These are the options that can be used in the config file. They
are overridden by the commandline! All number values are integer numbers
(no decimals allowed). Boolean options can be on or off (values
"1", "yes" and "on" all means true and any
other value means false).
- daemon
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
When specified as ON, Motion goes into daemon (background
process) mode and releases the terminal.
- setup_mode
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Start in Setup-Mode, daemon disabled.
- pid_file
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
File to store the process ID, also called pid file.
- log_file
Values: User specified string
Default: Not Defined
Description:
File to save logs messages, if not defined stderr and
syslog is used.
- log_level
Values: 1 to 9 (EMG, ALR, CRT, ERR, WRN, NTC, INF, DBG, ALL)
Default: 6 / NTC
Description:
Specify the level of verbosity in the messages sent to
the log.
- log_type
Values: COR, STR, ENC, NET, DBL, EVT, TRK, VID, ALL
Default: ALL
Description:
Filter to log messages by type
- quiet
Values: on/off
Default: on
Description:
Do not sound beeps when detecting motion
- native_language
Values: boolean
Default: on
Description:
Use this option to enable native language on the
webcontrol and log message. Specify off to have messages provided in
English.
- camera_name
Values: User specified string
Default: Not Defined
Description:
User specified string to describe the camera.
- camera_id
Values: Numeric identification number for the camera
Default: The order in which the camera is opened by Motion
Description:
Use this option to assign a number to each camera that is
consistent every time that Motion is started. By default Motion will assign a
number based upon the sequence in which it reads the configuration and this
sequence may not be the same every time that Motion starts.
- camera
Values: User specified string
Default: Not Defined
Description:
This option specifies the full path and file name to
individual camera files. This option can be listed multiple times. Each camera
file should contain the options that are unique to that camera/video device.
Common options are obtained from the motion.conf file and values are
overwritten from each camera file. While the motion.conf includes four sample
camera files, the actual limit of cameras is only dependent upon the machine
capabilities. Remember: If you have more than one camera you must have one
camera file for each one. For example, 2 cameras would require 3 files: The
motion.conf file AND camera1.conf and camera2.conf. only put the options that
are unique to each camera in the camera config files.
- camera_dir
Values: User specified string
Default: Not Defined
Description:
This option specifies the optional subdirectory that
contains the camera config files.
- target_dir
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
Target base directory for pictures and films. It is
recommended to use an absolute path. If this option is not defined, the
current working directory is used. This option accepts the conversion
specifiers included at the end of this manual.
- video_device
Values: User specified string
Default: /dev/video0
Description:
String to specify the video device to be used for
capturing. The format is usually /dev/videoX where X varies depending upon the
video devices connected to the computer. For FreeBSD certain devices use the
bktr subsystem and they will use /dev/bktr0.
- video_params
Values: User specified string
Default: None
Description:
String to specify the parameters to pass in for a
video_device. The parameters permitted are dependent upon the device. This
only applies to V4L2 devices. The Motion log reports all the available options
for the device.
- auto_brightness
Values: 0 - 3
Default: 0
Description:
The auto_brightness feature uses the device options to
adjust the brightness Only recommended for cameras without auto brightness.
0-disabled, 1=Use brightness, 2=Use exposure, 3=Use absolute exposure.
- tuner_device
Values: User Specified String
Default: /dev/tuner0
Description:
Tuner device to be used for capturing images. This is
ONLY used for FreeBSD.
- roundrobin_frames
Values: 1 to unlimited
Default: 1
Description:
Number of frames to capture in each roundrobin step
- roundrobin_skip
Values: 1 to unlimited
Default: 1
Description:
Number of frames to skip before each roundrobin
step
- roundrobin_switchfilter
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Filter out noise generated by roundrobin
- netcam_url
Values: User specified string
Default: None
Description:
Full connection URL string to use to connect to a network
camera. In addition to standard camera protocols, the following prefixes are
added by the Motion application.
ftp:// mjpg:// mjpeg:// file:// v4l2://
The connection string is camera specific. It is usually the same
as what other video playing applications would use to connect to the camera
stream.
