Need Camera Advice - Yi Cam etc

Hey All,
I don’t know anything about ip cameras I’m afraid, so I have some random questions.

  • Are the cameras always active, so network issues might be a problem
  • Is the RaspberryPi decent enough (what I run hassio on), or do I need different hardware.
  • I have an UnRaid server, would I record to this, or a different device to stop my media server being affected etc.

So I guess my main concern is how it’s going to affect my current functioning house. Should I get something that records to an SD unless I open the UI, only reporting it’s motion/face state to hass. Or should I have a different network for camera’s, recording to a different device other than my unRaid and/or hassio raspberry pi.

My needs are only motion detection, short term recording so if anything happens I can check it out that day, I’m not going to want to go back weeks/months. Face detection a plus. Audio for Baby monitor a plus plus.

I’m looking at the Yi as it’s cheap, but I’ll defer to the more experience hive mind.

Sorry it’s such a generic question, as I say, I just have no experience with this and am finding it hard to get any information on what direction I should go in. Maybe I’m over thinking it.

Thanks
Christian

Sorry for the plug, but I wrote an article a LONG time ago on some of the basics.

Might be overkill for your needs, and somewhat out of date since the arrival of cheap wifi cams, but should give you something to get started.
I personally prefer local storage where possible to free the network,
I have several cameras in and around my house so might be able to help with more specific questions.