[History]
[Questions]
I'm sorry for so many questions and appreciate any suggestions.
Thank you.
-Rayday
Currently, I am using a dedicated Mac Mini w/ SecuritySpy to record 7 security cameras from 2 different locations (with the Mac Mini at a 3rd location, my home). It doesn't have a monitor, keyboard, or mouse plugged in... as I use Apple Remote Desktop to control it from my iMac (also located at the 3rd location).
However, with that much video being transmitted all the time, the frame-rate for all the cameras can drop to unacceptable levels (sometimes 10 seconds per frame). On good days, I'm downloading about 5 GB of video per day, which doesn't leave much room for reading MacRumors.com.
In order to gain better frame-rates, I just purchased a used Mac Mini to install at 1 of the locations and would like to move my home Mac Mini to the other location.... but I still need off-site access to the locally recorded footage.
FYI, the remote locations both have static IP addresses. My home does not, but I use DynDNS. All my computers use static IP addresses inside my networks.
iMac: Intel w/ Leopard 10.5.8
Mac Mini #1: Intel w/ Leopard 10.5.8
Mac Mini #2: PPC w/ Leopard 10.5.8
Random Windows Machine: XP w/ sp3
[/History]However, with that much video being transmitted all the time, the frame-rate for all the cameras can drop to unacceptable levels (sometimes 10 seconds per frame). On good days, I'm downloading about 5 GB of video per day, which doesn't leave much room for reading MacRumors.com.
In order to gain better frame-rates, I just purchased a used Mac Mini to install at 1 of the locations and would like to move my home Mac Mini to the other location.... but I still need off-site access to the locally recorded footage.
FYI, the remote locations both have static IP addresses. My home does not, but I use DynDNS. All my computers use static IP addresses inside my networks.
iMac: Intel w/ Leopard 10.5.8
Mac Mini #1: Intel w/ Leopard 10.5.8
Mac Mini #2: PPC w/ Leopard 10.5.8
Random Windows Machine: XP w/ sp3
[Questions]
1a) Is a SSH link the way to go?
1b) How do I create one between my iMac and my remote monitored Minis?
1c) Does this automatically occur when using Apple Remote Desktop?
2a) I also need access to the footage via a Window's machine (VNC would be best but FTP might work). ARD doesn't play well with other VNC software. What settings should I use?
2b) Any recommendations for what Win-based VNC software to use?
2c) How does this impact question #1 above?
3a) Very rarely, but sometimes I still need to plug in a keyboard, mouse and display to the Mac Mini... usually when I upgrade the OS, or I make a stupid Preference setting change (I've been burned by this more than once). Is there a way to make a 'backdoor' / when-all-else-fails script that gets executed remotely that can re-establish connection (reset all required preference settings)? FYI, my home is about 200 miles away from the places being monitored, so driving over there to make a simple setting change is not an option.
3b) How does the Mac Mini know if I can't connect to it? I'm imagining having a script file on my iMac's webpage that the Minis check every hour (like a watchdog timer or a botnet... except used for good, not evil). If something ever gets posted or updated there, then it would get downloaded and ran in order to restore connection. That just sounds way too complex. Any suggestions (ie, a remote command that could always be executed via Telnet)?
4) What am I forgetting (ports to forward on router, AntiVirus s/w since they are off-site, etc)? I don't want to drive 200 miles to install these Minis, just to turn around and drive back there the next day to make a setting change.
[/Questions]1b) How do I create one between my iMac and my remote monitored Minis?
1c) Does this automatically occur when using Apple Remote Desktop?
2a) I also need access to the footage via a Window's machine (VNC would be best but FTP might work). ARD doesn't play well with other VNC software. What settings should I use?
2b) Any recommendations for what Win-based VNC software to use?
2c) How does this impact question #1 above?
3a) Very rarely, but sometimes I still need to plug in a keyboard, mouse and display to the Mac Mini... usually when I upgrade the OS, or I make a stupid Preference setting change (I've been burned by this more than once). Is there a way to make a 'backdoor' / when-all-else-fails script that gets executed remotely that can re-establish connection (reset all required preference settings)? FYI, my home is about 200 miles away from the places being monitored, so driving over there to make a simple setting change is not an option.
3b) How does the Mac Mini know if I can't connect to it? I'm imagining having a script file on my iMac's webpage that the Minis check every hour (like a watchdog timer or a botnet... except used for good, not evil). If something ever gets posted or updated there, then it would get downloaded and ran in order to restore connection. That just sounds way too complex. Any suggestions (ie, a remote command that could always be executed via Telnet)?
4) What am I forgetting (ports to forward on router, AntiVirus s/w since they are off-site, etc)? I don't want to drive 200 miles to install these Minis, just to turn around and drive back there the next day to make a setting change.
I'm sorry for so many questions and appreciate any suggestions.
Thank you.
-Rayday