- netcam_params
Values: User specified string
Default: Not Defined
Description:
User specified parameters for the network camera.
- netcam_high_url
Values: User specified string
Default: None
Description:
Full connection URL string to use to connect to a high
resolution network camera. The URL must provide a stream of images instead of
only a static image. The following prefixes are recognized
rtsp:// rtmp://
The connection string is camera specific. It is usually the same
as what other video playing applications would use to connect to the camera
stream. Motion currently only supports basic authentication for the cameras.
Digest is not currently supported. Basic authentication can be specified in
the URL or via the netcam_userpass option.
- netcam_high_params
Values: User specified string
Default: Not Defined
Description:
User specified parameters for the network camera.
- netcam_userpass
Values: User specified string
Default: Not Defined
Description:
The user id and password required to access the network
camera string. Only basic authentication is supported at this time. Format is
in user:password format when both a user name and password are required.
- mmalcam_name
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
Name of camera to use if you are using a camera accessed
through OpenMax/MMAL. This value is used to specify the use of the PI camera.
The typical value for the PI camera is vc.ril.camera
- mmalcam_params
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
Camera configuration options to use for the OpenMax/MMAL
camera. See the raspivid/raspistill tool documentation for full list of
options. Typical value for the PI camera is -hf
- width
Values: Dependent upon video device
Default: 640
Description:
Image width in pixels for the video device.
- height
Values: Dependent upon video device
Default: 480
Description:
Image height in pixels for the video device
- framerate
Values: 2 - 100
Default: 15
Description:
The maximum number of frames to capture in 1 second. The
default of 100 will normally be limited by the capabilities of the video
device. Typical video devices have a maximum rate of 30.
- minimum_frame_time
Values: 0 to unlimited
Default: 0
Description:
The minimum time in seconds between capturing picture
frames from the camera. The default of 0 disables this option and relies upon
the capture rate of the camera. This option is used when you want to capture
images at a rate lower than 2 per second.
- rotate
Values: 0, 90, 180, 270
Default: 0
Description:
Rotate image this number of degrees. The rotation affects
all saved images as well as movies.
- flip_axis
Values: none, v, h
Default: none
Description:
Flip the images vertically or horizontally. The flip
affects all saved images as well as movies.
- locate_motion_mode
Values: on/off/preview
Default: off
Description:
When specified as 'on', locate and draw a box around the
moving object. When set 'preview', only draw a box in preview_shot
pictures.
- locate_motion_style
Values:
box : Draw traditional box around the part of the image generating the motion
redbox : Draw a red box around the part of the image generating the motion
cross : Draw a cross on the part of the image generating the motion
redcross : Draw a red cross on the part of the image generating the motion
Default: box
Description:
When locate_motion_mode is enable, this option specifies
how the motion will be indicated on the image.
- text_left
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
Text to place in lower left corner of image. Format
specifiers follow C function
strftime(3)
- text_right
Values: User specified string
Default: %Y-%m-%d\n%T
Description:
Text to place in lower right corner of image. Format
specifiers follow C function
strftime(3)
- text_changes
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
When specified, draw the number of changed pixed on the
images. This option will normally be set to off except when you setup and
adjust the motion settings. The text is placed in upper right corner of the
image.
- text_scale
Values: 1 to 10
Default: 1
Description:
The scale at which to draw text over the image.
- text_event
Values: User specified string
Default: %Y%m%d%H%M%S
Description:
Define the value of the special event conversion
specifier %C. The user can use any conversion specifier in this option except
%C. Date and time values are from the timestamp of the first image in the
current event. The %C can be used filenames and text_left/right for creating a
unique identifier for each event.
- emulate_motion
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Always save images even if there was no motion.
- pause
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
When Motion is started, pause the motion detection.
- threshold
Values: 1 to unlimited
Default: 1500
Description:
Threshold for number of changed pixels in an image that
triggers motion detection
- threshold_maximum
Values: 0, 1 to unlimited
Default: 0
Description:
Maximum of changed pixels in an image that triggers
motion detection. A value of zero disables this option.
