[slightly OT] Internet accessible home security systems using Debian?

[Rick Thomas <rbthomas@pobox.com>]

Does anybody have any experience installing/using an internet  
accessible home security system?

We recently bought a retirement home, but it will be a year or so  
before we can move in -- leaving the place uninhabited most of the  
time.  I'd like to install an inexpensive (under $1000 for parts --  
I'll do the installation myself) CC-TV  ("CC"="closed circuit") and  
recorder that can be connected to a Linux-based computer I can access  
over the Internet.

Has anybody done such a thing?  Any recommendations?

A friend recommended Apex CC-TV.  Their web site has a setup with 4  
cameras and a 250GB DVR that has "the ability to remotely view live  
and recorded video from any Internet connection."   Has anybody here  
ever dealt with them?  Any thoughts?


Thanks in advance!


Rick