Moonfire NVR: Free and Open-Source – Install and Run a Powerful CCTV System in Minutes with Docker (Setup Guide) (2025)

Moonfire NVR, originally developed by Scott Lamb, is an open-source network video recorder designed to capture H.264-over-RTSP streams from IP cameras efficiently. It saves video frames to disk while storing metadata in a SQLite3 database, keeping CPU usage low by skipping video decoding or re-encoding.

A Raspberry Pi 2 can handle six 1080p/30fps streams with less than 10% CPU load.

The web interface offers basic functionality, such as a filterable video list and trimming tools, with an experimental live view. However, it lacks motion detection, HTTPS support, and an intuitive web-based configuration UI.

Moonfire NVR is still in early development (pre-1.0), so expect evolving formats and configurations.

It is important to note that Moonfire NVR app lacks native HTTPS/ TLS support, requiring a proxy server for secure connections.

Features

• RTSP support: Captures H.264-over-RTSP streams from IP cameras, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of devices.
• Stores video frames on spinning disks for efficient storage.
• Saves metadata in a SQLite3 database on flash storage for fast access.
• Generates .mp4 files for any selected time range in real-time without delays.
• Skips video decoding, analysis, and re-encoding to minimize resource consumption.
• Runs six 1080p/30fps streams on a Raspberry Pi 2 using less than 10% CPU.
• Provides a filterable list of video segments and trimming tools for easy management.
• Offers an experimental live view UI.
• Runs on minimal hardware like Raspberry Pi, making it a cost-effective solution.
• Future updates aim to include video analytics and advanced functionalities.
• Pre-1.0 version with evolving storage and configuration formats.
• Console-based configuration UI, with web-based setup planned for the future.

Install Moonfire NVR with Docker

In the following is the docker-compose.yml file.

version: 3services: moonfire-nvr: # The `vX.Y.Z` images will work on any architecture (x86-64, arm, or # aarch64); just pick the correct version. image: ghcr.io/scottlamb/moonfire-nvr:v0.7.11 command: run volumes: # Pass through `/var/lib/moonfire-nvr` from the host. - "/var/lib/moonfire-nvr:/var/lib/moonfire-nvr" # Pass through `/etc/moonfire-nvr.toml` from the host. # Be sure to create `/etc/moonfire-nvr.toml` first (see below). # Docker will "helpfully" create a directory by this name otherwise. - "/etc/moonfire-nvr.toml:/etc/moonfire-nvr.toml:ro" # Pass through `/var/tmp` from the host. # SQLite expects to be able to create temporary files in this dir, which # is not created in Moonfire's minimal Docker image. # See: <https://www.sqlite.org/tempfiles.html> - "/var/tmp:/var/tmp" # Add additional mount lines here for each sample file directory # outside of /var/lib/moonfire-nvr, e.g.: # - "/media/nvr:/media/nvr" # The Docker image doesn't include the time zone database; you must mount # it from the host for Moonfire to support local time. - "/usr/share/zoneinfo:/usr/share/zoneinfo:ro" # Edit this to match your `moonfire-nvr` user. # Note that Docker will not honor names from the host here, even if # `/etc/passwd` is passed through. # - Be sure to run the `useradd` command below first. # - Then run `echo $(id -u moonfire-nvr):$(id -g moonfire-nvr)` to see # what should be filled in here. user: UID:GID # Uncomment this if Moonfire fails with `clock_gettime failed` (likely on # older 32-bit hosts). <https://github.com/moby/moby/issues/40734> # security_opt: # - seccomp:unconfined environment: # Edit zone below to taste. The `:` is functional. TZ: ":America/Los_Angeles" RUST_BACKTRACE: 1 # docker's default log driver won't rotate logs properly, and will throw # away logs when you destroy and recreate the container. Using journald # solves these problems. # <https://docs.docker.com/config/containers/logging/configure/> logging: driver: journald options: tag: moonfire-nvr restart: unless-stopped ports: - "8080:8080/tcp"

License

GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE, Version 3, 29 June 2007

Resources & Downloads

• Github

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