Blue Iris
Windows-based video surveillance and NVR software
Blue Iris is a Windows-based video management and security system used as an NVR for IP cameras, webcams, and capture cards. It provides recording, remote viewing, alerts, and centralized management for home and small business surveillance.
Key Features
- Supports large multi-camera installations (up to 128 cameras)
- Multiple recording modes: motion/audio triggered, continuous, or scheduled
- Built-in web server (UI3) for remote desktop and mobile browser access
- User authentication with permission-based viewing
- PTZ control, digital zoom/pan, and camera management tools
- Alerts and automation-style “action sets” for notifications and conditional actions
- Recording formats including MP4 and AVI, plus snapshots
- Optional built-in AI services for detection on capable hardware (version-dependent)
Use Cases
- Home security monitoring with motion-triggered recordings and alerts
- Small business surveillance with multi-camera recording and user permissions
- Remote monitoring of properties with web/mobile access to live and recorded video
Limitations and Considerations
- Windows-only software; requires a Windows 10/11 64-bit system (or equivalent server OS)
- Commercial licensing model (not an open source project)
Blue Iris is best suited for users who want a feature-rich Windows NVR with strong remote access options and flexible alerting/automation. It scales from single-camera setups to large multi-camera installations depending on hardware.
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