Alert settings

iCatcher Console supports a number of different types of alert that can be generated when motion is detected. Alerts can be configured two ways. Feed alert settings are accessed by right-clicking on the feed in the tree list and selecting "Alerts" or by clicking on the bell icon on the tool bar of the feed window.

Global Alert Settings are accessed by clicking the "Alert settings" button on the main iCatcher Console menu bar.

Any feed that is set to "Use Global Settings" for a particular alert type will inherit its settings from the equivalent global alert configuration, including whether that alert should be enabled or not.

When using the alert arming, you can set alerts so they are only sent when the system is armed, by unticking the "Keep this alert enabled even when disarmed" option. When this is ticked, the alert will be sent even when disarmed, but not when all alerts are disabled.

Audio Alerts

This is the simplest form of alert, and will cause iCatcher Console to play a chosen audio file when motion is detected. A sample file "Alarm.wav" is included and features an "intruder alert" style alarm sound. Any audio file can be selected to play on motion.

SMS Alerts

This alert sends the chosen text message to the specified telephone number. Please see the SMS alert help for more information.

Email Alerts

iCatcher Console can send an email when motion is detected, and attach recent images to show the event as it happens. Please see the email alert help for more information.

FTP Web Page / Generation

As an off-site backup measure, iCatcher Console can upload images of a motion event to a website when motion is detected. This can be an FTP upload, or the images can be sent to a locally accessible folder (this could be a mapped network drive over a VPN (Virtual Private Network) link).

Please see the page alert help for more information.

Twitter alerts

This alert sends a tweet with the specified text message. Please see the Twitter alert help for more information.

Actions

iCatcher can be configured to execute a set of actions when motion is detected on a given feed. This is controlled via the Actions tab of the feeds alert settings. The set of actions available is the same as those available from I/O device actions. Please see the Actions help for more information.

Admin alerts

iCatcher Console can use the email alert system to send alerts when certain critical events occur. To do this, the "Send admin alert emails" option on the Admin Alerts tab of the global settings needs to be checked.

You will need to enter an email address for the admin alerts to be sent to (e.g. a system administrator), but for feed errors, these can be sent to an alternative address for someone responsible for that camera as governed by the email alerting settings.

When a feed loses contact with iCatcher Console or the video stream disconnects, an email can be sent to notify the system administrator. If frequent short disruptions occur, you can increase the delay before the admin alert is sent.

Alerts can also be sent when a user logs in remotely to the web interface or when a remote login failure occurs. This will include invalid usernames as well as incorrect passwords.

iCatcher also monitors the recording system so when a low disk space archive occurs, an error when archiving, or a storage failure, it can also trigger an admin alert letting you know that something is not right.