Arcules Cloud VMS Tested

By Sean Patton, Published Nov 19, 2018, 09:23am EST

Arcules is a big bet, or as they describe themselves a 'bold company', spun out and backed by Milestone and Canon.

But how good is Arcules cloud VMS? They recently started general availability and, in this test, we examine their capabilities.

In this test, we examine Arcules' main strengths and primary weaknesses including:

  • Compared to Milestone XProtect
  • People and Vehicle Detection Analytics
  • Low Latency Cloud Streaming
  • Video Evidence Case Management
  • False Positive Video Analytic Alerts
  • Limited Alarm Notifications
  • Proprietary Format Support / Video Watermarking
  • PTZ Support
  • 3rd Party Integrations
  • Gateway Appliance Offered / 3rd Party Hardware Supported
  • Software Updates
  • Direct Driver and ONVIF Camera Support
  • Pricing
  • Compared to Eagle Eye and Genetec Stratocast
  • Features On Roadmap

Executive *******

*** * ******* *** was **** ****-*** * year *** * **** ago, ******* ***** *** proved ***** ***** ** our *******, **** **** overall *********** ************ *** no ******** *** ***********. On *** ***** ****, not ************ *** * 17-month-old *******, ******* ** missing * ****** ** commonly **** *** ********.

*** ******* *** ***** cloud, ******* ** ***** considering *** *** ***** who **** **** ********** VMS ************, ************ *** software ** ***** ********. We **** ** ****** Arcules ** **** ** track *** ***** ** development.

VMS *********

******* *** ******* ******** strengths ****** **** ***** use ** *********'* **** base, ***** ******* *********, and ***** *********:

  • ****** *** ***** *** mobile *******
  • ****** *** ******* *********
  • ***** ******** **** **********
  • *** ******* ***** *********

VMS **********

******* *** ******* *********** features **** *** ******* or ******** ******** ** conventional *****:

  • ** ***** ****** ** Internet ** ***
  • ***** ******** ****** ******** / *********
  • ** *********** ****** ******
  • ** *** *******
  • ** *****-***** ****** ** other ************
  • ******* ***** ************ ********

Overview *****

*** ********* *-****** ***** overviews *** ******* *** Portal *** ***** ******, highlighting ********* *** **********:

Similarity ** ********* * *******

******* ***** ***** *** mobile *** *** **** similar ** *********, ******* the ********* ********* **** base. **** **** ******** like ****** ****** ******* are **** ******** **** Milestone.

**** ** * *********** advantage *** ******* ******** to ***** ***** ********, which ********* **** * thick ****** *** *********** direct ****** *******:

People *** ******* ********* *********

******* *** ********** ***** utilization ** ****** ***** services *** ******* *** video *********.

** * ******* ****** size *** ************ **** (default *********** ********, ** range ****** ****** ** missed *******), ****** *** Vehicle ********* ********* ************, with ** ***** ********* on ******** *******, *******, foliage, ***.

*******, ******** ** ******* video *********, ******* **** not ******* ******** *****, tracking *****, ** *** visual ********** ** *** trigger ** *** ******** event.

**** ********* ** ***** with * **** ***** camera **** ** *** not **** ********* * person ******** *** ***:

******** **** **** ******** during *** *** *** night ******* ********** ******:

*** ************* ********* **** caused ******** ***** ******** alerts *** ****** ********* was ***** ******** ** night:

Many ***** ******** ***** ****** ******** ******

***** ****** *** ******* detection ********* ****, **** limited ***** ********* (********* due ** ******* **********), the ****** ******** ******** suffered **** ******** ***** positive ****** *** ** lighting (* *********** ** blinking ******* ****** ****** and ** **** **** a ****** ****** ******** on *** ***).

Low ******* ***** *********

*** ***** ******* ****** in *** ******* ****** are **** ***** *******, not *** **-******* *******. Streaming ******* *** ********* around * *******, *** never ***** * *******. This ** *********** *** the ********** ************ ******* Arcules ** ********* **, with **** ****** ****** for **** ********** ** security ********.

Video ******** **** **********

******* ****** * ***** service ****** "*****" ***** video ******** **** ******* cameras ** ********** **** a **** **** *** be ******** ** ****** the *** ** ***** Client. ****** ***** ******** functionality, ****** ** **** the ***** *** ***** from ******** *** * single ******** **** **** includes *** ********** ***** files *** * *** Audit ***** ********.

* ******** ** ******* Cases ** *** **-****** maximum ***** ****** *** any ****** ***** ** evidence, ******* ******** ***** clips ** ******** *** be ********** **** * case.

Unconventional ******* ******

******* ****** **** ******** and *********** ******** ** conventional ***** ***** ** how **** *** *** cloud:

  • ** *** ******** ** out ** * **** using *******, ***** ******* will **** ** ****** to ******** *** **** video, **** ****** *** cameras *** ** ** the **** ***** ******* as *** ******. *******, remote ***** **** **** access ** ******** *****.
  • ** *** ******** ** working *** *** ******* Gateway ** ****, ***** viewers **** **** ****** to ******** ***** (****** in *** *****) *** not ** **** ***** that ******** ***** **** first ** *** *****.

