Provided by: motion_4.0-1_amd64 
NAME
motion - Detect motion using a video4linux device or network camera
SYNOPSIS
motion [ -hbnsm ] [ -c config file path ] [ -d level ] [ -k level ] [ -p process_id_file
][ -l log_file ]
DESCRIPTION
Motion uses a video4linux device or network camera to detect motion. If motion is detected
both normal and motion pictures can be taken. Motion can also take actions to notify you
if needed. Creation of automated snapshots is also possible.
OPTIONS
-c Full path and filename of config file. For example: /home/kurt/motion.conf The
default is /usr/local/etc/motion unless specified differently when building
Motion. Many RPMs and Debian packages will use /etc or /etc/motion as the default.
-h Show help screen.
-b Run in daemon mode.
-n Run in non-daemon mode.
-s Run in setup mode. Also forces non-daemon mode
-d Run with message log level 1-9.
-k Run with message log type 1-9
-l Full path and file name for the log file
-p Full path and filename for process id file (pid file). E.g /var/run/motion.pid.
Default is not defined. Pid file is only created when Motion is started in daemon
mode.
-m Start in pause mode
CONFIG FILE OPTIONS
These are the options that can be used in the config file. They are overridden by
the commandline! All number values are integer numbers (no decimals allowed).
Boolean options can be on or off (values "1", "yes" and "on" all means true and any
other value means false).
daemon
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
When specified as ON, Motion goes into daemon (background process) mode and
releases the terminal.
process_id_file
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
File to store the process ID, also called pid file.
setup_mode
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Start in Setup-Mode, daemon disabled.
logfile
Values: User specified string
Default: Not Defined
Description:
File to save logs messages, if not defined stderr and syslog is used.
log_level
Values: 1 to 9 (EMG, ALR, CRT, ERR, WRN, NTC, INF, DBG, ALL)
Default: 6 / NTC
Description:
Specify the level of verbosity in the messages sent to the log.
log_type
Values: COR, STR, ENC, NET, DBL, EVT, TRK, VID, ALL
Default: ALL
Description:
Filter to log messages by type
camera_id
Values: Numeric identification number for the camera
Default: The order in which the camera is opened by Motion
Description:
Use this option to assign a number to each camera that is consistent every
time that Motion is started. By default Motion will assign a number based
upon the sequence in which it reads the configuration and this sequence may
not be the same every time that Motion starts.
camera_name
Values: User specified string
Default: Not Defined
Description:
User specified string to describe the camera.
videodevice
Values: User specified string
Default: /dev/video0
Description:
String to specify the videodevice to be used for capturing. For Linux, the
format is usually /dev/videoX where X varies depending upon the video
devices connected to the computer. For FreeBSD the default device would be
/dev/bktr0.
v4l2_palette
Values: 0 to 17
V4L2_PIX_FMT_SN9C10X : 0 'S910'
V4L2_PIX_FMT_SBGGR16 : 1 'BYR2'
V4L2_PIX_FMT_SBGGR8 : 2 'BA81'
V4L2_PIX_FMT_SPCA561 : 3 'S561'
V4L2_PIX_FMT_SGBRG8 : 4 'GBRG'
V4L2_PIX_FMT_SGRBG8 : 5 'GRBG'
V4L2_PIX_FMT_PAC207 : 6 'P207'
V4L2_PIX_FMT_PJPG : 7 'PJPG'
V4L2_PIX_FMT_MJPEG : 8 'MJPEG'
V4L2_PIX_FMT_JPEG : 9 'JPEG'
V4L2_PIX_FMT_RGB24 : 10 'RGB3'
V4L2_PIX_FMT_SPCA501 : 11 'S501'
V4L2_PIX_FMT_SPCA505 : 12 'S505'
V4L2_PIX_FMT_SPCA508 : 13 'S508'
V4L2_PIX_FMT_UYVY : 14 'UYVY'
V4L2_PIX_FMT_YUYV : 15 'YUYV'
V4L2_PIX_FMT_YUV422P : 16 '422P'
V4L2_PIX_FMT_YUV420 : 17 'YU12'
Default: 17
Description:
The v4l2_palette option allows users to choose the preferred palette to be
use by motion to capture from the video device. If the preferred palette is
not available from the video device, Motion will attempt to use palettes
that are supported.
