From 68c7e9772febf6697bd3b306ff39ac54c6925887 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Alex Kazaiev <alex.kazaiev@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2025 11:12:22 -0600
Subject: [PATCH] Update README with multi-instance deployment instructions

---
 server/README.md | 63 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++---------
 1 file changed, 52 insertions(+), 11 deletions(-)

diff --git a/server/README.md b/server/README.md
index 0301534..0f1f92d 100644
--- a/server/README.md
+++ b/server/README.md
@@ -2,13 +2,48 @@
 
 Camera snapshot server with motion detection for Raspberry Pi.
 
-## Quick Start
+## Quick Start (Single Camera)
 
 ```bash
+cp env.example .env
+nano .env  # Configure settings
 ./setup.sh
-sudo systemctl start vixy-vision
+sudo systemctl start vixy-vision-<your-camera-id>
 ```
 
+## Multi-Camera Deployment (Same Pi)
+
+For running multiple cameras on one Pi, clone the repo into separate directories:
+
+```bash
+# Camera 1: desk
+git clone http://gateway.local:3001/vixy/vixy-vision.git ~/vixy-vision-desk
+cd ~/vixy-vision-desk/server
+cp env.example .env
+# Edit .env:
+#   SERVICE_NAME=vixy-vision-desk
+#   CAMERA_ID=desk
+#   CAMERA_INDEX=0
+#   PORT=8443
+./setup.sh
+
+# Camera 2: basement
+git clone http://gateway.local:3001/vixy/vixy-vision.git ~/vixy-vision-basement
+cd ~/vixy-vision-basement/server
+cp env.example .env
+# Edit .env:
+#   SERVICE_NAME=vixy-vision-basement
+#   CAMERA_ID=basement
+#   CAMERA_INDEX=2
+#   PORT=8444
+./setup.sh
+```
+
+Each instance gets its own:
+- Install directory: `~/vixy-vision-<service-name>/`
+- Systemd service: `vixy-vision-<service-name>.service`
+- Port: as configured in `.env`
+
 ## Features
 
 - 📷 USB camera snapshots via HTTPS API
@@ -16,23 +51,20 @@ sudo systemctl start vixy-vision
 - 🔍 Motion detection with frame differencing
 - 📤 Event reporting to central collector
 - 🔄 Auto-reconnect on camera failure
+- 🔢 Multi-instance support via SERVICE_NAME and PORT
 
 ## Configuration
 
 Copy `env.example` to `.env` and customize:
 
-```bash
-cp env.example .env
-nano .env
-```
-
-Key settings:
-
 | Variable | Description | Default |
 |----------|-------------|---------|
-| `API_KEY` | Auth key for API | (required) |
+| `API_KEY` | Auth key for API | (generated) |
+| `SERVICE_NAME` | Systemd service name | vixy-vision |
+| `PORT` | HTTPS port | 8443 |
 | `CAMERA_ID` | Identifier for this camera | camera |
-| `MOTION_ENABLED` | Enable motion detection | false |
+| `CAMERA_INDEX` | /dev/videoN index | 0 |
+| `MOTION_ENABLED` | Enable motion detection | true |
 | `MOTION_THRESHOLD` | Sensitivity (lower = more) | 25 |
 | `MOTION_COOLDOWN` | Seconds between events | 5.0 |
 | `COLLECTOR_URL` | Where to POST events | (optional) |
@@ -64,3 +96,12 @@ When motion is detected, the server POSTs to `COLLECTOR_URL`:
   "snapshot": "<base64 JPEG>"
 }
 ```
+
+## Service Management
+
+```bash
+sudo systemctl start vixy-vision-<id>
+sudo systemctl stop vixy-vision-<id>
+sudo systemctl status vixy-vision-<id>
+sudo journalctl -u vixy-vision-<id> -f
+```