Manpages

NAME

motion - Detect motion using a video4linux device or network camera

SYNOPSIS

motion [ -hbnsm ] [ -c config file path ] [ -d level ] [ -k level ] [ -p pid_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

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).

Default: off
Description:

When specified as ON, Motion goes into daemon (background process) mode and releases the terminal.

setup_mode

Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:

Start in Setup-Mode, daemon disabled.

pid_file

Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:

File to store the process ID, also called pid file.

log_file

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

Default: on
Description:

Do not sound beeps when detecting motion

native_language

Values: boolean
Default: on
Description:

Use this option to enable native language on the webcontrol and log message. Specify off to have messages provided in English.

camera_name

Values: User specified string
Default: Not Defined
Description:

User specified string to describe the camera.

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.

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.

camera_dir

Values: User specified string
Default: Not Defined
Description:

This option specifies the optional subdirectory that contains the camera config files.

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.

video_device

Values: User specified string
Default: /dev/video0
Description:

String to specify the video device to be used for capturing. The format is usually /dev/videoX where X varies depending upon the video devices connected to the computer. For FreeBSD certain devices use the bktr subsystem and they will use /dev/bktr0.

video_params

Values: User specified string
Default: None
Description:

String to specify the parameters to pass in for a video_device. The parameters permitted are dependent upon the device. This only applies to V4L2 devices. The Motion log reports all the available options for the device.

auto_brightness

Values: 0 - 3
Default: 0
Description:

The auto_brightness feature uses the device options to adjust the brightness Only recommended for cameras without auto brightness. 0-disabled, 1=Use brightness, 2=Use exposure, 3=Use absolute exposure.

tuner_device

Values: User Specified String
Default: /dev/tuner0
Description:

Tuner device to be used for capturing images. This is ONLY used for FreeBSD.

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

roundrobin_switchfilter

Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:

Filter out noise generated by roundrobin

netcam_url

Values: User specified string
Default: None
Description:

Full connection URL string to use to connect to a network camera. In addition to standard camera protocols, the following prefixes are added by the Motion application.

ftp:// mjpg:// mjpeg:// file:// v4l2://

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.

netcam_params

Values: User specified string
Default: Not Defined
Description:

User specified parameters for the network camera.

netcam_high_url

Values: User specified string
Default: None
Description:

Full connection URL string to use to connect to a high resolution network camera. The URL must provide a stream of images instead of only a static image. The following prefixes are recognized

rtsp:// rtmp://

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_high_params

Values: User specified string
Default: Not Defined
Description:

User specified parameters for the network camera.

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.

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_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

Default: 640
Description:

Image width in pixels for the video device.

Default: 480
Description:

Image height in pixels for the video device

framerate

Values: 2 - 100
Default: 15
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.

Default: 0
Description:

Rotate image this number of degrees. The rotation affects all saved images as well as movies.

flip_axis

Values: none, v, h
Default: none
Description:

Flip the images vertically or horizontally. The flip affects all saved images as well as movies.

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_left

Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:

Text to place in lower left corner of image. Format specifiers follow C function strftime(3)

text_right

Values: User specified string
Default: %Y-%m-%d\n%T
Description:

Text to place in lower right 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_scale

Values: 1 to 10
Default: 1
Description:

The scale at which to draw text over 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.

emulate_motion

Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:

Always save images even if there was no motion.

Default: off
Description:

When Motion is started, pause the motion detection.

threshold

Values: 1 to unlimited
Default: 1500
Description:

Threshold for number of changed pixels in an image that triggers motion detection

threshold_maximum

Values: 0, 1 to unlimited
Default: 0
Description:

Maximum of changed pixels in an image that triggers motion detection. A value of zero disables this option.

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: Not defined
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.

mask_privacy

Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:

The PGM mask file is a specially constructed mask file that allows the user to indicate the areas to remove from all images. This option specifies the full path and name for the privacy mask file.

smart_mask_speed

Values: 0 to 10
Default: 0 (off)
Description:

Speed of mask changes when creating a dynamic mask file.

lightswitch_percent

Values: 0 to 100
Default: 0
Description:

Ignore sudden massive light intensity changes. Triggers when the percentage of the picture area that changed intensity is greater than this value.

lightswitch_frames

Values: 1 to 1000
Default: 5
Description:

Number of frames to ignore when lightswitch has been triggered.

