Ubuntu
Ubuntu is a Linux distribution based on Debian. It's a good system for a home / office user and the install CD installs 'most everything the home / office user will need.
Installation Guides
- Using an Ubuntu Desktop distro, you will be able to host a complete ZM installation, and also watch the console/events/streams on the same machine;
- Using an Ubuntu Server distro, you will not be able to watch ZM on the same machine at all; but the system becomes much more light, using less resources and using an optimized Kernel for server applications;
Before choosing, consider checking
http://www.ubuntu.com/products/whatisubuntu/serveredition/features http://www.ubuntu.com/products/whatisubuntu/serveredition/features/kernel
or as a last resource, if you are considering to deploy a desktop over a server distro with ZM you may consider this remark useful; Ubuntu_9.10_Server_32-bit#Desktop_over_server_consideration
Guides for Ubuntu Server
Guides for Ubuntu Desktop
Outdated guides
Ubuntu 6.06 - Alternate (cut-n-paste)
Ubuntu 8.10 Vanilla 32bit (with FFmpeg SVN, ZoneMinder SVN, jscalendar-1.0, cambozola-0.7)
Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty) desktop with graphical interface (step-by-step with screenshots)
Ubuntu 9.10 Desktop (comprehensive step-by-step guide for complete install)
Ubuntu 9.10 Server 32-bit (by SOFTLIVRE consultoria e treinamento)
Installation Notes
http://www.zoneminder.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5633 GUI package that installs Mplayer etc.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=356392 EXTRA_LIBS parameter in .configure script
http://www.zoneminder.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6141
http://www.zoneminder.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=13140 How to install latest Zoneminder on Ubuntu 8.10