tunerdevice
Values: User Specified String
Default: /dev/tuner0
Description:
Tuner device to be used for capturing images. This is ONLY used for
FreeBSD.
input
Values:
-1 : USB Cameras
0 : video/TV cards or uvideo(4) on OpenBSD
1 : video/TV cards
Default: -1
Description:
The video input to be used.
norm
Values:
0 (PAL)
1 (NTSC)
2 (SECAM)
3 (PAL NC no colour)
Default: 0 (PAL)
Description:
The video norm to use when capturing from TV tuner cards
frequency
Values: Dependent upon video device
Default: 0
Description:
The frequency to set the tuner in kHz when using a TV tuner card.
power_line_frequency
Values:
-1 : Do not modify device setting
0 : Power line frequency Disabled
1 : 50hz
2 : 60hz
3 : Auto
Default: -1
Description:
Override the power line frequency for the video device.
rotate
Values: 0, 90, 180, 270
Default: 0
Description:
Rotate image this number of degrees. The rotation affects all saved images
as well as movies.
width
Values: Dependent upon video device
Default: 352
Description:
Image width in pixels for the video device.
height
Values: Dependent upon video device
Default: off
Description:
Image height in pixels for the video device
framerate
Values: 2 - 100
Default: 100
Description:
The maximum number of frames to capture in 1 second. The default of 100
will normally be limited by the capabilities of the video device. Typical
video devices have a maximum rate of 30.
minimum_frame_time
Values: 0 to unlimited
Default: 0
Description:
The minimum time in seconds between capturing picture frames from the
camera. The default of 0 disables this option and relies upon the capture
rate of the camera. This option is used when you want to capture images at
a rate lower than 2 per second.
netcam_url
Values: User specified string
Default: None
Description:
Full connection URL string to use to connect to a network camera. The URL
must provide a stream of images instead of only a static image. The
following prefixes are recognized
http:// ftp:// mjpg:// rtsp:// mjpeg:// file://
The connection string is camera specific. It is usually the same as what
other video playing applications would use to connect to the camera stream.
Motion currently only supports basic authentication for the cameras. Digest
is not currently supported. Basic authentication can be specified in the
URL or via the netcam_userpass option.
netcam_userpass
Values: User specified string
Default: Not Defined
Description:
The user id and password required to access the network camera string. Only
basic authentication is supported at this time. Format is in user:password
format when both a user name and password are required.
netcam_keepalive
Values:
off: The historical implementation using HTTP/1.0, closing the socket
after each http request.
force: Use HTTP/1.0 requests with keep alive header to reuse the same
connection.
on: Use HTTP/1.1 requests that support keep alive as default.
Default: off
Description:
This setting is to keep-alive (open) the network socket between requests.
When used, this option should improve performance on compatible net cameras.
This option is not applicable for the rtsp:// and mjpeg:// formats.
netcam_proxy
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
If required, the URL to use for a netcam proxy server. For example,
"http://myproxy". If a port number other than 80 is needed, append to the
specification. For examplet, "http://myproxy:1234".
netcam_tolerant_check
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Use a less strict jpeg validation for network cameras. This can assist with
cameras that have poor or buggy firmware.
rtsp_uses_tcp
Values: on/off
Default: on
Description:
When using a RTSP connection for a network camera, use a TCP transport
instead of UDP. The UDP transport frequently results in "smeared" corrupt
images.
mmalcam_name
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
Name of camera to use if you are using a camera accessed through
OpenMax/MMAL. This value is used to specify the use of the PI camera. The
typical value for the PI camera is vc.ril.camera
mmalcam_control_params
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
Camera configuration options to use for the OpenMax/MMAL camera. See the
raspivid/raspistill tool documentation for full list of options. Typical
value for the PI camera is -hf
auto_brightness
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
The auto_brightness feature uses the brightness option as its target value.