- threshold_tune
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Automatically tune the threshold down if possible.
- noise_level
Values: 1 to unlimited
Default: 32
Description:
Noise threshold for the motion detection.
- noise_tune
Values: on/off
Default: on
Description:
Automatically tune the noise threshold
- despeckle_filter
Values:
e/E : erode
d/D : dilate
l : label
Default: Not defined
Description:
Despeckle motion image using (e)rode or (d)ilate or
(l)abel. The recommended value is EedDl. Any combination (and number of) of E,
e, d, and D is valid. (l)abeling must only be used once and the 'l' must be
the last letter. Comment out to disable
- area_detect
Values: 1 to 9
Default: Not Defined
Description:
When motion is detected in the predefined areas indicated
below, trigger the script indicated by the on_area_detected. The trigger is
only activated once during an event. one or more areas can be specified with
this option. Note that this option is only used to trigger the indicated
script. It does not limit all motion detection events to only the area
indicated.
Image Areas
123
456
789
- mask_file
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
When particular area should be ignored for motion, it can
be accomplished using a PGM mask file. The PGM mask file is a specially
constructed mask file that allows the user to indicate the areas for which
motion should be monitored. This option specifies the full path and name for
the mask file.
- mask_privacy
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
The PGM mask file is a specially constructed mask file
that allows the user to indicate the areas to remove from all images. This
option specifies the full path and name for the privacy mask file.
- smart_mask_speed
Values: 0 to 10
Default: 0 (off)
Description:
Speed of mask changes when creating a dynamic mask
file.
- lightswitch_percent
Values: 0 to 100
Default: 0
Description:
Ignore sudden massive light intensity changes. Triggers
when the percentage of the picture area that changed intensity is greater than
this value.
- lightswitch_frames
Values: 1 to 1000
Default: 5
Description:
Number of frames to ignore when lightswitch has been
triggered.
- minimum_motion_frames
Values: 1 to unlimited
Default: 1
Description:
The minimum number of picture frames in a row that must
contain motion before a event is triggered. The default of 1 means that all
motion is detected. The recommended range is 1 to 5.
- event_gap
Values: -1 to unlimited
Default: 60
Description:
The number of seconds of no motion that triggers the end
of an event. An event is defined as a series of motion images taken within a
short timeframe. The recommended value is 60 seconds. The value -1 is allowed
and disables events causing all Motion to be written to one single movie file
and no pre_capture. If set to 0, motion is running in gapless mode. Movies
don't have gaps anymore. An event ends right after no more motion is detected
and post_capture is over.
- pre_capture
Values: 0 to unlimited
Default: 0
Description:
The number of pre-captured (buffered) pictures from
before motion was detected that will be output upon motion detection. The
recommended range is 0 to 5. It is not recommended to use large values since
it will cause Motion to skip frames. To smooth movies use larger values of
post_capture instead.
- post_capture
Values: 0 to unlimited
Default: 0
Description:
Number of frames to capture after motion is no longer
detected.
- Script
Options
on_event_start, on_event_end, on_picture_save
on_motion_detected, on_area_detected, on_movie_start
on_movie_end, on_camera_lost, on_camera_found
Values: User defined string
Default: Not defined
Description:
Specify the full path and file name for the script to
execute when the indicated event occurs. When a file name is required for the
script, append a %f to the script string.
- picture_output
Values: on, off, first, best, center
Default: off
Description:
Output pictures when motion is detected. When set to
'first', only the first picture of an event is saved. Picture with most motion
of an event is saved when set to 'best'. Picture with motion nearest center of
picture is saved when set to 'center'. Can be used as preview shot for the
corresponding movie.
- picture_output_motion
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Output pictures with only the pixels moving object (ghost
images)
- picture_type
Values: jpeg/ppm/webp/grey
Default: jpeg
Description:
The file type of output images
- picture_quality
Values: 1 to 100
Default: 75
Description:
The quality (in percent) to be used by the jpeg and webp
compression
- picture_exif
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
Text to include in a JPEG EXIF comment
- picture_filename
Values: User specified string
Default: %v-%Y%m%d%H%M%S-%q
Description:
The file path for motion triggered images (jpeg, ppm or
webp) relative to target_dir. The file extension .jpg, .ppm or .webp is
automatically added so do not include this. Set to 'preview' together with
best-preview feature enables special naming convention for preview shots. This
option accepts the conversion specifiers included at the end of this
manual.
