Cisco Meraki Cloud VMS/Cameras Tested

By Sean Patton, Published Feb 13, 2019, 10:33am EST

Cisco Meraki says their cameras "bring Meraki magic to the enterprise video security world".

According to Meraki, their magic is their management Dashboard, ease of use and configuration, accessibility and network security and "doing things in ways they have never been done before." They are aiming to succeed in video surveillance, where Cisco has failed in the past.

** ********* * ****** cameras (******,****) *** *** ********, and ** **** ******, we ******* ******'* **** strengths *** ******* ********** including:

  • **** *** ******** ***** Streaming ***********
  • ****** ************* ************
  • ********** *** ******* *******
  • ****** ****** ************ *******
  • *****/***** ************ ***********
  • *****-***** *********** *******
  • ******** *** ******** *******
  • *******
  • ********** ** *******

Executive *******

******'* *** ********* ******* in *** *******, **** good *********** **** ******* and ****** ********, *** no ******** ** ********** issues. *******, ****** ******* and ********* *** **** expensive, *** ****** ************ cost ** **** ** more **** **** ********** VMS ********* ********. ****, Meraki ** ******* **** common *** ******** **** instant ********, ***** ********* and **** ***** **********. Atypical *** * *****-***** VMS, *** ****** *** is ******* ** ******* live ***** **** * single ******, *** ******** video ********.

***** ********* ********* **** in ***** ********** *** did *** ******* **** at ***** ** **** people **** ********* ********** in *** ***** ** view.

****** **** ** **** attractive ** *** ***** that **** ****** ******* hardware *** ******* ****** Cloud **********, *** **** to *** ******* ** their *******. *** ******* who ***** ***** ********** and ** **-******* ******/*******, Meraki ** **** ** option **** *********** **** recognition ** **. ******* to*******, *** *********** *************, ****** **** *** utilize *** ***** *** primary ***** *******, ** if * ****** ** damaged ** ******, *** recorded ***** ** *** camera ** ****.

VMS *********

****** *** ******* ******** strengths ****** **** ***** use ** ******-***** ***** analytics, ******** ************ *** remote ****** ** *** functions ** *** ********:

  • ****** ******
  • ****** ********* ** ***** Lighting
  • ****** ****** *********
  • ****** *** *********
  • ******** *** ****** ********
  • *-****** **************
  • ******** ******* **** ******
  • ******* ******* *********

VMS **********

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

  • ****** ********* ** *****
  • ****** ********* **** ********* obstructed
  • ******* ****** ***
  • ** *********** ****** ******
  • **** **** ******* *******
  • ** *****-***** ****** ** other ************
  • ******* ***** ************ ******* Internet
  • *-* ******* ******* ** Cloud *******

Overview *****

*** ********* *-****** ***** overviews *** ****** *** Portal *** *******, ************ strengths *** **********:

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

******'* *** ********** ** cameras ***** ****** ********* analytics ********* ** *** camera, *** ** ****** Cloud. ** ***** ******** conditions, ****** ********* ********* well, **** ** ***** missed ******, *** ** false ********* *** ** lighting *******, *******, ***. Meraki ****** * "**** People" ******* ***** ******** any ****** ******** ** recorded *****:

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

*** **** ********* **** resulted ** ******'* ****** detection ******* ** ******, or ****** ********* *** low ******** (*** ******* and ********** ** ***** present) *** ********* ********** people.

** **** *******, ****** failed ** ****** * person ******* ******* *** parking ***, ***** **** are ******* *******, *** passing ******** ** ***** of *** ******:

** **** *******, *** camera ******** *** **** lost ********* ** *** person **** *** ***** body *** *******:

****** **** **** **** aware ** ***** ***********, noting *** ****** ********* is * "****" *******, and ***** ******** ****** will ** ******* *** trained **** ********** ********.

Limited ****** ***

******'* ****** *** ****** single-camera **** *******, ******** for ********* *********, ******** cameras, ***. ** **** not ***** ***** ********, multicamera *******, ** ****** snapshots.

****** **** **** *** mobile *** **** ** receiving ******* ** ******** its ************* *** ***** users, *******, **** ***** that **** ********* ****** the ****** *** ** be **** *** ******* configuration *** ****** ************.

