Intel Meltdown / Spectre Patch Tested on Avigilon, Exacq and Milestone VMSes

Author: IPVM Team, Published on Jan 23, 2018

Significant concern exists about the impact on VMS servers and video surveillance systems of patching the Meltdown and Spectre flaws. Generally, reports have claimed a significant increase in CPU loads, though the amounts have varied depending on the source and services being used. This could be very problematic for VMS servers as it risks problems in recording, watching or playing back video.

Meltdown / Spectre Summary

Meltdown is a flaw in protections allowing unauthorized applications to access OS kernel protected memory. Spectre allows unauthorized applications to trick other programs into divulging private data. For technical details on these, see The Meltdown and Spectre CPU Bugs, Explained or various other online tech sources.

How To Patch

Users may see if their Windows machine is vulnerable using PowerShell, following the steps in this guide.

If so, in order to avoid both of these vulnerabilities, users must install two updates:

  • Windows Update KB4056892: This update should have been included in regular Windows Updates as of early January. This fixes the Meltdown vulnerability.
  • BIOS update: To fix the Spectre vulnerability, users must update their system BIOS, provided by their hardware manufacturer.

However, many devices have not yet received a BIOS update. Out of four different hardware manufacturers we checked (Acer, Asus, HP, and Intel NUCs), only Intel had released a BIOS update for our machines.

Tests Performed

IPVM measured CPU load of server and client processes prior to applying Windows and BIOS updates, and again after updating, using two configurations:

  • Recording only, 25 cameras, ~150 Mb/s
  • Recording and viewing, 10 cameras, ~30 Mb/s

Test Machine Specs

IPVM tested on three separate machines, all with the same hardware configuration, as follows:

  • Operating System: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit (10.0, Build 16299) (16299.rs3_release.170928-1534)
  • BIOS: RYBDWi35.86A.0350.2015.0812.1722 (pre-update)/RYBDWi35.86A.0368.2017.1220.0950 (post-update)
  • Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-5557U CPU @ 3.10GHz (4 CPUs), ~3.1GHz
  • Memory: 8192MB RAM

Note that these machines are fairly high spec, with relatively new processors (1-2 generations old). Older generation processors and lower spec machines are likely to see a greater impact.

Inside this report, we examine the results achieved across Avigilon, Exacq and Milestone plus our recommendations.

*********** ******* ****** ***** *** ****** ** *** ******* *** video ************ ******* ** ******** *** ******** *** ******* *****. Generally, ******* **** ******* * *********** ******** ** *** *****, though *** ******* **** ****** ********* ** *** ****** *** services ***** ****. **** ***** ** **** *********** *** *** servers ** ** ***** ******** ** *********, ******** ** ******* back *****.

Meltdown / ******* *******

******** ** * **** ** *********** ******** ************ ************ ** access ** ****** ********* ******. ******* ****** ************ ************ ** trick ***** ******** **** ********* ******* ****. *** ********* ******* on *****, ****** ******** *** ******* *** ****, *********** ******* ***** ****** **** *******.

How ** *****

***** *** *** ** ***** ******* ******* ** ********** ***** PowerShell,********* *** ***** ** **** *****.

** **, ** ***** ** ***** **** ** ***** ***************, users **** ******* *** *******:

  • ******* ****** *********: **** ****** ****** **** **** ******** ** regular ******* ******* ** ** ***** *******. **** ***** *** Meltdown *************.
  • **** ******: ** *** *** ******* *************, ***** **** ****** their ****** ****, ******** ** ***** ******** ************.

*******, **** ******* **** *** *** ******** * **** ******. Out ** **** ********* ******** ************* ** ******* (****, ****, HP, *** ***** ****), **** ***** *** ******** * **** update *** *** ********.

Tests *********

**** ******** *** **** ** ****** *** ****** ********* ***** to ******** ******* *** **** *******, *** ***** ***** ********, using *** **************:

  • ********* ****, ** *******, ~*** **/*
  • ********* *** *******, ** *******, ~** **/*

Test ******* *****

**** ****** ** ***** ******** ********, *** **** *** **** hardware *************, ** *******:

  • ********* ******:******* ** *** **-*** (**.*, ***** *****) (*****.***********.******-****)
  • ****:********.***.****.****.****.**** (***-******)/********.***.****.****.****.**** (****-******)
  • *********:*****(*) ****(**) **-***** *** @ *.***** (* ****), ~*.****
  • ******:****** ***

**** **** ***** ******** *** ****** **** ****, **** ********** new ********** (*-* *********** ***). ***** ********** ********** *** ***** spec ******** *** ****** ** *** * ******* ******.

