Cisco Meraki New Cameras and AI Analytics

By Sean Patton, Published Dec 14, 2018, 09:55am EST

Meraki has released their second generation of video surveillance with 3 new cameras, AI-based video analytics, and 2 cloud-based storage options.

Cisco is a leading manufacturer in the IT space, though they are decreasing in popularity with security integrators, and their video surveillance offerings have not reached wide adoption. However, their new offerings are tapping into 2 of integrator's top positive trends.

In this note, based on a conversation with Cisco, we share details of the new offerings and competitive advantages.

Utilizing ********** ********

*** *** ******* *** 1080P *****, ***** * 4MP ******, ***** ***-***** of ******* *******, *****, and **-**. * ****** are *********, *** * is ******* *******.

***** **** *** ******* utilize * ******** ********** SoC, *-**** *** **** integrated ***, ***** ** typically **** ** *********** but *** ******** ** video ************, ***** *****-**** SoCs *** **** ****** and '**-*******' **** *** still ******. *** ********** GPU, ** **********, *** help **** ******** *********.

************, ***** ***** **** all ** ***** ******* offer ***-**-*** **********, **** no ************* ********, *** Cisco ******* ****** ******** SSL ************ *** ***** camera.

In-Camera ** *********

***** **** **** *** new ******* *** ******* in-camera ****** ******* ***** analytics **** *** ********* as "** *****". *** analytics *** ******** **** the ****** *******, ******* a ***-***** *********** ******* can ** ********* ***-******* and *** ** ******* between *******. **** ***** not ******* ** ********* regarding *** ** ************ but ***** *** ********* are ******* ** ********** highly ******** ****** *** object ********* *** ********.

*** ********* ****** *** be ********* **** *****, and *** ****** *** accessible ** *** ******** once *********.

Open ******** **** ***********

***** **** **** ****** the ******** **** ** an**** ******, ***** ** ********* through *** ** ***** video ********* ***. **** protocol ** ********* **** in ********-**-****** ******* ** a ***-********* ******-**-****** ********* transport. ***** **** ********* an ****, ************ ******** should ****** ****** *********** to ***-***** ******** ********** and ********-********* ********.

****** *******, ** ******, still ** *** ******* any ***** ********.

Cloud ******* *******

***** ** ******** ********* Azure-hosted ***** ********* ** 90 *** ** ***-*** lengths *** *** *** old ****** ****** ******.

**** ***** ********* ** enabled, ***** **** ***** is ******** ************** ** the ****** *** ****** to *** *****, *** buffering ******* ** *** camera *** **** ******* to *** *****. ***** recording ** ******* ** continuous **/* *********, ** 1080P *** *****. ***** cannot ** ******** ** the ****** *** **** uploaded ** *** ***** on * ******** ** lower ******* *******. *******, if ******** ************ ** lost, *** ****** **** fill ** **** ** the ***** ***** *************.

***** ******** ***** ** stored ** *** ** 3 **** ******* (***** America, ******, ** ****).

***** ***** **** ***** be ******* ** ****** more ******* *** ***** recording ***********. ***** ***, Meraki ******* **** ********* local *********.

Premium ******* ******

*** * *** ****** in **** ***:

  • **** ***** ***** ******** - $***-*,*** ****
  • **** ********* ****** **** - $*,*** ****
  • **** ********* ******* **** - $*,*** ****

***** *** ****** *** still ************* **** ********* when ******** ** ***** 1080P *******, **** *** sub-$200, *******, *** **-****** AI ********* ***** ***** a ********* ********* ** a ******** ****** ****. In ****, ** **** noted ***** $*,***+ **** Dome ******** ****** **** ********* ** camera ** *****. 

***** ******* **** ***** is $** *** ****** per ***** *** ** days ** ********* ** $83 *** ****** *** month *** *** ****. There *** ******* *** 1, *, *** *-**** contracts.

*** ** ***** ***** analytics *** *********** **** price ** $*** *** channel *** * ****, up ** $*** *** channel **** * **-**** license.

More ****** ******

***** **** **** **** going ** ******** ********** new ****** ******, *** noted ** ** *** their **** ** **** as **** ** ** offering ** *********** ** camera *************.

New **/*** ** *** *********

***** ** **** ******** is * ********/***** ** 802.3af **-**** *** ********, which ******** *** *** of ******** ****** ****** power ******** ** ******* PoE ***** ** *** cameras, ***** *** **** use **-** ** ******* to *** ********. **** noted **** ***** ** used **** *** *** camera/device, *** *** ****** would **** *** *** Wi-Fi **********. ** **** cost **** **** $***.