Flexible **** **** *******

********* * ******** *** web-based *****, ******'* ***** Wall ****** *** ***** performed ****, *** ******** the ********* ********* ***** on *** ****** ** cameras ****** *** ******* layout:

2-Factor ************** (***) ******* *****

******'* *** *** ***** to *** ** *** offers *** *** ***-***** authenticator *******. ****** **** offers *** **** ******* configuration *** ******** ****** configuration *** ***** *******. Though *** **** *** secure *** *** **** all ***** ** ****** exploit, ** *** ******* account ****** *** ******* malicious ***** **** ********** to ****** *** ****** (**** *-****** ************** ******).

Dynamic ******* *********

******* ***** ******* ** onboard *** *******, **** resolution, ******* *** ********* type (********** ** ******) are *******, *** ****** interface *********** ******* *** estimated **** ** *********:

****** **** **** ***** camera ****** ********* ***** @20fps ********** ****** ****** 7 **** ** ******** video, *** **** ***** they *** ******* ** pushing **** ***** ** cloud ********, *** **** added ****** ***** ********* which ******* *** ***** without ****** ********* ***** 3 ****.

****** *******, ** **** 1080P ****** ********* ** 8 *** ********** ******** over * ***** ** video.

System ****** *********

* ****** ******* ******** from ****** ******* ********** system, *** ****** ********* displays ****** ********** ******, and ****** ******** *** cameras **** *** ** online *********, **** *** have **** ******* ************:

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

****** ******* *** *******, Meraki ****** ***** ******* of **** *****. ** the ********* ******** ***** Internet ************:

  • ***** **** ****** ******* on **** ****** (********* configured *********)
  • ***** *** ******* **** be **** ** ******** viewing **** ******* ** local *******
  • ******** ***** ****** ** cameras ****** ** ****** locally
  • ********** ***** ****** ** video *** ** ****** remotely

**** ********* ******** ** the ******, *** *** displays * ***** ********* (instead ** * ***** icon):

High ******* **** ***** *******/***** ****** ***

**** ********* ** *** same *******, ****** ****** LAN ****** *********** **** a ******* ** *-* seconds.

*******, ******* ***** ***** results ** * *-* second *****, ********** ** video ******* ** ********** selected:

**** ** *-** ****** than ***** ******* **** Arcules *** *******.

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

****** ****** * ****** format, *** *** ********* video. **** ***** ****** is **** ** ******** on ******* *******, *******, they ******* ** ********, watermarking, ** ******** ** the ***** **** ** is ********. ************, ******* Meraki **** *** **** a ***** **** ******, there ** ** *****-****** playback **** *** ***** is ********.

****, ********* ***** ** an .*** ** * 2-step ******* ** ********* from *** ****** ** the ***** *** **** downloading *** ***** **** the ***** ** * local **. ***** ** no ******-****-****** ******** ******.

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

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

****** **** ********** **** ********** **** *** ***** a ***, *******, ** video ********. ****** **** they *** ******** ** release *** *** ******* camera ****** ***** ** customer *******, *** ***** not ******* * ********.

No *****-***** ****** ******* ** ***** ************

****** **** ********** *****, Meraki **** *** ******* any *** ***** ****** control ** ***** ************. They ***** **** *** open ** *****-***** *** integration ** ***** ******* but ** *** **** any ****** ************ **** could ****.

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

****** **** *** ******* ONVIF ** ****** ****** support *** *** ***-***** cameras.

DHCP ******* ****

****** ******* ** *** support****** ** *********. ****** *********** ***** DHCP **** *** ************ if **** ******* **** IP ******* ** ********.

Web ****** **** *********

****** ******* ** *** have ** ********** *** server ********* ***** ** most *********** ** ******* and **** *** ************* and ****** ************** (********* passwords, ** *******, ***). While **** **** * web ****** **** ******** at *****://, it ******* ** * warning *** ********** ** the "******" ******* ******* in ** ******* **** refresh ****.