****** **** ******, ** ******* *** ******* ******** ****** ********, Exacq *** ********* **** *** ***************.

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

Test *******

** *** *****, ******** ****** **** ** ***** *** ******* vulnerability *** * *********** ****** ** *** ****, ********** *** load ** ********* ******** ** ** **** **-**%. ****** ** server **** **** ******* **** ** ******** ***** *** **** more ***********, ****** ******** *** **** ** *** ****** ***** systems ***** ******** *** ***** (** ******** ** **-**% ****). Applying *******' ******** ****** ** ***** ******** ***** *** * negligible ******, ********** **** **** **** *%.

****** *******, ** *** ** *** ******* **** ***** *******/******** updates, **** ** ******* ******, **** ******* *****, ******** ** video, ** ***** *** ************ ***** *** ***** **** **********. However, **** **** *** ******* *** **** **** ** **** testing *** ***** ***** **% ***********. ***** **** ****** ********** systems ** ***** **** ******* *** *** ****** ** ***** camera ******/***********.

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

******* ** *** *********** ****** ** **** ******* ** *** load, ** ******** ********* **** ***** ** ****** **********/****** ****** count ******* ****** ***** ****** *** ******** ***** ** ********. Those ********* ******* ** **-**% **** *** ****** ** ******** to **-***%, **** *** ********* *** ****** **** ******.

***** **** *** ****** *****/********** ******* *** ****** ** *** little *********** ********** ****** **** ******* ******* ** *** ****** machine.

Intel ***** ******** ******* - ****** *****

******* *** **** ******* **** ****** ****** ****** ** ******* machines (****: **** *** *** ********** ****, *** ** *** be ******** *********). ***** ******** * ********* ** ******* **** that**** *** ***** ******** **** ********** **** ****** **** ******* ******* ****. ******* *********** *** that *** ******* ******* **** **** ******* ******* *********** *******, and ***** ** ************ ******** ** ******** ** **** **** the ******* ******* ** *** **** **** ** *********** *******.

Biggest ******: **** ******

** ***** ** ***** ****** *** ******** *** ******* ***************, users **** ***** **** ******* ******* *** **** *******. ** these ***, *** **** ****** *** * *********** ****** ** CPU ****, ***** ******* ******* *** ******* ******, **** ***** 1% ** *** ***** ******, **** ********* *** *******.

Significant ****** ** **** ********** ****

** *** ***** ** ** ****** *******, ~*** **/* ***** throughput, ****** ******* *** **** ********* ************* ***** ******** *** BIOS ** **** *******, **** *********** ************ ********** ** ~*% and ********* ******** ********* ** ~**%.

**** **** ** ******** ** ****** ** *********** ** ****** VMS ****** ******* (******* ******, **** *******, ********/******* *****, ***.), but ***** **** ****** ********** *** *** ****** ** **** jumps ***** ********.

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

******* **** ** ******* ** ***** ** **/* *****, ****** load *** ***** ********* **** *****, *** *************** ****** **** 24 ****** *******, **** ***** ********** ** *% **** (* 50% ********) *** ********* ** *% (* ~**% ********). *******, Avigilon ******* ****** ****** *************, **** ~*% ** *%, *** as **** ****** ********** *******, ***** ********* *** *** ****** in ********** *********** ******.

Live **** ******* *** ******

*** **** ********* *** ***** ******* ***** ***** ******* **** far **** ***********, **** ******** *** ***** ********** ** **-**% when **** ******* ** ******* **** *** ******* ** *** recording ******. ********* ********* ** ***** *** **** *** **** percentage, *** * *************** ******* ******.

Test ********* ****** ********

***** ** *** ******* ***** ** *****'* **** ******* **** would ******* ***** ** **** ********* ****** ******** ******* ** production ********. ***** *** ****** ***** **** ** * ***-********** environment *** **** ** **** *** *** ******* **** ******* to ******** **** ** ************* *******.