- snapshot_interval
Values: 0 to unlimited
Default: 0
Description:
When specified as 0, the snapshot feature is disabled.
When a value is specified, the value indicates the number of seconds between
snapshots.
- snapshot_filename
Values: User specified string
Default: %v-%Y%m%d%H%M%S-snapshot
Description:
The file path for snapshots relative to target_dir. The
file extension .jpg, .ppm or .webp is automatically added so do not include
this. A symbolic link called lastsnap.jpg created in the target_dir will
always point to the latest snapshot, unless snapshot_filename is exactly
'lastsnap' This option accepts the conversion specifiers included at the end
of this manual.
- movie_output
Values: on/off
Default: on
Description:
Use ffmpeg to encode movies of the motion.
- movie_output_motion
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Use ffmpeg to encode movies with only the pixels moving
object (ghost images)
- movie_max_time
Values: 0 to unlimited
Default: 120
Description:
Maximum length in seconds of a movie. When value is
exceeded a new movie file is created. The value of 0 means that there is no
limit.
- movie_bps
Values: 0 to unlimited
Default: 400000
Description:
Bitrate to be used by the ffmpeg encoder. This option is
ignored if movie_quality is not 0.
- movie_quality
Values: 0 to 100
Default: 60
Description:
Enable and define the variable bitrate for the ffmpeg
encoder. movie_bps is ignored if variable bitrate is enabled. When specified
as 0, use the fixed bitrate defined by movie_bps. When defined as 1 - 100
varies the quality of the movie. A value of 1 is worst quality versus a value
of 100 is best quality.
- movie_codec
Values:
Motion videos:
mpeg4 - Creates .avi file
msmpeg4 - Creates .avi file
swf - Flash film with extension .swf
flv - Flash video with extension .flv
ffv1 - FF video codec 1 for Lossless Encoding
mov - QuickTime
mp4 - MPEG-4 Part 14 H264 encoding
mkv - Matroska H264 encoding
hevc - H.265 / HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding)
Default: mkv
Description:
For regular motion videos, the container/codec must be
available in the ffmpeg installed on the computer.
- movie_duplicate_frames
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
When creating videos, should frames be duplicated in
order to keep up with the requested frames per second
- movie_passthrough
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
When using a rtsp camera, make movies without decoding
the stream.
- movie_filename
Values: User specified string
Default: %v-%Y%m%d%H%M%S
Description:
File path for motion triggered ffmpeg films (movies)
relative to target_dir. The extensions(.swf, .avi, etc) are automatically
added so do not include them This option accepts the conversion specifiers
included at the end of this manual.
- movie_extpipe_use
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Use the external pipe in order to encode videos. This is
a replacement option for the FFMPEG builtin encoder for movie_output only. The
options movie_filename and timelapse_filename are also used from the ffmpeg
feature
- movie_extpipe
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
Command line string to receive and process a pipe of
images to encode. Generally, use '-' for STDIN
- timelapse_interval
Values: 0 to unlimited
Default: 0
Description:
Number of seconds between frame captures for a timelapse
movie. Specify 0 to disable the timelapse.
- timelapse_mode
Values:
hourly
daily
weekly-sunday
weekly-monday
monthly
manual
Default: daily
Description:
File rollover mode for the timelapse video.
- timelapse_fps
Values: 0 to unlimited
Default: 30
Description:
Frames per second used for playback of the timelapse
video.
- timelapse_codec
Values:
mpg - Creates mpg file with mpeg-2 encoding.
mpeg4 - Creates avi file with the default encoding.
Default: mpg
Description:
For mpg timelapse videos, if motion is shutdown and
restarted, new pics will be appended to any previously created file with name
indicated for timelapse. For mpeg4 timelapse videos, if motion is shutdown and
restarted, new pics will create a new file with the name indicated for
timelapse.
