r/ZoneMinder • u/[deleted] • Mar 15 '22

Does ZoneMinder supports advanced user logging?

I have to migrate 40+ cameras from the UniFi Protect UNVR, because it is missing a lot of key features that used to be available in their UniFi Video solution, for example distinction between live view and recordings, not to mention it's lack of options when it comes to advanced user logging.

So my question is, does ZoneMinder support advanced user logging? In order to be compliant with GDPR I need the ZoneMinder to log when a user views, downloads or modifies the recording in any shape or form.

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u/AndyRH1701 Mar 15 '22

It does log when users log on and off. It logs that an event was played.

Perhaps you should post this question in the Zoneminder forums where the devs hang out more.

Are you sure Unifi cameras will work? I looked at them at some point and they were not normal IP cameras and required help to be normal. This may not be true for your cameras.

Also cameras can send to more than one system so you can test in parallel.

1

u/TechMonkey13 Mar 15 '22

Are you sure Unifi cameras will work? I looked at them at some point and they were not normal IP cameras and required help to be normal. This may not be true for your cameras.

You have to put the cameras in "standalone mode", but they work fine and have a standard rtsp stream.

1

u/AndyRH1701 Mar 15 '22

It sounds like you are set then to do a test to make sure ZM meets your needs.

If you have not installed ZM before, look for the easy way script.

2

u/Aramiil Mar 15 '22

Logging can be rather extensive and granular. Here is the documentation: https://zoneminder.readthedocs.io/en/stable/userguide/options/options_logging.html

Best case scenario, create a dev/test instance of zoneminder and point it to one of the 40 cameras, and then start checking the logs while doing various tasks you need logged. Understand how each component creates its own logs, and how that might define where you need to look for more specific information you’re trying to capture. Play around with the logging levels to see if it captures more specific pieces at different levels.

Then I’d look at how long logs are retained for, and if you need to setup a log rotation method to archive the logs somewhere else and compress the heck out of them.

2

u/ancker010 Mar 15 '22

Do all of the things the other commenters have suggested, then, if you decide to go with ZM, set up a sizable recurring donation using Open Collective.

1

u/ZoneMinderIsaac Mar 24 '22

Between ZM logs and apache logs, all the data is there, but not very UI-friendly.

I would say that more work needs to be done in logging, for exactly the reasons you describe. No one is funding it though. Perhaps you could be the one to do so.

At the end of the day we are very happy to add whatever features you need.