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Video surveillance has been growing in popularity year over year, and many people prefer to run it on computers powered by Linux. But why Linux in particular? And how do you choose the best video surveillance software for this OS in 2025? Let’s sort it out in this article.

Why Linux for video surveillance?

Linux is a reliable, efficient, and most importantly free operating system. Many video surveillance professionals prefer Linux thanks to its unquestionable advantages over Windows, the industry’s traditional choice:

Free operating system

Linux is free, as well as many applications for it: the LibreOffice suite (a direct analog of Microsoft Office), the GIMP image editor, the Kdenlive video editor, and more. Tools important for video surveillance are also available: htop for server monitoring, VLC Player for viewing archives, Déjà Dup for backups, and many others. Linux lets you avoid spending on software, thus saving your budget.

Open source

Linux is an open-source operating system that’s not owned by any corporation. No one can block or restrict it, and most importantly – no one will push an update that breaks your whole system, as too often happens in Windows.

Optimization

Linux requires fewer resources than other OSs, which makes it better suited for high-load servers. Recent performance tests showed a 20% advantage for Ubuntu Linux over Windows 11 on machines with identical components. Professionals can squeeze out even more performance by assembling their own system based on Arch Linux. In short, with Linux your computer will run faster than with Windows and you won’t have to pay extra for that.

Arch Linux can be installed in parts, which means that with sufficient technical knowledge you can build a system tailored for video surveillance, free from unnecessary components.

Security

Thanks to built-in encryption, architectural features, and continuous audits by independent developers, Linux offers a high level of security and exceptional resistance to malware. Even if a virus somehow lands on your PC, in Linux it simply won’t have the system privileges to do harm.

Diversity

Strictly speaking, Linux is not an operating system but a kernel. Operating systems based on this kernel are called Linux distributions, and there are many of them on the market: Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora, Debian, and many more. Some are simple and suitable for beginners, while others — such as the aforementioned Arch Linux — require technical knowledge to install and use.

If you don’t want to dive into the differences between distributions, we recommend installing Ubuntu — it’s the most popular distribution today, known for its easy installation and use, large community, and extensive documentation.

How to choose video surveillance software for Linux?

When choosing video surveillance software, we recommend starting from your budget, technical expertise, and the desired outcome. Needs vary: from a small home system with 4 cameras to a high-load distributed network with hundreds of cameras, access-control devices, and advanced analytics. Ideally, the software should cope with any task, and when selecting a solution you can pay attention to the following characteristics:

• List of supported Linux distributions;
• Types of supported devices (IP cameras, recorders, etc.);
• Functionality;
• Ease of use;
• Security;
• Licensing and cost.

Why is Xeoma the best choice of CCTV software in 2025?

Xeoma is easy to use and light on hardware while offering a wealth of useful features. Here are just some of its advantages:

• Xeoma supports all the most popular Linux distributions (see the list). Don’t limit your choices — use the Linux you personally prefer;
• No need to agonize over camera selection: you can use almost any IP camera, NVR/DVR, and even a webcam (see the list of supported cameras);
• Technical expertise isn’t required either: the program doesn’t require installation, cameras are connected automatically, and the setup process is thoroughly described in the User Guide and video tutorials;
• Xeoma’s core capabilities are available in all licenses: automatic camera search, live view, archive viewing and recording, remote access, motion detector, scheduling, and more;
• Xeoma includes powerful AI-based analytics: face recognition/ANPR/object recognition/gender and age recognition; detection of people/vehicles/smoke and fire/sound events/line crossing, and much more. With these features, even the most budget-friendly cameras become intelligent assistants that won’t miss a single important event;
• If you have a GPU, the software will run even faster: Xeoma supports hardware-accelerated decoding, which speeds up video processing using graphics cards;
• Security is also well covered: Xeoma runs locally and does not require Internet access — all data stays on the computer and is not shared with anyone; it supports TLS-encrypted connections, so no one can intercept the video streams or exfiltrate your data;
• There’s a free version of the program, as well as a budget-friendly license for home systems. Who said video surveillance has to be expensive?
• The base license Xeoma Standard is your ticket to professional video surveillance. It contains everything 90% of users need: basic analytics, remote access, numerous notification types, no limits on the maximum number of cameras per server or archive retention period, the ability to create users (operators) with individual permissions, integration with third-party services, plus the option to add additional AI-based video analytics;
• With Xeoma Pro, your computer becomes a true intelligent hub that doesn’t just observe but actually recognizes the events you care about. The license includes everything in Standard, AI-powered analytics modules (face recognition, ANPR, smoke/fire/loitering/line-crossing detection, etc.), interactive maps, advanced archive capabilities, and much more.

Xeoma is suitable for any goals and tasks related to video surveillance and is the most advanced video surveillance software for Linux (check our comparisons with other programs).

Who is Xeoma on Linux for: home, businesses, and servers

– Users who want to deploy a home video surveillance system with minimal costs — you’ll only need a few budget cameras, a regular office PC, and Xeoma with the most basic license (or the free version if you have 1–2 cameras);
– Video surveillance installers who need to stay within budget while guaranteeing stable system operation, secure data storage, and convenient software usability to the customers;
– Security specialists who require advanced video analytics to detect suspicious events and investigate incidents;
– Business owners who want to collect marketing insights, prevent theft, and monitor staff.

FAQ

Which operating system should I choose for video surveillance with Xeoma?

You can choose any OS from the supported list, but Linux uses computer resources more efficiently. It’s also free and better protected against viruses.

Which Linux distribution should I choose for Xeoma?

The most universal options are Ubuntu or Debian: these are reliable distributions suitable for both beginners and professionals.

What PC do I need to run Xeoma on Linux?

For continuous archive recording, almost any computer will go regardless of the number of cameras. If you plan to record on motion, you can use our system requirements calculator to estimate recommended computer specs. If you need complex video analytics (face/object recognition/ANPR, etc.), please contact us to get advice.

How much is Xeoma?

You can start with the free version and then move to one of the paid editions that best suit your needs. See prices on the purchase page.

Test drive Xeoma for free: simply fill in the form below and you will receive an email with a demo license and instructions.

November 10, 2025
 

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