If brightness is zero auto_brightness will adjust to average brightness
value 128. only recommended for cameras without auto brightness.
brightness
Values: 0 to 255
Default: 0 (Disabled)
Description:
The initial brightness of a video device. If auto_brightness is enabled,
this value defines the average brightness level which Motion will try and
adjust to.
contrast
Values: 0 to 255
Default: 0 (Disabled)
Description:
The contrast value to set for the video device.
saturation
Values: 0 to 255
Default: 0 (Disabled)
Description:
The saturation value to set for the video device.
hue
Values: 0 to 255
Default: 0 (Disabled)
Description:
The hue value to set for the video device.
roundrobin_frames
Values: 1 to unlimited
Default: 1
Description:
Number of frames to capture in each roundrobin step
roundrobin_skip
Values: 1 to unlimited
Default: 1
Description:
Number of frames to skip before each roundrobin step
switchfilter
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Filter out noise generated by roundrobin
threshold
Values: 1 to unlimited
Default: 1500
Description:
Threshold for number of changed pixels in an image that triggers motion
detection
threshold_tune
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Automatically tune the threshold down if possible.
noise_level
Values: 1 to unlimited
Default: 32
Description:
Noise threshold for the motion detection.
noise_tune
Values: on/off
Default: on
Description:
Automatically tune the noise threshold
despeckle_filter
Values:
e/E : erode
d/D : dilate
l : label
Default: EedDl
Description:
Despeckle motion image using (e)rode or (d)ilate or (l)abel. The
recommended value is EedDl. Any combination (and number of) of E, e, d, and
D is valid. (l)abeling must only be used once and the 'l' must be the last
letter. Comment out to disable
area_detect
Values: 1 to 9
Default: Not Defined
Description:
When motion is detected in the predefined areas indicated below, trigger the
script indicated by the on_area_detected. The trigger is only activated
once during an event. one or more areas can be specified with this option.
Note that this option is only used to trigger the indicated script. It does
not limit all motion detection events to only the area indicated.
Image Areas
123
456
789
mask_file
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
When particular area should be ignored for motion, it can be accomplished
using a PGM mask file. The PGM mask file is a specially constructed mask
file that allows the user to indicate the areas for which motion should be
monitored. This option specifies the full path and name for the mask file.
smart_mask_speed
Values: 0 to 10
Default: 0 (off)
Description:
Speed of mask changes when creating a dynamic mask file.
lightswitch
Values: 0 to 100
Default: 0
Description:
Ignore sudden massive light intensity changes. Value is a percentage of the
picture area that changed intensity.
minimum_motion_frames
Values: 1 to unlimited
Default: 1
Description:
The minimum number of picture frames in a row that must contain motion
before a event is triggered. The default of 1 means that all motion is
detected. The recommended range is 1 to 5.
pre_capture
Values: 0 to unlimited
Default: 0
Description:
The number of pre-captured (buffered) pictures from before motion was
detected that will be output upon motion detection. The recommended range
is 0 to 5. It is not recommended to use large values since it will cause
Motion to skip frames. To smooth movies use larger values of post_capture
instead.
post_capture
Values: 0 to unlimited
Default: 0
Description:
Number of frames to capture after motion is no longer detected.
event_gap
Values: -1 to unlimited
Default: 60
Description:
The number of seconds of no motion that triggers the end of an event. An
event is defined as a series of motion images taken within a short
timeframe. The recommended value is 60 seconds. The value -1 is allowed
and disables events causing all Motion to be written to one single movie
file and no pre_capture. If set to 0, motion is running in gapless mode.
Movies don't have gaps anymore. An event ends right after no more motion is
detected and post_capture is over.
max_movie_time
Values: 0 to unlimited
Default: 0
Description:
Maximum length in seconds of a movie. When value is exceeded a new movie
file is created. The value of 0 means that there is no limit.
emulate_motion
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Always save images even if there was no motion.
output_pictures
Values: on, off, first, best, center
Default: on
Description:
Output pictures when motion is detected. When set to 'first', only the
first picture of an event is saved. Picture with most motion of an event is
saved when set to 'best'. Picture with motion nearest center of picture is
saved when set to 'center'. Can be used as preview shot for the
corresponding movie.