Manufacturer ********

**** *** **** ** ************* **** *** ************* ********* *********** impacts **** *******. ** ***, ************* **** ********* **** *** still ** *** ******* ** *********** ******* *********** ******, *** recommended ********** *** ******** *******.

Comments (21)

John Honovich

IPVM | 01/23/18 05:48pm

**** ** *** **, ** ***** *** ******* / *****, you ******* *** **** * *********** ******* ** **** ***? Replace *** ***? ******* *** ******? **** *** ***'* ********* options?

Thumbnail brk1

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to John Honovich | 01/23/18 05:55pm

** ** **** ** *** **** ******* **** ***** ******** so ***. ** **** *****, *** *** ** **** ** upgrade ** * ****** *********. *********, ********* ** ****** *** (if ********) *** **** ****.

***** *** ************* *** ***** **** ***** ******** ** ****, I ***** ***** *********** ** ********* **********, ** *******, ** much ** ********. ** ***** **** *** **** ****** ******** are *** **** ********* ******** *** ***** ********, ** *** would ****** **** ** ***** * ****** ***** ** **** CPU ** ****** *** ****** ************ **** **** *** ** processor ***********.

****, **** *** *** **** ********* ** ***, *** ** the ****** ** ********** ******** ************ (*.*.: *** ****** *** also ****** ******* ******, ***.), ** *** ** ****-********* ** off-load **** ************ ** ***** ******** ** **** ** *** for *** **** ***.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #4

In reply to John Honovich | 01/26/18 04:33pm

**** ********* **** ** *** **** *** ****** ** *** one ** **** ****** ***** ** * ****** ******* ** increase ********** *****. ********* ************* **** ******** *** ***'* *** uses *** *** ******** *****. *** *** *** **, ****

**** ********* **** **, *** **** *** ****** ** **** one ** **** ****** ***** **** **** ********* ******* ** offload *** ************* *****. **** ** *** *** *** **** mid-summer ** * *** ** * *** *** ***** ******** now, *** ** ***** ** ** * **** *** ********** low-cost ****** **** ** ****.

Thumbnail tompic

Tom Sharples

01/23/18 06:13pm

*** *** ***** ******** **** ** ***** ** * ****** environment **** ** * *** ******? ** *** ** ***** to ** ***** *** ** **** *** *** ** ****** random ****, ** ** * ******* *********?

Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to Tom Sharples | 01/24/18 01:38pm

************* **** *** **********'* ***** ** ****, ******** ******** *** not ** ****** ************ *******.

** *********** *** ******* ******* ******* ******** ******** ** ***** segments ** *** *******, *** ********* *** **** *** **** to *** ******** ** **** ****** *** ****** **********, ****** monitoring ** ********** ****** *****.

Undisclosed Integrator #1

01/23/18 07:07pm

****** ** ****** **** **** ******* **** ** ******** ***** was **** **** ***********, ********** *** **** ** **-**% ** low ****** ***** ******* ***** ******** *** *****

******* ** *** ******* ************* *** ** * ************* **** right? *'* ****** **** ** ***** ** **** ** **'** at **% **** ** ** ******* ** **%-**%.

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 01/23/18 10:19pm

***, ****'* *******. *'** **** **** ** **'* **** *****.

Thumbnail 20180219 112642

Rob Kilpatrick

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 01/23/18 10:28pm

***, *** **** ******* ** *********.

*** *******, *** ***** ****** ** *** *** ********** **** increased ** *% *** *****, ***** **** *% ***-***** ** 12% **** *****, **** *** * **% ********.

Bob Schenck

IPVMU Certified | 01/24/18 04:18am

*** ******* ***** *** **** **** ******* ** ***** ******** code **** ** ******* * ****** *******. ****, **, *** Lenovo **** *** ******* *** ****** **** ******* **** ***** downloads *** *** ************ ****** *** ********* **** ** **** back. ** *** ******** ******* **** ****, *** ****** ** back *** ***** ** ** **** *** ****'* ******* * version **** *** **** *********.

**** *** ** ***** *****’* ******* ***** **** ****** ****

Michael Miller

01/24/18 02:39pm

“** ********* **** ****, ***** ******* *********, ****** *************, ******** vendors *** *** ***** **** ********** ** ******* ********, ** they *** ********* ****** **** ******** ******* *** ***** ************* system ********,” ** *****.

