MotionEye — Web Frontend for Security Camera Motion Detection

Introduction

MotionEye is a web-based frontend for the motion daemon that provides video surveillance with motion detection. It supports local USB cameras and network IP cameras, making it a popular choice for home and small-office security setups.

What MotionEye Does

• Live camera feed viewing through a web browser
• Motion-triggered recording with configurable sensitivity
• Snapshot capture at scheduled intervals
• Email and webhook notifications on motion events
• Multi-camera support with a unified dashboard

Architecture Overview

MotionEye is a Python web application that wraps the motion daemon. The frontend communicates with the motion backend over a local API. Video frames are processed by motion for detection, and the web layer handles configuration, streaming, and media file management.

Self-Hosting & Configuration

• Install via Docker or pip on Linux-based systems
• Add cameras by entering RTSP URLs or selecting local USB devices
• Set motion detection zones and sensitivity thresholds per camera
• Configure storage retention policies to manage disk usage
• Enable HTTPS by placing behind a reverse proxy

Key Features

• Supports MJPEG and RTSP network cameras alongside USB webcams
• Masking zones to ignore areas with constant movement
• Timelapse video generation from captured snapshots
• File upload to Google Drive, Dropbox, or a remote server via FTP/SFTP
• Runs on Raspberry Pi for an inexpensive surveillance solution

Comparison with Similar Tools

• Frigate — AI-powered NVR with Coral TPU support; MotionEye is simpler and lighter
• Scrypted — smart home video bridge; MotionEye focuses purely on surveillance
• ZoneMinder — enterprise-grade NVR with complex setup; MotionEye prioritizes ease of use
• Shinobi — full NVR with API; MotionEye is better suited for small deployments

FAQ

Q: Does MotionEye support AI object detection? A: No. It uses frame-difference motion detection. For AI-based detection, consider Frigate or Scrypted.

Q: Can I run it on a Raspberry Pi? A: Yes. MotionEye is widely used on Raspberry Pi with the official camera module or USB webcams.

Q: How many cameras can it handle? A: It depends on hardware. A Raspberry Pi 4 handles 2-3 cameras; a modern server can manage 10 or more.

Q: Does it record continuously? A: It primarily records on motion events, but continuous recording can be configured via the motion daemon settings.

Sources

• https://github.com/motioneye-project/motioneye
• https://github.com/motioneye-project/motioneye/wiki