output_debug_pictures
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Output pictures with only the pixels moving object (ghost images)
quality
Values: 1 to 100
Default: 75
Description:
The quality (in percent) to be used by the jpeg compression
picture_type
Values: jpeg/ppm
Default: jpeg
Description:
The file type of output images
ffmpeg_output_movies
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Use ffmpeg to encode movies of the motion.
ffmpeg_output_debug_movies
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Use ffmpeg to encode movies with only the pixels moving object (ghost
images)
ffmpeg_timelapse
Values: 0 to unlimited
Default: 0
Description:
Number of seconds between frame captures for a timelapse movie. Specify 0
to disable the timelapse.
ffmpeg_timelapse_mode
Values:
hourly
daily
weekly-sunday
weekly-monday
monthly
manual
Default: daily
Description:
File rollover mode for the timelapse video.
ffmpeg_bps
Values: 0 to unlimited
Default: 400000
Description:
Bitrate to be used by the ffmpeg encoder. This option is ignored if
ffmpeg_variable_bitrate is not 0.
ffmpeg_variable_bitrate
Values: 0 to 100
Default: 0
Description:
Enable and define the variable bitrate for the ffmpeg encoder. ffmpeg_bps
is ignored if variable bitrate is enabled. When specified as 0, use the
fixed bitrate defined by ffmpeg_bps. When defined as 1 - 100 varies the
quality of the movie. A value of 1 is worst quality versus a value of 100
is best quality.
ffmpeg_video_codec
Values:
Timelapse videos:
mpg - Creates mpg file with mpeg-2 encoding.
mpeg4 - Creates avi file with the default encoding.
Motion videos:
mpeg4 - Creates .avi file
msmpeg4 - Creates .avi file
swf - Flash film with extension .swf
flv - Flash video with extension .flv
ffv1 - FF video codec 1 for Lossless Encoding
mov - QuickTime
mp4 - MPEG-4 Part 14 H264 encoding
mkv - Matroska H264 encoding
hevc - H.265 / HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding)
Default: mpeg4
Description:
The container and codec to use when creating videos. When creating
timelapse videos, there are only two options and the processing varies due
to container/codec limitations. For mpg timelapse videos, if motion is
shutdown and restarted, new pics will be appended to any previously created
file with name indicated for timelapse. For mpeg4 timelapse videos, if
motion is shutdown and restarted, new pics will create a new file with the
name indicated for timelapse. For regular motion videos, the
container/codec must be available in the ffmpeg installed on the computer.
ffmpeg_duplicate_frames
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
When creating videos, should frames be duplicated in order to keep up with
the requested frames per second
sdl_threadnr
Values: 0 to unlimited
Default: 0
Description:
Number of motion thread to show in SDL Window
use_extpipe
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Use the external pipe in order to encode videos. This is a replacement
option for the FFMPEG builtin encoder for ffmpeg_output_movies only. The
options movie_filename and timelapse_filename are also used from the ffmpeg
feature
extpipe
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
Command line string to receive and process a pipe of images to encode.
Generally, use '-' for STDIN
snapshot_interval
Values: 0 to unlimited
Default: 0
Description:
When specified as 0, the snapshot feature is disabled. When a value is
specified, the value indicates the number of seconds between snapshots.
locate_motion_mode
Values: on/off/preview
Default: off
Description:
When specified as 'on', locate and draw a box around the moving object.
When set 'preview', only draw a box in preview_shot pictures.
locate_motion_style
Values:
box : Draw traditional box around the part of the image generating the
motion
redbox : Draw a red box around the part of the image generating the motion
cross : Draw a cross on the part of the image generating the motion
redcross : Draw a red cross on the part of the image generating the motion
Default: box
Description:
When locate_motion_mode is enable, this option specifies how the motion will
be indicated on the image.
text_right
Values: User specified string
Default: %Y-%m-%d11T-%q
Description:
Text to place in lower right corner of image. Format specifiers follow C
function strftime(3)
text_left
Values: User specified string
Default: CAMERA %t
Description:
Text to place in lower left corner of image. Format specifiers follow C
function strftime(3)
text_changes
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
When specified, draw the number of changed pixed on the images. This option
will normally be set to off except when you setup and adjust the motion
settings. The text is placed in upper right corner of the image.