*****://***.**********.***/*****-*******-*********-**-****-**********-***************-******/*******/******/

Thumbnail ack head zy

Alex Knapik

Milestone Systems | 01/24/18 11:11pm

****** **** * ******* *********** **********, *** ******* **** **** Milestone ***** ****** ******** ************ *******? ** ***** ***** ** reason *** ***** *** ****** ***** ** **** **** **** if **** ***** ***** **** ** ****** *** ******...

Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Alex Knapik | 01/24/18 11:17pm

****, ***** *** *** **** *********, **** **** **** ******** testing ****?

Thumbnail me

Campbell Chang

01/25/18 01:25am

***'* ******* *** *** ***** ** *** ***** ******* *** retest ****?

***** *** **** * ***** *** ********** ******** **** ******** affects ******** ******* *** ***** ******** ********** ** ****. ** I'd ** ***** ******* ** **** *** *** **** *** Meltdown ***** ******* *** ***** ** *******.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

01/25/18 11:17am

** *** ********* ********** **** ********* *** ********** **** ********* whether ** *** ** ******** ******** *** **** *******.

*** ****** *** **** ** **** ** **** *** ********* to **** * ******. **** ** *** ********* **** ********** disconnected ******** *** **** *** **** **** ******* **** **** can ** ********* ** ***** ********, **** *** ********.

** ** **** ** **** ** **** ** *** ********* security ******* ** **** ** *** ****** ******* *** ********* actions.

**** ***** **** ******* ** *** ******, **** ** *** customers **** **** ** ** ********* *** **** ********* ******** if ***** ** ** *** ****** *** **** *******.

Tim Cook

IPVMU Certified | 01/25/18 02:25pm

**** **** *************, *** ** ****** ********* ***** ** *********/***'* with ***** ***** ** **** *******/***** *******?

*** ***** *** ******** ************* ** ***** **** *******?

Thumbnail brk1

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Tim Cook | 01/25/18 02:36pm

***** *** ********* ***************, ** **** *** ****** *** ** really.

***** *** ********* ** ********, ******** ******** *** **** * *** ******** ** ***** ** this.

Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Brian Karas | 01/26/18 02:34am

*****,

**** **** * **** **** ******* ** ******* * **** smaller *** ** *** ***** *** ******** ** ****. **** this **** *** ********* ****** ** ******** ****/**** ** **** their ******** ****** ******* ****?

Thumbnail brk1

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 01/25/18 09:40pm

***, **** *** ***** *** ******** ****. ******** ********* ** the **** **** ** *** ***** *** ** **** ******** software/apps/etc., *** ******* ********** ******** ** ******** ******** ****** *** less ****** ** ** ********. * ****** ** ****** ***** that *** ** *** **** ****** **** ******, ***, ***, open ***** ** ******** ***** ****** * ****** ******** ** the ******.

********* ******** **** ** **** ********* ******** ***** ******** ** the ****** **** ** ******** ** ******** ***** ***************. (**** it *** *** *********** **** ** ** *********, ** ***** have **** **** *******-***** ***'*). **** **** ******** **** *** do *** **** * *** ** **** ****** ******** ** even ******* * *******, ** **** *** ***** **** **-***** systems ** **** ******.

**** **** ** **** *** ***** ** ***** ** ******* knowledge ** *** *************** *** ********. ** **** ******* ***** these *************** ********* ***** *****-*** ******* ***** ***** ** *** exploits ******* **** *** ******** **** ** ******* ****.

bashis mcw

01/29/18 07:44pm

** ** ******* *** *************, **** ** * *** *****... sure **'* ******* ***, **** *** **** ******* ** ********* executing ** **** ****.

Thumbnail me

Campbell Chang

In reply to bashis mcw | 02/01/18 05:01am

*** ******* ***** *** ** **** ** *** *** *** itself *** *** ********* *********** ** *** **** **** ***.

** ****** ****, ******* *** ******** * ******** ** **% performance */* ********* *****. **** ** ***** *** **** ***** with ******** *** ******* ****.

Boris Biryuchkov

02/01/18 04:24am

* ***** ** ********* ** ******.

******** **** ** *** (*********) *****'* **** ********/******* *** ********* on *** ***** ******* (****** **** ****** ** *** ****).