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.

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.

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.

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, on_camera_found

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.

picture_output

Values: on, off, first, best, center
Default: off
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.

picture_output_motion

Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:

Output pictures with only the pixels moving object (ghost images)

picture_type

Values: jpeg/ppm/webp/grey
Default: jpeg
Description:

The file type of output images

picture_quality

Values: 1 to 100
Default: 75
Description:

The quality (in percent) to be used by the jpeg and webp compression

picture_exif

Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:

Text to include in a JPEG EXIF comment

picture_filename

Values: User specified string
Default: %v-%Y%m%d%H%M%S-%q
Description:

The file path for motion triggered images (jpeg, ppm or webp) relative to target_dir. The file extension .jpg, .ppm or .webp 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.

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.

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, .ppm or .webp 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.

movie_output

Values: on/off
Default: on
Description:

Use ffmpeg to encode movies of the motion.

movie_output_motion

Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:

Use ffmpeg to encode movies with only the pixels moving object (ghost images)

movie_max_time

Values: 0 to unlimited
Default: 120
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.

movie_bps

Values: 0 to unlimited
Default: 400000
Description:

Bitrate to be used by the ffmpeg encoder. This option is ignored if movie_quality is not 0.

movie_quality

Values: 0 to 100
Default: 60
Description:

Enable and define the variable bitrate for the ffmpeg encoder. movie_bps is ignored if variable bitrate is enabled. When specified as 0, use the fixed bitrate defined by movie_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.

movie_codec

Values:

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: mkv
Description:

For regular motion videos, the container/codec must be available in the ffmpeg installed on the computer.

movie_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

movie_passthrough

Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:

When using a rtsp camera, make movies without decoding the stream.

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.

movie_extpipe_use

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 movie_output only. The options movie_filename and timelapse_filename are also used from the ffmpeg feature

movie_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

timelapse_interval

Values: 0 to unlimited
Default: 0
Description:

Number of seconds between frame captures for a timelapse movie. Specify 0 to disable the timelapse.

timelapse_mode

Values:

hourly
daily
weekly-sunday
weekly-monday
monthly
manual

Default: daily
Description:

File rollover mode for the timelapse video.

timelapse_fps

Values: 0 to unlimited
Default: 30
Description:

Frames per second used for playback of the timelapse video.

timelapse_codec

Values:

mpg - Creates mpg file with mpeg-2 encoding.
mpeg4 - Creates avi file with the default encoding.

Default: mpg
Description:

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.

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.

video_pipe

Values: User specified string
Default: Not Defined
Description:

Output images to a video4linux loopback device.

video_pipe_motion

Values: User specified string
Default: Not Defined
Description:

Output motion images to a video4linux loopback device.

webcontrol_port

Values: 0 to maximum port number
Default: 0
Description:

Port number for the web control / preview page.

webcontrol_ipv6

Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:

Listen to IPv6 localhost instead of IPv4. This option is also applicable for all streams.

webcontrol_localhost

Values: on/off
Default: on
Description:

Restrict control connections to localhost only

webcontrol_parms

Values:

0 = No parameters available to change on web control
1 = Limited list of parameters available to change
2 = Advanced list of parameters (usually requires restart to become effective)
3 = Restricted list of parameters (User IDs, passwords, commands to execute, etc)

Default: 0
Description:

The type of parameters that are able to be modified via the web interface. This parameter can never be modified via the web interface and must be specified directly in the configuration file.

webcontrol_interface

Values: 0-2
Default: 0
Description:

Specified the web control interface type. 0=css, 1=text, 2=legacy

webcontrol_auth_method

Values:

0 = disabled
1 = Basic authentication
2 = MD5 digest (the safer authentication)

Default: 0
Description:

The authentication method to use for the webcontrol.

webcontrol_authentication

Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:

The username and password to use for authentication of the webcontrol. The format is Username:Password

webcontrol_tls

Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:

When specified as on, use SSL/TLS for the webcontrol.

webcontrol_cert

Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:

The full path to the SSL certification file for webcontrol

webcontrol_key

Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:

The full path to the SSL key file for webcontrol

webcontrol_header_params

Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:

The comma separated header=value pairs to use for the webcontrol responses.

webcontrol_lock_attempts

Values: integer
Default: 5
Description:

The number of failed authentication attempts before IP is locked out.

webcontrol_lock_minutes

Values: integer
Default: 5
Description:

The number of minutes a failed authentication IP is locked out.

webcontrol_lock_max_ips

Values: integer
Default: 5
Description:

The maximum number of concurrent IPs that can be locked out.

