Zoneminder Troubleshooting Guide

Is the card working properly?
======================
Try out these commands:
$ dmesg | grep bttv
....

$ sudo tail -f /var/log/syslog
.....

$ ls -ls /dev/video*
0 crw-rw-rw-+ 1 root video 81, 0 Oct 15 22:46 /dev/video0
0 crw-rw-rw-+ 1 root video 81, 2 Oct 15 22:46 /dev/video1
0 crw-rw-rw-+ 1 root video 81, 4 Oct 15 22:46 /dev/video2
0 crw-rw-rw-+ 1 root video 81, 6 Oct 15 22:46 /dev/video3

$ v4l-info /dev/video0
.....

$ ffmpeg -f video4linux2 -s 320x240 -r 30000/1001 -i /dev/video0 -y webcam.avi


Other useful commands
=================
$ sudo /etc/init.d/apache2 force-reload
$ sudo service zoneminder restart



Got unexpected memory map file size
===========================
$ sudo tail -f /var/log/syslog
....
Oct 14 17:17:52 penguin zmc_dvideo0[9153]: ERR [Got unexpected memory map file size 10801524, expected 12166644]
....

Solution
======
Open the file “/etc/sysctl.conf”, and paste these lines at the bottom of the file, then reboot.
kernel.shmall = 167772160
kernel.shmmax = 167772160

Ref: http://www.zoneminder.com/wiki/index.php/Debian_Squeeze#Inadequate_Memory_Allocation




Failed to set video format: Invalid argument
================================
$ sudo tail -f /var/log/syslog
.....
Oct 14 17:18:11 penguin zmc_dvideo1[9158]: FAT [Failed to set video format: Invalid argument]
.....

Solution
======
Change Configuration in Monitor -> Source
Device Format, Capture Palette, Capture Width, and Capture Hight
to be compatible with your camera