Proximex As A VMS?

Anyone can get an award....

Proximex is a PSIM, not a VMS, acquired by ADT/Tyco.

Yes, I understand this. But there isn't anything on them here or too many other sites too. Wanted to see if anyone had feedback on their system and if Surveillint, the VMS part of their software, was really as good as its price tag suggests.

Surveillent is not a VMS. That's their name for their PSIM. Like other PSIMs, Proximex manages video as well as other systems. I have never heard of anyone considering Proximex as a VMS.

Great, thanks for the info

Proximex markets themselves as a PSIM I guess but if you go to the PSIA demos their CEO is quick to show Proximex connected to CAMERAS using PSIA. It sure looked to me like they were trying to point out you don't need a VMS - you need software in the command center collecting video streams and acting on alarm point input, something VMS vendors claim to do (and don't always execute well.)

It's not a VMS, I agree. But is it an inappropriate data sink for H.264 streams coming out of Swedish iron that's also providing alarm point data? I'm not so sure about that. When my customers complain their VMS failed to help defend their facilities I do think it's appropriate to talk about ALL the solutions available to deal with intrustion detection, even ADT subsidiaries.

Rodney, there are two barriers for any PSIM (Proximex, Vidsys, Orsus, etc.) from being a 'real' VMS.

First, is functionalities - there's a lot to managing video recording that PSIMs typically do not implement because their roll (when it comes to video is primarily display / correlation with other sources). Does the PSIM support direct integration with cameras, does it support i/o, edge storage, changing lower level camera properties, PTZ controls, etc.? Does the PSIM allow recording to NAS or SANs? How does it allow you to configure storage durations (e.g., per channel)? Does it support recording or switching multiple streams for live display and or storage (for data aging)? PSIMs are unlikely to support most of these features standard in a 'real' VMS. Btw, a PSIA demo is pretty laughable. What, Proximex can get a live stream from 8 camera manufacturers? ;)

The second barrier is price. Unless you need to integrate with other systems, the price point of a 20 camera, 200 camera or even 2000 camera PSIM, is likely to be significantly greater than just buying a real VMS.

Bottom line, I suspect you will pay more and get less using a PSIM as a VMS.

Thank you! This is the kind of information I was looking for. Particularly from Proximex integrators, but anything is better than nothing. There isnt anything useful on their website and there isn't anything in here about it. I had heard that the World Trade Center is going to be using Proximex, so I was interested to hear anything about them. Especially considering they are owned by Tyco and we all conceded Tyco bought Exacq since they didn't have a solid VMS. Anything else is helpful.

Often products picked for large, high visible projects are based on politics, connections, spin and worse. For instance, the Chief of Security for the WTC was fired for allegedly "holding backroom talks with vendors."

I know about this. I was curious as to actual usability of a seldom heard of or used product.

For what it's worth, I think the WTC is going with Vidsys.

That's what was told in 2011 by the now fired chief. Who knows now. Certainly, some of our members now the current status :) If anyone cares to update, please do.

Undisclosed, when considering a PSIM, an important point to investigate is what functionaliy the PSIM's integration to the VMS provides you. PSIMs use the API (application programming interface) of the VMS to tell the VMS to provide video display/video control windows. One reason I'll be on the show floor of ASIS in Chicago is to check out the video capabilites that a PSIM provides for various VMS products. I'm not sure what I'll be able to see there, but each PSIM should have at least one VMS integration to demo.

Has anyone had experience with a deployment where the Proximex has been integrated with the ADT Victor VMS? As both products now come under the ADT umbrella, I would have thought this would have been a 'natural' product offering combo?

That said, I can't find much about ADT Victor VMS in this forum. Any reasons for this?

ADT Victor VMS

I have some experience with Proximex, I used to work for the company. I will agree that it is not a VMS, but there is some basic PSIA functionality. Where it works best (I'm sure the same is true with other PSIM proucts too) is in very diverse environments with different applications from different manufacturers that need to work together.

I've frequently said that a PSIM by itself does nothing. What a PSIM does is act as a layer on top of other applications (VMS, Access Control, Intrusion, etc...) and provides a consistent UI across those applications. Some PSIM products allow workflow to span those applications and can provide reporting, user audit logging and automation to improve response time and document activity.

John is right that there is some overlap between Victor and Proximex. It's been a while since I've been involved so I can't say specifically what that overlap is. If I had to venture to guess, I would say that Victor is more heavily video centric where Proximex is more workflow centric. Victor started out as a unified video client, allowing the different Tyco video products to be viewed from a single user interface. Proximex started out as a workflow engine that integrated with different applications. Both products retain strong ties to their origins.

PSIM is an expensive application, regardless of the manufacturer. However, some situations warrant the spend. If you go down this path, look for a provider that already works with the bulk of your existing applications. The single largest factor in projects that exceed budget and/or take longer than planned is integrating the PSIM platform with the VMS, Access Control, etc... Knowing that a company already integrates with a specific VMS (including the version, not just the manufacturer) will speed your project up and reduce costs tremendously.

Doesn't this suite of Victor and Video Edge 4.5 product and training videos published by ADT on youtube in September 2014 suggest to you that they are offering a VMS solution here?

Also from 2012 :

"The release of victor and VideoEdge v4.2 has truly created a powerful and unified customer solution. This video shows how VideoEdge and victor v4.2 deliver the best Network Video Management System solution in the industry"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R-YroZXK8o