IP camera: open source software for recording H.264 [closed]
I've found Motion to be a great program for motion detection and cataloging.
It seems to work with remote cameras, although the docs are a bit sketchy. It's probably worth a try.
I use the linux Motion software combined with the command line version of VLC for my IP cameras. (2 are MJPG streams, one is RTSP with H264). The motion software triggers a script to have VLC record lossless in the cameras native format. My setup does not however support pre-recording. It actually results in missing the frame that initially triggered the motion which is fine for my use since the first frames of motion are not where I'd see the faces or license plates.