- timelapse_filename
Values: User specified string
Default: %Y%m%d-timelapse
Description:
File path for timelapse movies relative to target_dir.
The file extensions(.mpg .avi) are automatically added so do not include them
This option accepts the conversion specifiers included at the end of this
manual.
- video_pipe
Values: User specified string
Default: Not Defined
Description:
Output images to a video4linux loopback device.
- video_pipe_motion
Values: User specified string
Default: Not Defined
Description:
Output motion images to a video4linux loopback
device.
- webcontrol_port
Values: 0 to maximum port number
Default: 0
Description:
Port number for the web control / preview page.
- webcontrol_ipv6
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Listen to IPv6 localhost instead of IPv4. This option is
also applicable for all streams.
- webcontrol_localhost
Values: on/off
Default: on
Description:
Restrict control connections to localhost only
- webcontrol_parms
Values:
0 = No parameters available to change on web control
1 = Limited list of parameters available to change
2 = Advanced list of parameters (usually requires restart to become effective)
3 = Restricted list of parameters (User IDs, passwords, commands to execute, etc)
Default: 0
Description:
The type of parameters that are able to be modified via
the web interface. This parameter can never be modified via the web interface
and must be specified directly in the configuration file.
- webcontrol_interface
Values: 0-2
Default: 0
Description:
Specified the web control interface type. 0=css, 1=text,
2=legacy
- webcontrol_auth_method
Values:
0 = disabled
1 = Basic authentication
2 = MD5 digest (the safer authentication)
Default: 0
Description:
The authentication method to use for the
webcontrol.
- webcontrol_authentication
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
The username and password to use for authentication of
the webcontrol. The format is Username:Password
- webcontrol_tls
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
When specified as on, use SSL/TLS for the
webcontrol.
- webcontrol_cert
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
The full path to the SSL certification file for
webcontrol
- webcontrol_key
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
The full path to the SSL key file for webcontrol
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
The comma separated header=value pairs to use for the
webcontrol responses.
- webcontrol_lock_attempts
Values: integer
Default: 5
Description:
The number of failed authentication attempts before IP is
locked out.
- webcontrol_lock_minutes
Values: integer
Default: 5
Description:
The number of minutes a failed authentication IP is
locked out.
- webcontrol_lock_max_ips
Values: integer
Default: 5
Description:
The maximum number of concurrent IPs that can be locked
out.
- stream_port
Values: 0 to port number limit
Default: 0
Description:
This option is the port number that the mini-http server
listens on for streams of the pictures.
- stream_localhost
Values: on/off
Default: on
Description:
Restrict stream connections to localhost only
- stream_auth_method
Values:
0 = disabled
1 = Basic authentication
2 = MD5 digest (the safer authentication)
Default: 0
Description:
The authentication method to use for viewing the
stream.
- stream_authentication
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
The username and password to use for authentication of
the stream. The format is Username:Password
- stream_tls
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
When specified as on, use SSL/TLS for the stream
port.
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
The comma separated header=value pairs to send for the
stream responses.
- stream_preview_scale
Values: 1 to 100
Default: 25
Description:
This defines what percentage the stream image should be
scaled to for the preview page
- stream_preview_newline
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
When the image is put on the preview page, should the
image start on a new line. This option allows the user to specify whether the
preview images should be side by side or stacked on the page.
- stream_preview_method
Values: 0 to 2
Default: 0
Description:
Method to display images on webcontrol page. 0=Full,
1=Substream, 2=Static
- stream_quality
Values: 1 to 100
Default: 50
Description:
The quality in percent for the jpg images streamed.
- stream_grey
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Send the live stream of the camera in grey (black and
white) instead of color.
- stream_maxrate
Values: 1 to unlimited
Default: 1
Description:
Maximum frame rate to send to stream
- stream_motion
Values: on,off
Default: off
Description:
Limit stream to 1 fps when no motion is being
detected.
