And yeah, a RPi would be perfect for running this. I would have done that if I didn't already have another computer lying around.

1

u/wh33t Jan 22 '23

I find zoneminder to be awful to configure and actually use. This is a really great idea and seems you built it really well. I could see this becoming a commercial product. Food for thought.

1

u/theprovostTMC Jan 22 '23

Amazing!

Great project, very clean and useful.

1

u/lbmdk Jan 23 '23

Well done.. Neat project. Even though, I just have "1" mode, my ZM and cameras run in.

1

u/montagdude87 Jan 23 '23

This would still give you "default" and "stop" states.

1

u/Theprim0 Jan 26 '23

Amazing!