******* **** **** * limited ******-**-******* *** ****** is ********* ***** * device "***** ***", *** instructions *** *** ********* in *** *************.

Limited ***** *************

******* ***** ************* ******** email ****** ** ******** recipients ** ******. *******, there ** *** ** option ** ******* ********* or ***** ***** ***** with *** *****. ** is ******* ** * basic ***** ******* **** UTC-coded **** *** ****, not ***** ****** ****:

No *********** ****** ******* / ***** ************

******* ****** * ******* for ********* *****, *** and *** *******. **** of ***** ******* *** easy ** ******** ** various *******, *******, **** provide ** ********, ************, or ******** ** *** video **** ** ** exported. ************, ******* ******* does *** **** * video **** ******, ***** is ** *****-****** ******** once *** ***** ** exported ** *** ** MKV.

**** ********** *** ********* provide * ***** ******** format **** * ********** player. ******* ************ ** typically **** ** ****** when ***** * *********** video ******.

******* ******** *** ***** export:

** ********, **** * proprietary ****** ******, *** clips ***** ** ********** into * ****** **** for **** ********* *** playback.

No *** *******

***** *** ** ******** for *** ******* ** any ** *** *******. Arcules **** ***** ******* from *** ******* ****** work, *** ****** ******* development, **** *** *** anticipate ***** ******* ***** be *** ****** *** accurate *** *******. **** said **** ***** *** consider ****** **, ***** on *** ******* ***********, but ** *** *** been * ****** ******* request **** *********.

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

****** *********'* ********* **** of *** ***** ************ and ********, ******* **** not ***** *** ****** control, ********* ** ********* integrations.

******* ***** **** **** plan ** *** *** party ************:

** *** ****** ******* will *********, ***** ********* interfaces ** ***** ******** security ******** ******** * hybrid ******** ** ***** together *****, ****** *******, building ********** *** ***** IoT ********* ***/** *******. Arcules **** ***** ** open ******** ************ ** allow ***** **-*********** ************

** **********, *** ********* integration ** * ********, as **** *******:

************* ** *** ** the ***** ******** *********** partnerships.

Gateway ********* ******* / *** ***** ******** *********

*** ******* *********** ********* as * ********* ** Arcules ***** ******** *** is ********* ** **** the *******-******** ********* *** 3rd-party ********.

*** ******* ******* ********* tested *** * **** Optiplex **** **, ***** runs * ****** ***** OS **** *** ******* application *************** ********** ***************.

**** *** ******* ** added ** *** ******* web ******, ***** ** a ****** ** ***** the **** ** * single ***** ********** ****** to *** *******, ** multi-region ******* **** ****** backup.

arcules gateway

Software *******

******* **** **** ************* update ******** ******, ****** features *** ****** ****, including *** ******* ********* software.

Direct ****** *** ***** ****** *******

******* **** **** ******* both ****** *** ***** drivers *** ~*,*** ****** model. ****** *******, *** Gateway ********** *** ***** online ******* *** ******** manually ****** ******* ***** on ** *******. ************, Arcules *** **** ** connect ** ******** ********* streams **** **** ******* cameras **** ******* **-****** dewarping.

******* **** **** *** adding ****** ****** ******* for ******* ***** ** customer ********.

*******

******* *** * ******** when ******* *** * system:
*. ******* ******** *** - ****** ********
  • *** ******* $*,*** ****
  • *** ******* $*,*** ****
  • *,*** ******* $*,*** ****
*. * *** ****** fee ****** *******, ***** includes *** ****** **********, frame ****, *** ***** analytics:
  • ** *** ******* $** MSRP
  • ** *** ******* $** MSRP
  • +** **** ******* - custom
*. ******* ********* *******
  • $*** ***-**** ******** *** preconfigured ******* ******* *********. Gateway ********* ** ******** to ******* ** ** 30 *******.
  • ******* *** ***** ******** based ** *********** ******* appliance *************. *** ******* software ** ******** **** the ******* ******** ***.

Compared ** ***** *** *** **********

*******, **** ***** ***, requires * ******** ******* to ******* ******* ** cloud ******** *** ******* a ***** ***** ******. They **** ***** *****-***** video ********* *** *********** system **********. *******, ***** Eye ****** ******** ***-***** integrations *** *** * 5-year **** ***** ******** marketing, *****, *** ******* partner *******, ****** ******* has *********'* ********** *** Canon's *********.

******* ** ********* ********** surveillance *********, ***** ********** is ********* ******** ** residential *** ***. *******, Stratocast *** ** ********* to * ****** ******** Center ******, ***** ******* is *** ********** ** Milestone (***, **** ******** plans *****). ************, ******* requires **-**** ******** ********** for ************ ** *** cloud, ***** ********** ******** cameras ******** ** *** cloud, ******* ** **-***** for ***** ***** *********.