- database_type
Values: mysql, mariadb, postgresql, sqlite3
Default: Not defined
Description:
The type of database being used.
- database_dbname
Values: User defined string
Default: Not defined
Description:
The name of the database being used (dbname). For
SQLite3, the full path to the database.
- database_host
Values: User defined string
Default: localhost
Description:
The hostname, DNS name, or IP address at which the
database is running. Optionally for PostgreSQL, full path of the local
directory containing its Unix domain pipe. For SQLite3, ignored.
- database_port
Values: 0 to maximum port number
Default: Not defined
Description:
TCP port number used for database access. For SQLite3,
ignored. Default ports used by DBMSs: MySQL & MariaDB, 3306; PostgreSQL,
5432.
- database_user
Values: User defined string
Default: Not Defined
Description:
The username to access the database. For SQLite3,
ignored.
- database_password
Values: User defined string
Default: Not Defined
Description:
The database password for the user to access the
database. For SQLite3, ignored.
- database_busy_timeout
Values: 0 to unlimited
Default: 0
Description:
SQLite3 only: database wait time in milliseconds for
locked database to be unlocked before returning database locked error
- sql_log_picture
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Log to the database when creating motion triggered
picture file
- sql_log_snapshot
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Log to the database when creating a snapshot image
file
- sql_log_movie
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Log to the database when creating motion triggered movie
file
- sql_log_timelapse
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Log to the database when creating timelapse movies
file
- sql_query
Values: User defined string
Default: Not defined
Description:
SQL statement to execute when Motion saves an image file
or begins recording a movie and the corresponding file type's sql_log_*
configuration option is set on. Use same conversion specifiers as for text
features. Additional special conversion specifiers are:
%n = the number representing the file_type %f = filename
with full path
Sample table set up (not sql_query):
Mysql: CREATE TABLE security (camera INTEGER NOT NULL,
filename
CHAR(80) NOT NULL, frame INTEGER, file_type INTEGER NOT NULL,
time_stamp DATETIME NOT NULL, text_event
CHAR(255));
Postgresql: CREATE TABLE security (camera INTEGER NOT
NULL, filename VARCHAR NOT NULL, frame INTEGER, file_type INTEGER NOT NULL,
time_stamp TIMESTAMP NOT NULL, text_event VARCHAR);
Sample sql_query
INSERT INTO security(camera, filename, frame, file_type,
time_stamp, text_event) VALUES(%t, '%f', %q, %n, '%Y-%m-%d %T', '%C')
- sql_query_start
Values: User defined string
Default: Not defined
Description:
SQL statement to execute at the start of a motion event.
When the related table schema (and, for PostgreSQL, a RETURNING clause
included in this statement) provide for it, the database generates a
table-unique event ID that is returned and substituted for the %{dbeventid}
conversion specifier. When no valid value is returned, %{dbeventid} is
replaced by zero.
- sql_query_stop
Values: User defined string
Default: Not defined
Description:
SQL statement to execute upon closure of a motion event
movie or timelapse movie file, provided the corresponding file type's
sql_log_* configuration option is set on.
- track_type
Values:
0 = none
1 = stepper
2 = iomojo
3 = pwc
4 = generic
5 = uvcvideo
6 = servo
Default: 0
Description:
This option specifies the type of tracker. The generic
type enables the definition of motion center and motion size to be used with
the conversion specifiers for options like on_motion_detected
- track_auto
Values: on/off
Default: off
Description:
Enables/disables the automatic tracking.
- track_port
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
The serial port of the motor. For example
/dev/ttyS0
- Tracking
options
track_motorx, track_motorx_reverse, track_motory, track_motory_reverse
track_maxx, track_minx, track_maxy, track_miny, track_homex, track_homey
track_iomojo_id, track_step_angle_x, track_step_angle_y, track_move_wait
track_speed, track_stepsize
Values: device dependent
Default: 0
Description:
These options specify the parameters for cameras with
tracking capabilities.
- track_generic_move
Values: User specified string
Default: Not defined
Description:
Full path and file name for the script to execute to move
a camera in generic tracking mode.