Axis Open VMS ACS5 Tested

Author: Ethan Ace, Published on Mar 14, 2016

Axis has launched an open VMS, with its new ACS5. What has historically been an Axis only offering is now suddenly a potential competitor to the many open VMSes in the market, including its corporate sibling Milestone.

But how well does it work? We downloaded ACS5 and the free trial license to try it out.

Here is a quick peek showing 4 manufacturers running inside ACS5:

Inside, we examine the 3 key strengths and 5 key weaknesses of ACS5.

**** *** ******** ** **** ***, **** *** *** ****. **** *** ************ **** ** Axis **** ******** ** *** ******** * ********* ********** ** the **** **** ***** ** *** ******, ********* *** ********* sibling *********.

*** *** **** **** ** ****? ************ **** *** *** **** ***** ********* *** ** ***.

**** ** * ***** **** ******* * ************* ******* ****** ****:

******, ** ******* *** * *** ********* *** * *** weaknesses ** ****.

[***************]

Key ********

*** *** ********* ********:

  • ***** ***** ****** *********** *** ***** ** *** ***** *** the ****** ************* ****, ****** **** **** ***************, ******.
  • ********** ** **** ******* *** ****** *** ****, ******** ******** control *** ***********
  • ****** ******* **********, ******** ** ****, *** ****** *** ******.

*** *** ********** ********:

  • ** *** ******* *** ***** ***** *******, ********** ********* ****. Axis **** ****** ***** ***** *** ******* ** * **** priority *** **** *******.
  • *** *** ********* ******* ***** ****, *** ** *** ***** and ******* ** **** **** ******** *****.
  • ********** **** / ****** ********** ** *********. ****** **** ******** monitoring ***** **** ******** *******, ******** **** ** ***********.
  • ********* ******* ** *********. ****** ******** ******* *** ** ******** simultaneously, ********* **** ****** ** ****** **** *************.
  • ** ***** ****** ******. ***** **** ***** ** *** ******* this, ****' ********* ********* **** *** **** **** ****. **** **** ****** **** ** * **** ******** *** 2016 *******.

Pricing **** ** ***** *****

*** *** *** * ***** ** *********. ***** ** ********* from *** **** ******** **** *** (****) ******:

  • **** ******** *** *** **** ******* *** **** ** ** 32 *******. **** ** $** *** *** ******.
  • ********* ******** *** *** *** *** **** ****** *** *** any ******* **** ** *******. **** ** $*** *** *** device.
  • ****** ***** ** ***** ** ***** ******* ** * ******, i.e., ** *** **** *** **** ******* ****** ** ******* connected ** * ****** ******, **** ***** ******* ** **** and *** ****** ****** ********* ********.
  • ** ********* / ****** / *********** ****, ** ******, *** future ******** (****, ***.) *** ******* ** ******* ***.

Competitive ******

***** ***, **** ** *** ***** *** *******, **** **** primarily ** *** ***** *** **** *** **** *** **** need ** *** ** * *** *** ***** *******. *******, once **** **** **** *** ***** ****** ******, ** ******* that **** **** ** * ********, *** ************ **********, ** open ***** **** ***** *** *********.

Solid ***** ***** ****** ***** ***********

*** ***** ***** ******* ********* (* ****** **** * *************) worked ******* ****** ** *** *, **** ************* ** ********* and ********** *********** ********, *** ***** ************ ********. 

No ***** ***** ***

*** * **** *** ******* ***** ****** ********* ** ***** party *******. ****** **** *** ** ********* ** **** ******* only.

**** ***** **** ***-**** ****** *** ******* ** ********** ********* only, * *********** **********, ** **** ***** ******* **** **** of ****** ********* (****** ** ****** ****) *** ****/**** ***** party *******. 

Device Compatibility Tool ******

**** ****** ************* **** ****** ************* **** ****. ***** ***** *** ******'* ** ******* and ***********, *** ***** ************* ***** *** ***, *********** ********** of *.*** *** ***** *********, *****, *** ***** ************* (***/**********). Axis ********* **** ******* **** ** ***** ******* * **********, but *** ****** ** ***, *** **** *** *** *** full ******* * **** *** ***** ***** ************, ****** **** basic ****** *** *********.