text_event
Values: User specified string
Default: %Y%m%d%H%M%S
Description:
Define the value of the special event conversion specifier %C. The user can
use any conversion specifier in this option except %C. Date and time values
are from the timestamp of the first image in the current event. The %C can
be used filenames and text_left/right for creating a unique identifier for
each event.
text_double
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Draw characters at twice normal size on images.
exif_text
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
Text to include in a JPEG EXIF comment
target_dir
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
Target base directory for pictures and films. It is recommended to use an
absolute path. If this option is not defined, the current working directory
is used. This option accepts the conversion specifiers included at the end
of this manual.
snapshot_filename
Values: User specified string
Default: %v-%Y%m%d%H%M%S-snapshot
Description:
The file path for snapshots relative to target_dir. The file extension .jpg
or .ppm is automatically added so do not include this. A symbolic link
called lastsnap.jpg created in the target_dir will always point to the
latest snapshot, unless snapshot_filename is exactly 'lastsnap' This option
accepts the conversion specifiers included at the end of this manual.
picture_filename
Values: User specified string
Default: %v-%Y%m%d%H%M%S-%q
Description:
The file path for motion triggered images (jpeg or ppm) relative to
target_dir. The file extension of .jpg or .ppm is automatically added so do
not include this. Set to 'preview' together with best-preview feature
enables special naming convention for preview shots. This option accepts
the conversion specifiers included at the end of this manual.
movie_filename
Values: User specified string
Default: %v-%Y%m%d%H%M%S
Description:
File path for motion triggered ffmpeg films (movies) relative to target_dir.
The extensions(.swf, .avi, etc) are automatically added so do not include
them This option accepts the conversion specifiers included at the end of
this manual.
timelapse_filename
Values: User specified string
Default: %Y%m%d-timelapse
Description:
File path for timelapse movies relative to target_dir. The file
extensions(.mpg .avi) are automatically added so do not include them This
option accepts the conversion specifiers included at the end of this manual.
ipv6_enabled
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Listen to IPv6 localhost instead of IPv4
stream_port
Values: 0 to port number limit
Default: 0
Description:
This option is the port number that the mini-http server listens on for
streams of the pictures.
stream_quality
Values: 1 to 100
Default: 50
Description:
The quality in percent for the jpg images streamed.
stream_motion
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Output frames at 1 fps when no motion is detected and increase to the rate
given by stream_maxrate when motion is detected
stream_maxrate
Values: 1 to unlimited
Default: 1
Description:
Maximum frame rate to send to stream
stream_localhost
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Restrict stream connections to localhost only
stream_limit
Values: 0 to unlimited
Default: 0
Description:
Limits the number of images per connection. The default value of 0 means
unlimited. The number can be defined by multiplying actual stream rate by
the desired number of seconds. The actual stream rate is the smallest of
the framerate and stream_maxrate.
stream_auth_method
Values:
0 = disabled
1 = Basic authentication
2 = MD5 digest (the safer authentication)
Default: 0
Description:
The authentication method to use for viewing the stream.
stream_authentication
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
The username and password to use for authentication of the stream. The
format is Username:Password
stream_preview_scale
Values: 1 to 100
Default: 25
Description:
This defines what percentage the stream image should be scaled to for the
preview page
stream_preview_newline
Values: yes/no
Default: no
Description:
When the image is put on the preview page, should the image start on a new
line. This option allows the user to specify whether the preview images
should be side by side or stacked on the page.
webcontrol_port
Values: 0 to maximum port number
Default: 0
Description:
Port number for the web control / preview page.
webcontrol_localhost
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Restrict control connections to localhost only
webcontrol_html_output
Values: on/off
Default: on
Description:
Specified whether the web control/preview page should be raw or html format.