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_localhost

Values: on/off
Default: on
Description:

Restrict stream connections to localhost only

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_tls

Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:

When specified as on, use SSL/TLS for the stream port.

stream_header_params

Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:

The comma separated header=value pairs to send for the stream responses.

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: on/off
Default: off
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.

stream_preview_method

Values: 0 to 2
Default: 0
Description:

Method to display images on webcontrol page. 0=Full, 1=Substream, 2=Static

stream_quality

Values: 1 to 100
Default: 50
Description:

The quality in percent for the jpg images streamed.

stream_grey

Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:

Send the live stream of the camera in grey (black and white) instead of color.

stream_maxrate

Values: 1 to unlimited
Default: 1
Description:

Maximum frame rate to send to stream

stream_motion

Values: on,off
Default: off
Description:

Limit stream to 1 fps when no motion is being detected.

database_type

Values: mysql, mariadb, 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: localhost
Description:

The hostname, DNS name, or IP address at which the database is running. Optionally for PostgreSQL, full path of the local directory containing its Unix domain pipe. For SQLite3, ignored.

database_port

Values: 0 to maximum port number
Default: Not defined
Description:

TCP port number used for database access. For SQLite3, ignored. Default ports used by DBMSs: MySQL & MariaDB, 3306; PostgreSQL, 5432.

database_user

Values: User defined string
Default: Not Defined
Description:

The username to access the database. For SQLite3, ignored.

database_password

Values: User defined string
Default: Not Defined
Description:

The database password for the user to access the database. For SQLite3, ignored.

database_busy_timeout

Values: 0 to unlimited
Default: 0
Description:

SQLite3 only: database wait time in milliseconds for locked database to be unlocked before returning database locked error

sql_log_picture

Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:

Log to the database when creating motion triggered picture file

sql_log_snapshot

Values: on/off
Default: off
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 Motion saves an image file or begins recording a movie and the corresponding file type’s sql_log_* configuration option is set on. 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 INTEGER NOT NULL, filename CHAR(80) NOT NULL, frame INTEGER, file_type INTEGER NOT NULL, time_stamp DATETIME NOT NULL, text_event CHAR(255));
Postgresql: CREATE TABLE security (camera INTEGER NOT NULL, filename VARCHAR NOT NULL, frame INTEGER, file_type INTEGER NOT NULL, time_stamp TIMESTAMP NOT NULL, text_event VARCHAR);

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’)

sql_query_start

Values: User defined string
Default: Not defined
Description:

SQL statement to execute at the start of a motion event. When the related table schema (and, for PostgreSQL, a RETURNING clause included in this statement) provide for it, the database generates a table-unique event ID that is returned and substituted for the %{dbeventid} conversion specifier. When no valid value is returned, %{dbeventid} is replaced by zero.

sql_query_stop

Values: User defined string
Default: Not defined
Description:

SQL statement to execute upon closure of a motion event movie or timelapse movie file, provided the corresponding file type’s sql_log_* configuration option is set on.

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.

track_generic_move

Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:

Full path and file name for the script to execute to move a camera in generic tracking mode.

SIGNALS

Motion responds to the following signals:

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 thread 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.

%{host}

The computer host name

%{dbeventid}

The id number returned from mysql_insert_id.

More information

Motion homepage: https://motion-project.github.io/

Motion Guide (user and installation guide):

AUTHORS

Jeroen Vreeken (pe1rxq [AT] amsat.org), Folkert van Heusden, Kenneth Lavrsen (kenneth [AT] lavrsen.dk), Juan Angulo Moreno <juan [AT] apuntale.com>, the motion-project team, and many others