Features ** *******

******* **** *** ********* missing ******** *** ********* in *********** *** **** release:

  • ****** ****-**
  • *****-****** **************
  • ****** ******* ***********

******* **** ***** **** need ** ***** *** their ********** ******* ******* network *** *** ******** on ** / ******* Integrators, ** ******** *********** with ********** ***** **** strong ********** ***********.

Version ******

  • ******* ******* *.* (**-***)

Comments (10)

Jay Hobdy

IPVMU Certified | 11/19/18 07:47pm

Will Arcules be handled by the same regional reps that handle Milestone?

 

The platform fee is disappointing as that is tough to pitch for a handful of cameras. But they do say their focus is enterprise clients. Is the platform fee per site or per client? 

 

How does the math work out for 100 cameras on Arcules for 24months with 30 days of storage versus in-house servers and licenses? $84,000. Seems like it is a LOT more to run Arcules versus in-house servers and licensing.

 

What is the advantage?

Avatar

Sean Patton

IPVM | In reply to Jay Hobdy | 11/20/18 02:30pm

Arcules has it's own sales reps and integrators. However, there is nothing that prevents a Milestone integrator from becoming an Arcules integrator.

The fee is per client, for example we had 2 Gateways at 2 different locations during our test.

Some of the advantages to most VSaaS solutions, while considering Arcules' $84,000 (which is MSRP) over 2 years is:

  • That isn't just software, its storage as well, with redundant backup in multiple Google datacenters. Drives never have to be replaced, updated, servers don't have to be replaced/upgraded when you add 16 more cameras.
  • No server/storage to set up and install, the Gateways do not require any configuration other than plugging them into an Internet connection and adding them in the web portal. No port forwarding, etc.
  • Automatic software and OS updates, no management/support labor required.
  • Secure remote web and client access. No port forwarding, no VPNs, no 3rd party software for remote maintenance.
  • Shifting the cost of the system from a capital expense to operating expense. It may be much easier for the customer to find $40,000 per year in a $10 million budget vs. a one time upgrade cost of $100,000 (just as an example).

The cost is significant, and we can't report on specific Arcules customers at this point, but existing cloud VMS solutions like Eagle Eye, Genetec's Stratocast, and surely others have enterprise deployments at named reference accounts already, so there is evidence that customers will pay for this type of system. 

Gary Gibson

In reply to Sean Patton | 11/21/18 04:41am

Sean, do you have estimates of the local internet costs to upload continuous video feeds from 100 cameras to the cloud? Or is that included in the per camera fees?

Avatar

Sean Patton

IPVM | In reply to Gary Gibson | 11/21/18 04:51am

Those costs are not included in the per camera feed, and will vary considerably depending on the Internet in any given location.

300/300 Mbps Internet in New York City costs around $60.00 per month. These speeds could be significantly more expensive, or (more likey) completely unavailable less than 100 miles away.

 

Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

In reply to Sean Patton | 12/28/18 11:42pm

I'm still not getting the math.

So if I am selling this to an end-user with 5 locations which of the following formulas would they have to pay?

A: 1 x $1500 (platform Fee) + 5 x $750 (appliance) + 5*(per camera fee)

B: 5 x $1500 (platform Fee) + 5 x $750 (appliance) + 5*(per camera fee)

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

In reply to Jay Hobdy | 11/21/18 08:52pm

Hi Jay,

I looked and made a comparison on a 300 channels, 30 days storage, with running cost over 5 years since customer usually replace enterprise grade servers after 5 years. 

I took into consideration the pricing was published, added running cost of the local appliance. 

The cost of Arcules was 20% more expansive mainly due to the storage cost and the local appliance which is only limited to 30 channels. The difference could have been higher 

I am missing performance figures (throughput), VA, and other costs to make further analysis  

Avatar

Murat Altuev

AxxonSoft | 11/24/18 06:04am

What is the difference between local Gateway and local NVR ? If your NVR has a feature to replicate archive to cloud storages that you just don’t need this kind of service at all. And you’ll pay directly to cloud storage provider without additional expenses of having some software in between.

Moreover, if any problem with internet, you have local access to cameras with NVR. So, I don’t see any reason to have such solution with Gateway.

Avatar

Murat Altuev

AxxonSoft | In reply to Murat Altuev | 11/24/18 06:30am

Ok, the reason is to have access to that archive without accessing NVR.

May be this feature should be free, provided by NVR manufacturer.

John Honovich

IPVM | 03/01/19 01:23am

"Arcules has access to all the intellectual property from Milestone" says Milestone VP of Americas in this speech.

John Honovich

IPVM | 04/17/19 11:01pm

Arcules adds access control, a video from SSI demonstrating it:

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