Preview page is always html.
webcontrol_authentication
Values:
0 = disabled
1 = Basic authentication
2 = MD5 digest (the safer authentication)
Default: 0
Description:
The authentication method to use for viewing the web control.
track_type
Values:
0 = none
1 = stepper
2 = iomojo
3 = pwc
4 = generic
5 = uvcvideo
6 = servo
Default: 0
Description:
This option specifies the type of tracker. The generic type enables the
definition of motion center and motion size to be used with the conversion
specifiers for options like on_motion_detected
track_auto
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Enables/disables the automatic tracking.
track_port
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
The serial port of the motor. For example /dev/ttyS0
Tracking options
track_motorx, track_motorx_reverse, track_motory, track_motory_reverse
track_maxx, track_minx, track_maxy, track_miny, track_homex, track_homey
track_iomojo_id, track_step_angle_x, track_step_angle_y, track_move_wait
track_speed, track_stepsize
Values: device dependent
Default: 0
Description:
These options specify the parameters for cameras with tracking capabilities.
quiet
Values: on/off
Default: on
Description:
Do not sound beeps when detecting motion
Script Options
on_event_start, on_event_end, on_picture_save
on_motion_detected, on_area_detected, on_movie_start
on_movie_end, on_camera_lost
Values: User defined string
Default: Not defined
Description:
Specify the full path and file name for the script to execute when the
indicated event occurs. When a file name is required for the script, append
a %f to the script string.
sql_log_picture
Values: on/off
Default: on
Description:
Log to the database when creating motion triggered picture file
sql_log_snapshot
Values: on/off
Default: on
Description:
Log to the database when creating a snapshot image file
sql_log_movie
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Log to the database when creating motion triggered movie file
sql_log_timelapse
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Log to the database when creating timelapse movies file
sql_query
Values: User defined string
Default: Not defined
Description:
SQL statement to execute when a event occurs. Use same conversion
specifiers as for text features Additional special conversion specifiers are
%n = the number representing the file_type %f = filename with full
path
Sample table set up (not sql_query):
Mysql: CREATE TABLE security (camera int, filename char(80) not
null, frame int, file_type int, time_stamp timestamp(14),
event_time_stamp timestamp(14));
Postgresql: CREATE TABLE security (camera int, filename char(80) not
null, frame int, file_type int, time_stamp timestamp without time
zone, event_time_stamp timestamp without time zone);
Sample sql_query
insert into security(camera, filename, frame, file_type, time_stamp,
text_event) values('%t', '%f', '%q', '%n', '%Y-%m-%d %T', '%C')
database_type
Values: mysql, postgresql, sqlite3
Default: Not defined
Description:
The type of database being used.
database_dbname
Values: User defined string
Default: Not defined
Description:
The name of the database being used (dbname). For Sqlite3, the full path to
the database.
database_host
Values: User defined string
Default: Not Defined
Description:
The name of the host on which the database is running.
database_user
Values: User defined string
Default: Not Defined
Description:
The username to access the database
database_password
Values: User defined string
Default: Not Defined
Description:
The database password for the user to access the database.
database_port
Values: 0 to maximum port number
Default: Not defined
Description:
The port to use in order to access the database. Default ports: mysql 3306
, postgresql 5432
database_busy_timeout
Values: 0 to unlimited
Default: 0
Description:
Database wait time in milliseconds for locked database to be unlocked before
returning database locked error
video_pipe
Values: User specified string
Default: Not Defined
Description:
Output images to a video4linux loopback device. The value '-' means next
available
motion_video_pipe
Values: User specified string
Default: Not Defined
Description:
Output motion images to a video4linux loopback device. The value '-' means
next available
camera_dir
Values: User specified string
Default: Not Defined
Description:
This option specifies the optional subdirectory that contains the camera
config files.
camera
Values: User specified string
Default: Not Defined
Description:
This option specifies the full path and file name to individual camera
files. This option can be listed multiple times. Each camera file should
contain the options that are unique to that camera/video device. Common
options are obtained from the motion.conf file and values are overwritten
from each camera file. While the motion.conf includes four sample camera
files, the actual limit of cameras is only dependent upon the machine
capabilities. Remember: If you have more than one camera you must have one
camera file for each one. For example, 2 cameras would require 3 files: The
motion.conf file AND camera1.conf and camera2.conf. only put the options
that are unique to each camera in the camera config files.