************ *******

******* ********, *****, ****/*****, *********, *** ****, ******* **** ************, with **** ******* ******* *** **** *******, *** ******* ******** upon ******, ******* ******** *** ***** ********.

*** *******, ** ****** *** ******** *.**-**-**, ***** ***** ****** all *****, ***** ** **********. *******, ******* *** **** * second ****, *** ****** ****** ***** *****. ******* * ***** time, ** ****** **** *****.

***** *** *** **** ****** *******, * ********** ***** ******* given *** ****** ** ***** *********/*********. **** * ****** ******, the ********* **-*********-* ****** ***** ********* ***** (*****). *******, **** camera ****** **** ** *** **** *****.

Strong **** ****** **********

*** ****** ****** ********** *** *** ** *** **** *******, with *** **** ****** ********** ********* ********** ******** **** *** client. **** ****** ***** ** ******* ********, ******* **** ************, and ********* ******* ** **** ******** **** *** ******. ***** functions *** *** ********* ** ***** ***** *******. **** **** configuration **** *** **** *********** ***********, ******* ** ****** ********, which *** ** ********* *** ****** *****.

******* ** *** ********** *********, ***** ************* ******* *** *********, such ** **********, ********, ***, ***., ** ******** ** ***/**********/*********** available *** *** *******.

** ****** ***** ******** ** **** *****:

Improved ****** ********* **********

*** * **** * ********* ****** ******* ***** ***** *** manage ***** *******' ********, *** ******, *** *** ********** ****** channels ******* ******* ** ***** *** **** ** ****** *** server ********. ******** *** ********* *** ************* ****** ** *** server *** *** ********. *** ***** ******* ******** ******, ***** may ******** * ******* **** ***** *** ** ******** ** the ******.

** **** **** ****** ** *** ***** *****:


New ********* ** ****** ******* ** ***********

****' *** ********* ******* ****** ***** ** ****** ***** *** drag ******* ******** *****, ******* ** ********* **** ** **** back/forward ** ******* ****** ** ***** ** ******** ****** ** the ********. **** ** *** ** ***, *** ****** ** most ***** *****.

Export ******* *********

*** * ******* ***** ** **** .*** ****** ****, ******* a *********** ******. ******** ******* *** ** ******** ** *** time, *** ******* * ***********/*****-****** ******. * ******** ** ******* containing *** ***** ********, *** **** *** ****** **** ************, not **************.

Enterprise **** / ****** ********** *********

******** *** * ********* *** ** ****** *** ********** **** one ****** ********, *** **** ******** *** *** ****** *********. In ***** ** *** ** ******** *******, ***** ****** * configuration **** **** * ********** ******, *** ****** ** ** the ****. ******** ** *** ****** ****** *** **** ***** saved ** * ******* ********.

No ***** *********

****** *** ***** ********** ***** ** *********** **** ****** ********* *******, *** * ******** ****** **** ********** ** ******** *******, either *** ****** ** ****** *** (*** **** *** *). ***** must ******** ***** *** ** ******* ** **** **** ** each ****** **** **** ** ******* **. ** ********,**** ****** ********* ******* *** ***** ** * ****'* **** *******, ******** **** to *** ** ******** ******* ****** *****.

Server ****/*** *****

*** ***** ** *** **** ****** ******* ******* ****** *** low, ~*-*% ** ** ** *.* ***, **** *** ** and * ***** ******* ** ***. **** ***** ******** ****** consistent ********** ** *******/********** ** ***.

**** ****** ******** ******** ******** ** *** *, *** ** our *****, ** *** ** ********** **** *** ******** ** or ***. ** **** ******* *** ** **** *** *******.

