CCTV

Bluecherry DVR - Install Your Free Open-source CCTV Surveillance Linux System for Home and Business Security

Hazem Abbas

Oct 22, 2024 — 8 min read

Bluecherry is a powerful CCTV, NVR, and DVR application designed specifically for Linux systems. It supports a wide range of IP cameras with ONVIF compatibility and runs with minimal memory and low CPU usage.

Thanks to its optimized performance, Bluecherry is perfect for servers with limited resources, making it an excellent choice for home or business surveillance setups.

It is an ideal solution for both home and business surveillance, supporting multiple streams even on modest hardware setups.

With its low resource footprint and cross-platform flexibility, Bluecherry DVR makes an excellent choice for anyone looking for scalable, reliable NVR solutions on Linux-based systems

Features

ONVIF Support – Easily integrates with ONVIF-compatible IP cameras.
Web-Based Interface – Provides live viewing and easy configuration through a browser.
Cross-Platform Clients – Compatible with Linux, Windows, macOS, and mobile apps (iOS/Android).
Webhook support
Simple Installation – Offers quick setup through package repositories and Docker support for seamless deployment.
User Role Management – Create custom user roles to control camera access and system permissions.
Multi-Camera Support – Supports setups with up to 32 cameras with options for 4K or 1080p streams.
Notifications and Webhooks – Includes email notifications and webhook integrations for smart alerts.
Virtual Machine Ready – Easily deploy in virtual environments for testing or scalability.
HLS Streaming Support – Smooth playback with high-performance live streaming using HLS.

Desktop Clients

Bluecherry project offers several desktop clients that works smoothly on Linux, Windows and macOS.

Editions

Free community edition, it comes with limited community support and can be used totally for free
None-free edition that supports ~150 cameras per server.

Install your own free CCTV system in no time

Prerequisites

Operating System: Ubuntu 18.04 or later / Debian-based OS
Hardware Requirements: Low to moderate CPU usage, with at least 8 GB RAM recommended for larger setups
Network Access: Ensure the server can access your IP cameras over your network.
Docker Installed: If not installed, run:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install docker.io
sudo systemctl enable docker --now

Install Bluecherry DVR via Docker

Download and Run the Docker Install Script:

sudo bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://install.bluecherrydvr.com/docker)"

Make sure everything is Ready here:

docker ps

Now you can access the web interface thru:

https://<your-server-IP>:7001

Use the default credentials:

Username: Admin
Password: bluecherry

Now you can add your cameras

Add IP Cameras

From the web interface, navigate to Settings > Cameras.
Use the Network Scan tool to automatically detect ONVIF-compatible cameras.
If your camera is not detected, manually enter the RTSP or MJPEG path to start streaming.

Configure Users and Notifications

User Roles: Go to Settings > Users to set permissions and camera access for different users.
Email or Webhook Alerts: Configure notifications under Settings > Alerts for real-time updates.

Upgrading The system using Docker

docker pull bluecherry/bluecherry-server:latest
docker stop <container-ID>
docker rm <container-ID>
docker run bluecherry/bluecherry-server:latest

Final Note

In conclusion, Bluecherry DVR is a robust CCTV, NVR, and DVR solution tailored specifically for Linux systems. With support for a variety of IP cameras and ONVIF compatibility, it offers reliable performance with minimal memory and CPU usage. Its resource-efficient design makes it ideal for servers with modest specifications, whether for home or business surveillance setups.

Through this guide, you’ve learned how to install and manage Bluecherry using Docker, giving you a powerful and flexible security system at your fingertips. Whether for small home setups or larger business networks, Bluecherry’s open-source nature ensures control, scalability, and efficiency in your surveillance infrastructure.