SIGNALS
Motion responds to the following signals:
SIGHUP The config file will be reread.
SIGTERM
If needed motion will create an movie file of the last event and exit
SIGUSR1
Motion will create an movie file of the current event.
NOTES
Snapshot
A snapshot is a picture taken at regular intervals independently of any movement in
the picture.
Motion image
A "motion" image/movie shows the pixels that have actually changed during the last
frames. These pictures are not very useful for normal presentation to the public
but they are quite useful for testing and tuning and making mask files as you can
see exactly where motion sees something moving. Motion is shown in greytones. If
labelling is enabled the largest area is marked as blue. Smart mask is shown in
read.
Normal image
A "normal" image is the real image taken by the camera with text overlayed.
Cameras and config files
If Motion was invoked with command line option -c pathname Motion will expect the
config file to be as specified. When you specify the config file on the command
line with -c you can call it anything.
If you do not specify -c or the filename you give Motion does not exist, Motion
will search for the configuration file called 'motion.conf' in the following order:
1. Current directory from where motion was invoked
2. Then in a directory called '.motion' in the current users home directory (shell
environment variable $HOME). E.g. /home/goofy/.motion/motion.conf
3. The motion/ subdirectory inside the directory defined by the --sysconfdir=DIR
when running .configure during installation of Motion (If this option was not
defined the default is /usr/local/etc/)
If you have write access to /usr/local/etc/motion then the editor recommends having
only one motion.conf file in the default /usr/local/etc/motion directory.
Motion has a configuration file in the distribution package called motion-
dist.conf. When you run 'make install' this files gets copied to the
/usr/local/etc/motion directory.
The configuration file needs to be renamed from motion-dist.conf to motion.conf.
The original file is called motion-dist.conf so that your perfectly working
motion.conf file does not accidentally get overwritten when you re-install or
upgrade to a newer version of Motion.
If you have more than one camera you should not try and invoke Motion more times.
Motion is made to work with more than one camera in a very elegant way and the way
to do it is to create a number of camera config files. Motion will then create an
extra tread of itself for each camera. If you only have one camera you only need
the motion.conf file. The minute you have two or more cameras you must have one
camera config file per camera besides the motion.conf file.
So if you have for example two cameras you need motion.conf and two camera config
files. Total of 3 config files.
An option that is common to all cameras can be placed in motion.conf. (You can also
put all parameters in the camera files but that makes a lot of editing when you
change a common thing).
An option that is unique to a camera must be defined in each camera file.
The first camera is defined in the first camera file called from motion.conf. The
2nd camera is defined in the 2nd camera file called from motion.conf etc.
Any option defined in motion.conf will be used for all cameras except for the
cameras in which the same option is defined in a camera config file.
Motion reads its configuration parameters in the following sequence. If the same
parameter exists more than one place the last one read wins.
1. Motion reads the configuration file motion.conf from the beginning of the file
going down line by line.
2. If the option "camera" is defined in motion.conf, the camera configuration
file(s) is/(are) read.
3. Motion continues reading the rest of the motion.conf file. Any options from here
will overrule the same option previously defines in a camera config file.
4. Motion reads the command line option again overruling any previously defined
options.
So always call the camera config files in the end of the motion.conf file. If you
define options in motion.conf AFTER the camera file calls, the same options in the
camera files will never be used. So always put the camera file call at the end of
motion.conf.
If motion is built without specific features such as ffmpeg, mysql etc it will
ignore the options that belongs to these features. You do not have to remove them
or comment them out.
If you run the http control command http://host:port/0/config/writeyes, motion will
overwrite motion.conf and all the camera.conf files by autogenerated config files
neatly formatted and only with the features included that Motion was built with. If
you later re-build Motion with more features or upgrade to a new version, you can
use your old config files, run the motion.conf.write command, and you will have new
config files with the new options included all set to their default values. This
makes upgrading very easy to do.
Conversion Specifiers for Advanced Filename and Text Features
The table below shows all the supported Conversion Specifiers you can use in the
options text_left, text_right, snapshot_filename, jpeg_filename, ffmpeg_filename,
timelapse_filename, on_event_start, on_event_end, on_picture_save, on_movie_start,
on_movie_end, and on_motion_detected.
