Free NVR software for Linux and Raspberry Pi
Litmus NVR runs on Linux PCs, Raspberry Pi, NVIDIA Jetson and other small boards. Install a .deb package, write a ready-made Raspberry Pi image, or run it in Docker or as a Home Assistant add-on.
Ways to install
| Method | For |
|---|---|
| .deb package | Ubuntu, Debian-based Linux and Raspberry Pi OS, on x64 or ARM64 |
| Raspberry Pi image | An SD card image with the OS and Litmus NVR preinstalled, as a Full (desktop) or Lite (command line) image |
| Docker | Mini PCs, NAS and other Docker hosts |
| Home Assistant add-on | Home Assistant OS or Supervised |
Supported boards
Raspberry Pi 3, 4, 5 and Zero 2 W, NVIDIA Jetson (Nano, Orin Nano, AGX Orin) and Radxa Rock (5A, 5B, 5C, Zero 3W). A Raspberry Pi 5 with 8GB of memory handles 1 to 2 cameras. For more cameras, use an x64 PC.
How many cameras a PC can handle
| Processor | Memory | Cameras |
|---|---|---|
| Intel N100, N150 | 8GB | 1 to 2 |
| Core i7 7th gen | 8GB | 2 to 3 |
| Core i3 12th gen or newer | 16GB | 3 to 4 |
| Core i5 12th gen or newer, Ryzen 5 4600G or newer | 16GB | 5 to 6 |
| Core i7 12th gen or newer | 32GB | 9 to 10 |
For 1080p cameras with person, face and vehicle recognition on, at the default 10 analyses per second. 4K cameras or a higher analysis rate lower these numbers.
The Raspberry Pi image
Write the image with Raspberry Pi Imager, insert the SD card and power on. Litmus starts as a system service on every boot, without a login. If you do not set an account in Raspberry Pi Imager, the default login is litmus / litmus.
What Litmus does
- Every person and vehicle becomes a card. Litmus detects people and vehicles as it records and turns each one into a card, so you browse who was there instead of scrubbing a timeline.
- Follow someone across cameras. Open a card to play that person’s scenes from every camera in time order.
- Four ways to search. By appearance (clothing and build), by face with no enrollment, by a description such as “a person in a yellow shirt”, or by attributes like clothing color, bag, hat and age group. Vehicles can be searched by license plate, and a partial plate works.
- Works locally, no sign-up. On your network, open it in a browser without a Litmus account.
- Remote viewing without port forwarding. Add the device to your Litmus account, and the phone app and browser connect over an encrypted peer-to-peer connection, which works on most home and office routers.
- Video stays on your hardware. Recordings and analysis are stored on the computer running Litmus, not in the cloud.
Questions
Do I need Docker?
No. Docker is one option. On most Linux systems, install the .deb package.
Is Litmus NVR really free?
Yes. Every feature is free with no camera limit. Live View over a direct connection is unlimited.
What hardware does Litmus need?
An Intel N100 mini PC handles 1 to 2 cameras, a 12th-gen Core i5 5 to 6, a 12th-gen Core i7 9 to 10, and an Apple M2 Mac 12 to 14. A Raspberry Pi 5 handles 1 to 2. A graphics card lets the same PC handle more cameras. These are for 1080p cameras at the default 10 analyses per second. The Apple M2 count is measured. The PC counts are estimates based on CPU performance.