Creating an
IP camera system

RTSP IP cameras have spread around the globe in government and industrial buildings, because they can be easily plugged in with almost no qualification. Each IP cameras are powered by low voltage DC power supplies and are designed to send camera streams to a remote locations like your Ozeki 10 server. Every IP camera has it's own ethernet network interface available through a DSL cable socket. Use it instantly after plugging it to the network. You can set it up with no PC, which makes it a goldmine.

RTSP stands for Real Time Streaming Protocol, a network protocol created for real-time video streaming. The client user can be either a human, a software or both. You can store, check and analyse the IP camera streams with Ozeki 10. Just the URL, a username and a password is required to access it. Use the video stream for your own solution. Read this guide to set up.

What is the URL format to reach the stream

Find the URL and login details on the bottom of your camera. In most cases the camera stream URL contains only IP. The port number is not provided, since you will be routed to the RTSP port as default. To show an example an RTSP camera URL on your local network can look as the following: http://192.168.113.52 Keep in mind that the URL is different if you are searching for it on the world wide web.

STEP 1: Buy the RTSP IP cameras

Look around your garage, your house or the building you work at. There is a high chance that a surveillance RTSP IP camera is already screwed on the wall. Please find the URL and login credentials to make sure you can create your first test system with the camera. The URL can be usually found on the bottom of the camera, printed on a white sticker. You can test the camera access with the VLC media player. If you do not have any IP camera for this guide, you can buy one from online or offline stores.

ip camera boxing — Figure 1 - The RTSP IP camera

STEP 2: Connect the cameras

Now that you have acquired the camera, look below to see how easy it is to connect it to the internet. Keep in mind that the blue DSL cable leads to your router, which is responsible for the local network. The time has come to power up the camera. Use a general electricity power outlet on the wall. Simply plug in the DC adapter provided in the boxing and look at the camera LED. If it glows, look at your router. Green LEDs represent each ethernet socket. Check if the appropriate LED on the router glows.

Connect the ip camera — Figure 2 - Connect the IP camera

STEP 3: Install your Ozeki server

Download Ozeki 10 for any OS you would like to create your first IP camera system with. At http://www.ozeki.hu/index.php?owpn=231 you can select the installer made for you, although Mac is only supported for running Ozeki 10 in a Safari browser client. Run the installer package on your OS. For the example screenshots in this tutorial Windows 10 was used with a Google Chrome browser client. Get started by clicking 'Ozeki Desktop' on the table.

install the ozeki server — Figure 3 - Install the Ozeki server

STEP 4: Start Ozeki 10's Control Panel

You will see your default browser open up and find yourself on the login screen. Please provide 'admin' and the password set during installation. After clicking 'OK', you will find yourself on a wonderful GUI. It is a walk on the street to learn for those who have never used it, but used Windows before. Click on the 'Control Panel', so you can add the IP camera and try it.

Add many IP cameras. Create a splitview. Filter or record the stream.

start control panel — Figure 4 - Start the control panel

STEP 5: Create new IP camera connection

You will find yourself on the connection list, where you can click 'Create new Connection' to start adding some devices found worldwide around the globe. Select the 'Video' icon and then the 'IP Camera' option as seen on the picture. Although Ozeki supports USB cameras and MJPEG streams too. Additionally you create a recordable splitview from your streams.

create the ip camera connection — Figure 5 - Create the IP camera connection

STEP 6: Get authorized access to the camera stream

Look at the piece of paper or text file, you have saved the URL, username and password or find it on the bottom of the camera. It is necessary to acquire them to continue this guide. Fill the details in the URL, username and password checkboxes. The username and password can be hidden between the HTTP request parameters of the URL. Click 'Ok' to save.

add the ip camera — Figure 6 - Add the IP camera

STEP 7: Camera appears on the connection list

Now comes some excitement. The connection has been saved and appears on the list. Will Ozeki 10 connect to the stream or not? If not, please check the URL and the login credentials. Make sure they are correct and click 'Ok' again. Try it until the GUI LED on the left side of the connection turns green. Click on 'Details' to test or reconfigure it.

ip camera in the connectin list — Figure 7 - The added IP camera in the connection list

STEP 8: Watch the camera stream

The first tabpage you are on is called 'Test'. You do not have to do absolutely anything, just look at the video stream of the first online IP camera connection. You can repeat it from STEP 5 to add multiple cameras and use the Camera Recorder application to record the streams. By creating a splitview, you can make a recording of multiple cameras at once.