In text_left and text_right you can additionally use '\n' for new line.
%a The abbreviated weekday name according to the current locale.
%A The full weekday name according to the current locale.
%b The abbreviated month name according to the current locale.
%B The full month name according to the current locale.
%c The preferred date and time representation for the current locale.
%C Text defined by the text_event feature
%d The day of the month as a decimal number (range 01 to 31).
%D Number of pixels detected as Motion. If labelling is enabled the number is the
number of pixels in the largest labelled motion area.
%E Modifier: use alternative format, see below.
%f File name - used in the on_picture_save, on_movie_start, on_movie_end, and
sql_query features.
%F Equivalent to %Y-%m-%d (the ISO 8601 date format).
%H The hour as a decimal number using a 24-hour clock (range 00 to 23).
%i Width of the rectangle containing the motion pixels (the rectangle that is shown on
the image when locate is on).
%I The hour as a decimal number using a 12-hour clock (range 01 to 12).
%j The day of the year as a decimal number (range 001 to 366).
%J Height of the rectangle containing the motion pixels (the rectangle that is shown
on the image when locate is on).
%k The hour (24-hour clock) as a decimal number (range 0 to 23); single digits are
preceded by a blank. (See also %H.)
%K X coordinate in pixels of the center point of motion. Origin is upper left corner.
%l The hour (12-hour clock) as a decimal number (range 1 to 12); single digits are
preceded by a blank. (See also %I.)
%L Y coordinate in pixels of the center point of motion. Origin is upper left corner
and number is positive moving downwards (I may change this soon).
%m The month as a decimal number (range 01 to 12).
%M The minute as a decimal number (range 00 to 59).
%n Filetype as used in the on_picture_save, on_movie_start, on_movie_end, and
sql_query features.
%N Noise level.
%o Threshold. The number of detected pixels required to trigger motion. When
threshold_tune is 'on' this can be used to show the current tuned value of
threshold.
%p Either 'AM' or 'PM' according to the given time value, or the corresponding strings
for the current locale. Noon is treated as `pm' and midnight as `am'.
%P Like %p but in lowercase: `am' or `pm' or a corresponding string for the current
locale.
%q Picture frame number within current second. For jpeg filenames this should always
be included in the filename if you save more then 1 picture per second to ensure
unique filenames. It is not needed in filenames for mpegs.
%Q Number of detected labels found by the despeckle feature
%r The time in a.m. or p.m. notation.
%R The time in 24-hour notation (%H:%M).
%s The number of seconds since the Epoch, i.e., since 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC.
%S The second as a decimal number (range 00 to 61).
%t Camera ID number
%T The time in 24-hour notation (%H:%M:%S).
%u The day of the week as a decimal, range 1 to 7, Monday being 1. See also %w.
%U The week number of the current year as a decimal number, range 00 to 53, starting
with the first Sunday as the first day of week 01. See also %V and %W.
%v Event number. An event is a series of motion detections happening with less than
'gap' seconds between them.
%V The ISO 8601:1988 week number of the current year as a decimal number, range 01 to
53, where week 1 is the first week that has at least 4 days in the current year,
and with Monday as the first day of the week. See also %U and %W.
%w The day of the week as a decimal, range 0 to 6, Sunday being 0. See also %u.
%W The week number of the current year as a decimal number, range 00 to 53, starting
with the first Monday as the first day of week 01.
%x The preferred date representation for the current locale without the time.
%X The preferred time representation for the current locale without the date.
%y The year as a decimal number without a century (range 00 to 99).
%Y The year as a decimal number including the century.
%z The time-zone as hour offset from GMT.
%Z The time zone or name or abbreviation.
%$ The camera name.
More information
Motion homepage: https://motion-project.github.io/
Motion Guide (user and installation guide):
AUTHORS
Jeroen Vreeken (pe1rxq@amsat.org), Folkert van Heusden, Kenneth Lavrsen
(kenneth@lavrsen.dk), Juan Angulo Moreno <juan@apuntale.com>, and many others