***** ** **** **** ******** (********.***.****.****.****.****) *** ****** *****.

*** **** **** **** ****** ***** ** ********://**************.*****.***/*****/***/********************.***

** ***** ********* *** **** ***** (*********)

*****://**************.*****.***/*******/*****/*****-***-***-*********

*** ****** **** ****** ** ***** ********* ****.

***** **** ***** ***** **** *** **** ******* ** ***** is *** **** ****** **** *** *******.

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 on VMS

Massive Leak Of Chinese VMS Provider Exposes Xinjiang Surveillance on Feb 20, 2019
A subsidiary of China’s claimed largest VMS provider is tracking the precise location and ethnicity of millions in China’s Xinjiang region,...
Exacq Raises VMS Software Pricing Twice in Less Than a Year on Feb 18, 2019
Most VMSes regularly release new features, but rarely increase their prices. For the 3rd time in 4 years, and 2nd time in 8 months, since being...
Axis IR Multi Imager Camera Tested (P3717-PLE) on Feb 18, 2019
Axis has released their first IR multi imager, the P3717-PLE, a repositionable model listing 360° IR illumination and flexible positioning,...
Casino Surveillance Pro Interview: James Lathrop on Feb 15, 2019
James Lathrop has been working in casinos for almost 25 years. During that time, he says he has held "just about every job you can do in the...
Cisco Meraki Cloud VMS/Cameras Tested on Feb 13, 2019
Cisco Meraki says their cameras "bring Meraki magic to the enterprise video security world". According to Meraki, their magic is their management...
Solink Raises $12 Million - Company Profile on Feb 12, 2019
Most industry professionals have never heard of Solink, a company whose tagline is: It's time to revolutionize the way business uses...
Milestone Drops Hikvision From Elite Partners on Feb 11, 2019
Milestone has quietly dropped Hikvision from their 'Elite Partners', less than 3 years after adding the Chinese government-owned...
FLIR Favorability Results 2019 on Feb 08, 2019
FLIR has had a challenging past few years including FLIR Security business struggling, FLIR restructuring their security division and FLIR selling...
No Genetec Major Releases In Over A Year on Feb 06, 2019
Annual VMS licenses are a controversial practice in the video surveillance industry, with many questioning their need or value. However, enterprise...
PlateSmart LPR Profile on Jan 31, 2019
PlateSmart Technologies claims to "turn any conventional surveillance camera into a license plate recognition camera" We spoke with PlateSmart to...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Outdoor Camera Mounting Hardware Guide on Feb 21, 2019
Mounting cameras outdoors can be challenging, requiring understanding different types of equipment and methods. In this guide, we teach this...
HID Favorability Results 2019 on Feb 21, 2019
HID favorability results were strong, in the 2019 IPVM integrator study of 200+ integrators, with a net +62% and low negativity as the table below...
First US State, Vermont, Bans Dahua and Hikvision on Feb 21, 2019
The first US state, Vermont, has issued a ban on a number of Chinese and Russian manufacturers including the world's 2 largest video surveillance...
ADI 'SAVE BIG' On FLIR And Hikvision Examined on Feb 20, 2019
One is a major US defense supplier. The other is owned by the Chinese government. But you can "SAVE BIG" on both at ADI. In this note, we...
BluB0x Company Profile on Feb 20, 2019
BluB0x has doubled in revenue every year since its founding in 2013, according to CEO Patrick Barry. We originally reported on them in 2015. At the...
Security Installation Tools Guide - 22 Tools Listed on Feb 19, 2019
In this guide, we cover 22 tools that security installers frequently use. This is one part of our upcoming Video Surveillance...
Sales Cuts At Rasilient on Feb 19, 2019
Over the past 2 years, video surveillance storage specialist Rasilient has expanded its workforce significantly, aiming to build its own branded...
Exacq Raises VMS Software Pricing Twice in Less Than a Year on Feb 18, 2019
Most VMSes regularly release new features, but rarely increase their prices. For the 3rd time in 4 years, and 2nd time in 8 months, since being...
Axis IR Multi Imager Camera Tested (P3717-PLE) on Feb 18, 2019
Axis has released their first IR multi imager, the P3717-PLE, a repositionable model listing 360° IR illumination and flexible positioning,...

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