Meraki *******

*** ********* ** ** analytics, ** **** **** well (** **** *** tested), ***** ****** ** important ************** ******* ************ surveillance ******* **** ***** largely ******** ** ** on-site / ***** ***** analytics **********. ****, *** addition ** ***** ******* will **** ****** ** some *****. **** ** and ******** **** **********'* *** trends.

*******, ************, **** ******* primarily * *** *** general ****** ********* (*** use ***** ****** *** managing **** ************ *** networks *********) *** *** those *** **** ***** prices, ****** **********, **** flexibility ** *** ***** choices, ***. ************ ***** surveillance ********* **** ****** strong ***********.

Comments (15)

Michael Miller

12/14/18 03:04pm

Have you tested these yet Sean?  We have seen several schools hard spec Meraki cameras so I ordered an MV12W to test.   I will have to ask about the new analytics as the analytics running on the camera now are not good at all.  Besides having the system managed in the same interface as the rest of your network gear I just don't get the interest in Meraki cameras.  

Avatar

Sean Patton

IPVM | In reply to Michael Miller | 12/14/18 03:22pm

We have not tested them. I've seen the first generation in the field at few locations that cameras were given to the IT department as part of a large Meraki AP purchase.

Michael Miller

In reply to Sean Patton | 12/14/18 03:25pm

I have spoken we a couple of schools where Meraki is saying if you purchase new switches and wireless they will give the cameras away. 

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Michael Miller | 12/14/18 11:37pm

That's how a lot of customers got stuck with VSOM. It appears some things never change. Fool me once...

Avatar

Kyle Folger

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Michael Miller | 12/18/18 03:53am

But have the schools that are enticed by this "deal" and are choosing to hard spec these cameras know anything about the cameras or even know/care how they perform? I think it's fine to hard spec something because it's already in wide use at a client's existing location, but I just don't get how they would arrive at this spec except for financial reasons.

I don't have anything against Meraki and I like their cloud system if you can afford it. It's just the licensing gets so expensive unless you get a deal.

Look at Ubiquiti. I like their cloud approach, but won't consider their cameras. It doesn't make sense. If you aren't getting the cameras for free, that pricing is ridiculous. I can't imagine the Meraki cameras can even get close to Avigilon's system.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

12/14/18 05:39pm

Hey Sean, the link in this sentence gives me a 404:

Cisco said they output the analytic data stream as an MQTT stream

 

Avatar

Sean Patton

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 12/14/18 06:48pm

Sorry about that, I repointed it to mgtt.org

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

In reply to Sean Patton | 12/14/18 07:28pm

Thanks!

Undisclosed Integrator #4

In reply to Sean Patton | 12/17/18 02:10pm

Also, the first link in the article goes to `https://ipvm.com/reports/Cisco%20Falling%20-%20Favorite%20Network%20Switches%202017` when it should probably go to `https://ipvm.com/reports/fav-switches-17` instead

Avatar

Sean Patton

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #4 | 12/17/18 02:21pm

Thank you for pointing that out, I updated the link

Avatar

Clint Hays

Rasilient | 12/14/18 09:58pm

I've been asking a question of why nobody is using cell phone processors in cameras but itsi nice to see somebody is now. 

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Clint Hays | 12/14/18 11:41pm

I am hoping ON Semiconductor will enter into the analytics business, then it is game over imho.

Undisclosed Integrator #3

12/15/18 01:49am

Why no comment on the AI? Everyone already has thier advanced “AI” motion detection variations, so the only other thing it could do is categorize faces....~And yea, that is a see to believe type of thing.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 12/15/18 04:27pm

Everyone already has thier advanced “AI” motion detection variations

That's just wrong. Some companies claim AI, most deliver poorly (Hikvision DeepInMind, Dahua face recognition camera, etc.).

The fact that they are using a high-end SoC and have cloud processing is structurally much different and more advantageous than the 'AI' that most are doing locally on underpowered chips. I am not saying how well the Meraki analytics work (we are setting up a test) but those 2 things are material differences in area where 'everyone' has marketed 'AI' but few have delivered.

Avatar

Jonathan de Chateau

12/15/18 05:13pm

Does it include the built-in NSA connection like their switches?

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