Comments (12)

Thumbnail zayon 1673

Ari Erenthal

Chesapeake & Midlantic | 03/14/16 03:13pm

Why even bother releasing without third party VMD now? Either wait until VMD works, or release as is but make the announcement at ISC West. If they would have waited, it probably would have been the big announcement at ISC.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Ari Erenthal | 03/14/16 04:48pm

"Why even bother releasing without third party VMD now?"

Getting ONVIF based VMD to work consistently is a minefield (see ONVIF test results) so that could have been a factor.

Thumbnail zayon 1673

Ari Erenthal

Chesapeake & Midlantic | In reply to John Honovich | 03/14/16 06:14pm

No, I get that, I'm asking why they didn't wait to launch or announce it as ISC, in just a few weeks.

Thumbnail brk1

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Ari Erenthal | 03/14/16 06:48pm

IMO, if you're going to wait for ISC West to drop a product announcement it should be HUGE.

This is really incremental to something Axis has had for a while. It's noteworthy, but it's not enough to drown out the rest of the noise at ISC West. As Itamar noted, the price itself isn't really fantastic for the feature set you get.

Many people go to ISC West with a game plan of what they want to see. As a manufacturer you're better off (IMO) getting releases like this out earlier. Give people time to digest it, give people time to think about it relative to other options, and then at the show you can have a more in-depth conversation with an informed person.

For Axis, an ISC West level announcement would be them doing a 32MP camera to rival Avigilon's 30MP. You know Avigilon is going to have a lot of their messaging at ISC West revolving around the 7K camera, so Axis could throw their competitor off their game by making an announcement like that AT the show.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Brian Karas | 03/14/16 09:04pm

For Axis, an ISC West level announcement would be them doing a 32MP camera

That would ship 32M later...

Itamar Kerbel

03/14/16 03:23pm

I'm not sure what the strategy is. It feels like with 80$ per device is too expensive for what you get.

I'm guessing that things will improve over time but the price is too close to milestone essential license.

I understand that both MS and AX want to keep the appearance of an independent companies but I think the better strategy is keep being open but base your products on milestone at this stage.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Itamar Kerbel | 03/14/16 04:47pm

"It feels like with 80$ per device is too expensive for what you get."

My guess is that the price is a 'feature', not a 'bug'. In other words, Axis may have set that price to limit the competitive threat of ACS to third parties. Imagine if they gave away ACS for Axis cameras? That would be highly disruptive to their partner relationships.

Undisclosed #1

03/14/16 07:04pm

Imagine if they gave away ACS for Axis cameras?

Imagine if Milestone gave away a camera with every license. :)

Undisclosed Integrator #2

03/14/16 07:36pm

Ask the customer what features they feel are most needed that they are willing to pay for. Then compare those comments with one of the no license fee manufacturers. I bet most do not give a hoot about half the stuff and if they knew they could RECORD, PUSH to the CLOUD, and VIEW LIVE for free they would do it for FREE.

Thumbnail usa shield

Luis Carmona

IPVMU Certified | 05/09/16 11:58am

Was there an example video of the user basics I might have missed? Here is how what the start interface looks like... Here is how to bring up and change cameras... Here is how to change or choose your layout... Here is how to playback/rewind/jump to previous date and time in video ... Here is how to get to the Event List (if any)...

As for the software, it seems very behind established players in similar price ranges like DW Spectrum/NXWitness, Exacq Start and Pro, MS Essential (alreayd mentioned), etc. I guess their long term play is for people who want all Axis at the small to mid level installations...?

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Luis Carmona | 05/09/16 12:49pm

What specifically makes you think it is 'very behind established players in similar price ranges'?

We did not record basic videos as we focused on what's new as the basics remain the same from previous versions of ACS.

Thumbnail usa shield

Luis Carmona

IPVMU Certified | In reply to John Honovich | 05/09/16 02:40pm

I think the lack of camera side motion detection, the lack of multiview export, and the other players just seem to have more established 3rd party camera support. I'm not saying they can't catch up quickly if they want to. But my jaded view is while many manufacturers say they'll do this or that soon, it usually takes a long time.