****** **** ***** ** and *** *** **** for ****** *** ***** streaming. **** **** *** cameras *** ********** ******** signed *** ************, *** all ****** ************** ******* TLS ****** ***********.

Software ****** **********

****** ************* ******* *** VMS ********, ****** ******** approximately ***** *-* ***** and ********* ***** ******* and *** ***** ******. Cameras ******** ******* **** follow **** ********, *** can ** ********* ** avoid ************ ********:

*******

****** ***** * **** Cameras, ****** *** *******, 720P ** ***** **********. MSRP ****** *** ****** below, ****** ************ ******* was ~**% ***** **** MSRP:

  • **** - ****** ***** Lens ******* ****: $***-$*,***
  • **** - ****** ***** Varifocal **** ******: $*,***
  • **** - ****** **** Varifocal **** ******: $*,***
  • **** - ******* ***** Varifocal **** ******: $*,***
  • **** - ******* **** Varifocal **** ******: $*,***

***** ***** ****** ***** 256GB ******* *******, **** models ***** *****.

****** *** ****** ************ licensing ** ********, *** contract **** ****** *** $300 *** * ****, $600 *** * *****, $900 *** * *****, and ** ** $*,*** for * **-**** ********. IPVM **** ~$*** *** camera *** *-**** ************* from ***.

***** ****** *** **** and ***** ******* *** significantly ****** **** **** traditional ****** *************, ***** sub-$100 ******* *** *********. Additionally, *** ****** ************ costs ** **** ** more **** **** ********** VMS ********* ********. ***** costs **** ** *** take **** ******* ******** costs.

Compared ** *******

**-****** ************* ******* *******'************* ** *********** * clone ** ******'*, ** they **** ***** **** analytic *******, **** ******* storage ** ******* ***** retention, ******* ****** ****-**-*** web-based *****. **** ******* are *********, ******* **** offer * ******** ***** range ** ******* (**** fisheye, *** ****, ***), but ******'* ********* ******** better *** *** ***** bugs *** ***********.

******* ************ ******* ** less ********* (~**% **** MSRP ** * ****** basis), *** ** ***** in * ******* ******* phase, ***** ****** ** nearly **-***** ***, *** has *** ******* ** Cisco, ** ** *****.

Comments (18)

Avatar

Jonathan de Chateau

02/14/19 09:47am

**** ************* ******* ****!

*** ******** ** *** Cisco ****** ** ****** when ********************* *******?

Avatar

Sean Patton

IPVM | In reply to Jonathan de Chateau | 02/14/19 02:20pm

**********, * ***** ***** should ** ****** **** significant **********. ****, *** overall ****** ** **** greater ****** **** ******* the ****** ******* **************, and **** ** **** I **** **** (********* the ******* *** **********), is **** *** ********* have **** ***** ** Cisco *******, *** ** Access ******/**** *******/*******.

**** **** *** **** that * ******* *** rest ** *****'* ************** receives ** ********* ***** bill ** ******, *** it ********* ****** *** scope ** ******* ******* of * *** ****.

Avatar

Simon Lambert

IPVMU Certified | 02/14/19 10:40am

**** ***** ****** ** better ***** :) ******, guys.

"****** **** *** ******* the ***** *** ******* video *******, ** ** a ****** ** ******* or ******, *** ******** video ** *** ****** is ****."

*'* **********. *****'* **** revelation **** **** *** of *** **** ******** advantages ** ***** ******* is *** ***? ***-**** mirror. **** ** ***** cited ** *** ******* (and ******** **** ********) as * ****** ****** for ********* '***********' **-**** NVRs. * *** ** such ** *** *** that *'* *********** ********* here...

* **** *****, * was ****** ** *** tests ** ***** *******, IR ******** ** *****, WDR *************, ***. *** simply, ** ***** ******* perform **** ******* ***** big *****? ** **** price **** ****** ** absolutely ********** ;) *** plans *** ***** **** as ***** ****?

Avatar

Sean Patton

IPVM | In reply to Simon Lambert | 02/14/19 02:33pm

*****'* **** ********** **** that *** ** *** main ******** ********** ** cloud ******* ** *** met? ***-**** ******. **** is ***** ***** ** our ******* (*** ******** VaaS ********) ** * strong ****** *** ********* 'traditional' **-**** ****. * may ** **** ** old *** **** *'* overlooking ********* ****...

