Subscriber Discussion

Milestone License - License For Multi-Channel NVR

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Jan 10, 2018

Hi Guys,

Something a was thinking about, and couldn't understand 100% from Milestone's site.

I know that in Milestone, the licenses are coming from the hardware. 

Now if you add an encoder, even if it is 16 or 32 channels, you will still use one license. 

But you add an NVR? let's say 32 channels NVR (Hikvision) with 32 IP cameras connected to it, will take 32 licenses (one for each camera) or only one for the NVR itself?

Did somebody here add an NVR to Milestone before?

Cheers,

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
Jan 10, 2018

One thing to be clear on is that Milestone licenses per MAC address.  Many 16 channel encoders are actually 4 licenses.  There are only a few 16 channel encoders that are a single license in Milestone.  

As to adding a Hikvision NVR - if you can pull all 16 or 32 streams from a single DVR simultaneously via RTSP or a direct driver while still under one MAC address I am sure it could only be one license but have not had the interest to do so myself.  Give it a try with a free or trial version of Milestone.  I believe IPVM has made this recommendation in the past.

(2)
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Alex Knapik
Jan 10, 2018

ID2 is spot on. 

ID1, any aspect unclear after ID2's reply?

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #3
Jan 11, 2018

Also try some of the Hikvision camera drivers. I believe the NVR may show up as a camera, requiring one license, with multiple video streams (i.e. one for each camera connected to the NVR).

The reason I believe this should work is that the SDK for the NVR is exactly the same as the SDK for the cameras, and I have seen this specifically work in the past with software other than Milestone.

(1)
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Nyasha Muzwidziwa
Jan 04, 2020
Lucid Telecom

That is exactly what I do .If you add an NVR it will be one licence.I am not sure if you can add a 32 channel apparently there is a limitation on onvif driver

UD
Undisclosed Distributor #4
Jan 04, 2020

I would be careful about using this solution as this was obviously not the intention when Milestone changed the licensing for encoders in the first place. I've heard rumors that they may put a stop to this in coming versions. Certain hardware might be exempt from this, but they probably want to do away with people using multi channel DVRs and NVRs together with XProtect Essential+.

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Sean Patton
Jan 04, 2020

We did not test a 32 channel NVR, but we tested 8 and 16-channel Hikvision and Dahua NVRs and they only required 1 license, which Milestone confirmed was correct. The ONVIF driver utilized is only for 2-16 channels, and we did not test with any 32 channel NVRs.

Additionally, there was some difficulty to get the correct configuration. You should test it with the specific NVR and firmware you are going to be selling to any customers first.

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