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Axis Perimeter Defender Video Analytics Tested on Jul 12, 2018
Axis 'high security' video analytics offering is Perimeter Defender, OEMed / developed with Digital Barriers. But how good is Perimeter Defender?...
Drops Dahua, Fenner Becomes ISS CMO on Jul 09, 2018
Hired to improve Dahua's miserable marketing just last year, Janet Fenner has quit Dahua, joining VMS manufacturer ISS as Chief Marketing...
UK VSaaS Startup Ocucon on Jul 03, 2018
Decreasing exposure to fraudulent slip-and-fall insurance claims and lawsuits is one of the oldest selling points of video surveillance for retail....
Digital Watchdog Low Cost 4MP Camera Tested on Jul 02, 2018
Based on member 4MP testing requests, we bought and tested Digital Watchdog's low-cost 4MP DWC-MTT4Wi to see how it performs in real world scenes,...
Replacing / Switching Access Control Systems Guide on Jun 28, 2018
Ripping out and replacing access control systems is hard for important reasons. Because users typically hold on to access control systems for as...
Panoramic Fisheye Camera Shootout - Avigilon, Axis, Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision, Oncam And Vivotek on Jun 27, 2018
IPVM tested Avigilon, Axis, Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision, Oncam And Vivotek 12MP panoramic fisheye cameras head to head, as shown in the test setup...
Snap Surveillance Profile on Jun 26, 2018
There are not a lot of video surveillance companies that survive 9 years with only one feature that makes their product stand out. In the case of...
OpenEye Apex VMS Tested on Jun 26, 2018
OpenEye is a US company, founded nearly 20 years ago. In the past few years, OpenEye has been one of a few VMS providers that have pivoted to being...
Most Wanted Improvements In Manufacturer Technical Support (Statistics) on Jun 21, 2018
5 key areas of improvement and 1 clear wanted support feature were voiced by 140+ integrator responses to: What improvement in manufacturer...
Axis Guardian - Cloud VMS And Alarm Monitoring - Released on Jun 19, 2018
Axis has struggled to deliver a cloud-based managed service video platform. Video service providers have utilized AVHS for over a decade, and have...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Amazon Ring Alarm System Tested on Jul 16, 2018
Amazon Ring is going to hurt traditional dealers, and especially ADT, new IPVM test results of Ring's Alarm system underscore. IPVM found that...
Hikvision Wins Chinese Government Forced Facial Recognition Project Across 967 Mosques on Jul 16, 2018
Hikvision has won a Chinese government tender which requires that facial recognition cameras be set up at the entrance of every single mosque...
Installing Dome Cameras Indoors Guide on Jul 16, 2018
IPVM is producing the definitive series on installing surveillance cameras. This entry covers one of the most common scenarios - installing dome...
Security Sales Course Summer 2018 on Jul 13, 2018
Based on member's interest, IPVM is offering a security sales course this summer. Register Now - IPVM Security Sales Course Summer 2018 This...
US Tariffs Hit China Video Surveillance on Jul 13, 2018
Chinese video surveillance products avoided tariffs for the first two rounds. Now, in the third round, many video surveillance products will be...
Last Chance - July 2018 IP Networking Course on Jul 12, 2018
Registration ends today, Thursday. Register now. This is the only networking course designed specifically for video surveillance...
4 Most Difficult Camera Installs (Statistics) on Jul 12, 2018
Heavy housings, cumbersome brackets, heavy ladders required, and tricky field of view requirements will cause difficulties no matter the camera...
Axis Perimeter Defender Video Analytics Tested on Jul 12, 2018
Axis 'high security' video analytics offering is Perimeter Defender, OEMed / developed with Digital Barriers. But how good is Perimeter Defender?...
Hikvision Fights Ban - Claims 'Red Scare', Hires 14 Term Ex-Congressman on Jul 11, 2018
Hikvision is fighting back against the House Bill Ban of their products. Hikvision has hired one of the biggest lobbying firms, led by a 14 term...
Arecont Acquisition By Costar on Jul 11, 2018
Arecont Vision acquisition by Costar Technologies has been approved by the court, concluding the bankruptcy process triggered by Arecont's...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact