It is possible to add cameras to your EVVR Container using a configuration file - either using environment variables when creating the container, or within a seed configuration file.

You have multiple options for configuring your container using a config file - including 'burning in these settings using environment variables, or using a seed config file to provide initial settings for your users.

To add one or more cameras to your EVVR Container, you can add the following setting, and optionally, decide how PTZ should operate when controlled by alarm actions:

There are three different types of cameras you can add:

Each of which has its own list of options you can add. You can mix and match any of the above in your configuration file (but with a maximum limit of 2 for USB cameras).

Unfortunately, you cannot automatically discover ONVIF cameras on your host's network, as the EVVR Container cannot scan beyond the internal Docker network.

You must add the camera manually, using a minimum of its IP Address, a friendly name, and usually a login username/password to access the camera.

There are also a number of further settings you can set to customise how the encoder uses the camera - these mirror the options available in the web interface, and it is recommended to test/obtain any desired settings using the web interface first, before transferring to your config file:

This entry is the bare minimum required to add an ONVIF camera that requires a login (most do) - this should all be on the same line:

EV_CHANNEL_0={"type":"ONVIF","name":"Canon","ip_address":"10.0.0.20", "user_name":"root","password":"PW!23456"}

This entry extends the above to automatically configure the ONVIF video stream to High Quality, and slows the PTZ zoom speed down from 75 to 50:

EV_CHANNEL_1={"type":"ONVIF","name":"Bosch","ip_address":"10.0.0.21", "user_name":"root","password":"PW!23456","bitrate":"High","zoom_speed":"50"}

You can add RTSP video feeds to your EVVR Container as long as they contain 720p or 1080p H.264.

You can use the following settings:

This entry is the bare minimum required to add an RTSP camera that doesn't require a login - this should all be on the same line:

EV_CHANNEL_1={"type":"RTSP","name":"RTSP Camera", "url":"rtsp://10.152.0.36/black-car.mp4"}

This entry extends the above to specify login details, an RTSP port, and specificy the network transport:

EV_CHANNEL_2={"type":"RTSP","name":"RTSP Camera 2", "url":"rtsp://admin@password:10.152.0.36:554/white-car.mp4","transport":"tcp"}

Automatically add a USB camera to the given stream index. You can not manually select a particular USB camera - it will add the first compatible USB camera it finds.

You can add up to two USB cameras to your EVVR Container (using multiple EV_CHANNEL_<X> entries). The second entry will skip any USB camera already added, and add the next unused USB camera.

Simplest entry to add the first USB camera that is found:

EV_CHANNEL_1={"type":"AUTO_USB"}
​

The entry also sets the camera name, overriding the manufacturer's name:

EV_CHANNEL_2={"type":"AUTO_USB","name":"USB Cam 1"}