Willing to stream image from your webcam through Internet? Nothing easier with Ubuntu!

# install
sudo apt-get install motion

# create config file
mkdir ~/.motion && gedit ~/.motion/motion.conf

# define the port and motion settings
webcam_port 8081
webcam_localhost on
# increase maxrate & quality
webcam_maxrate 30
webcam_quality 90
# slow down the stream to 1 frame per second if no motion
webcam_motion on

# run motion
motion

You can find the stream at http://localhost:8081/.

If you wish to stream it publicly, I recommend at least basic HTTP based authentication.

# install apache2-utils
sudo apt install apache2-utils

# setup new user & passwd
sudo htpasswd -c /etc/apache2/.htpasswd webcam

# configure apache2 - add to your VirtualHost config
    # webcam
    <Location "/cam">
        # proxy
        ProxyPass http://localhost:8081/
        ProxyPassReverse http://localhost:8081/        
        # htpasswd
        AuthType Basic
        AuthName "Restricted Content"
        AuthUserFile /etc/apache2/.htpasswd
        Require valid-user
    </Location>

Now, image from your webcam will be accessible at http://YOURDOMAIN.COM/cam

Finally, you can configure motion to run only when you are away.

Inspired by gist.