BleepingComputer.com: Internet WebCam -- is it possible?

I was all psyched up, I have a, sort of, home-theater-computer: it's just a PC running XP on my local network connected to our television in the living room by means of the S. video port.

I assumed if I connected a WebCam to that PC, then I could access its data in real time over the network here in our house. I'm simply using Microsoft's network supporting features. This allows me to "farm out" a large hard drive I have here in the office, as well as our printer, to this network. That way, I can play movies stored on this hard drive using the living room computer. I realize this sounds a little complicated. I was thinking I would connect a WebCam to the living room computer, facing out to our front yard. That way, I could see folks pulling in the yard from the office, as soon as all the dogs start barking.

Installing the WebCam on the living room computer was easy. I clicked properties and was dismayed to discover I can't offer this device up on the network. Obviously, there is software I could use -- create a website on the living room computer suppose. But is there no way I can access this WebCam from a different computer connected to the network?

Any pointers offered will be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

Yes it is possible but you will have to download software

here is one site you can try http://www.yawcam.com/
requires java goto http://java.com to check your java is upto date

if you want to run a website you can download xampp webserver http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html

This post has been edited by danny1990: 27 July 2010 - 04:15 PM

Thank you Danny! I am investigating the first link you recommend.
Ultimately, the second link you provided would be infinitely useful.
I have this little cabin up in the woods, far away. What I want to do is have a small server computer there, which I can remotely access over the Internet to have a look around the place, make sure everything's okay.
Camp CAM!
Wouldn't that be cool? Of course, I would need a steady Internet connection, which is a whole 'nother project.

I am really intrigued by the concept of satellite Internet. It's still pretty pricey, and there are hitches with latency, etc. but what a cool idea: a solar powered hut out in the boonies that has a great Internet connection! The hermit on the web! I'm telling you, it's an anarchist's dream?

Bravo for the simplistic design of YAWcam, and Java application. I'm up and running.