****** ****** *****-***** *******, but ** ** *** the ******* ******** ****** of ***** *********. *****-***** Archiving ** ********* ** an ********** ******* *** offers ********** **/* ********* as * ****** ** the **-****** *******.

* *** ****** ** see ***** ** ***** quality, ** ******** ** night, *** *************, ***. Put ******, ** ***** cameras ******* **** ******* other *** *****? ** this ***** **** ****** be ********** **********

**** **** *** ********* focused ** *** *** features *** *************, ***** also ******* ***** ********* and ******* *** *********** video ***** ******. *** greatest ******** ****** ** the ******* ** **** can **** ** **** with ****** ***** **** are *** ***** ********** and ** *** ****** an ********** **** ******.

***********, *** ***** ******* was ************, *** *** exceptional ** *** ******** category (**, ***/***, *** light).

 

Undisclosed #1

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Simon Lambert | 02/14/19 03:56pm

*'* **********. 

******** ** ** ********, I ****** ** ** flabbergasted.  ******* ** *** in ********* ***** *** lunacy ** ****** ***** of *** ***** ** the ****** ** ****** etc.

** **** **** ******* to *** *****, ***** years ** ******** ********* ignorance, **** ********* **** finally ******** **** ******** a ****** ** *** going ** ****** ******** of ***** *****.

***, **** **** ******* spread ******* **** **** stealing *** ********* **** ***** ***** ******.  This ********** **** ** risk *** **** ******** of ********** ********** *******, to ********** ***** *** violence.

Undisclosed End User #4

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 01/08/20 12:10am

** **** * ****** cameras **** ** *** for ******* (**** *** 3, **** **** ** 2 ** *** ***** ones **** **** **** released) * ********** *** installed ****, *** ** accounts *** ******* *** they *** ******. * unplugged **** **** ****** ago *** ** *** noticed. *** ****** ****** model ********** **** *** work *** ******** ************* (we **** **** **** cameras ** *******) *** the ********* **** **** year ***** *** ***********.

* ***'* ** ******** them **** ****** ****** the ********** ****** ** to ** **.

George Bentinck

In reply to Undisclosed End User #4 | 01/08/20 04:58pm

[**********: * **** *** Meraki]

* ***** ******* **** enable *** ******** ** they ****** **** **** a ****** ** *********.

Avatar

Simon Lambert

IPVMU Certified | 02/22/19 07:05pm

*** **** * ***** about ******, *** **** I'm **** ********** ****************.

*'** *** **** ** prices **** **** (***** I ***'* ******* ** that ***** ****** *** confidentiality **** ***** **** were *****) *** ********, camera ******* (******* ********!) and ***** ********* ******* (because ****** *** ********* if *** **** *** camera ***** **** *******).

*** ******** ** ***-********** ********* compared **** (********) ****** alternatives **** ****-******* *************. The ****** ****** ******* costs *** ***-********** **** when ******** **** *** one-time ******** **** **** with '***********' *******. ** the ****** ****** ******* is *, **** *** cloud ******* *** ** days ** *.**, ****** recurring ***** ** *.** every **** ** *** want **** ****** ** not ****** * *****(!), ***** seems ********** ******** **** the **** *********** ******** that *** *********, *** that *** *** '******' systems.

* *** *****? *'* hoping ** *** ** hands ** * **** example, *** *'** ** happy ** ***** ** and ****** ** ******** if * ** ******** here.

Undisclosed #1

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Simon Lambert | 02/22/19 10:39pm

...********* ***** ** *.** every **** ** *** want **** ****** ** not ****** * *****(!), which ***** **********...

*** ******** *** ******* the ******** **** ***** be ******* *** **** to **** *** ******* below **** *** **** it ** ** *** services.  “****, **** * phone *** $*!”  ***** wouldn’t ** * *** deal, ** *** ****’* have ** *** ***** outrageous ***-**** ****.

**** ****** *** ******** is ** **** *** phone $*********** ***** *** ********** plan ** ***.

*** ****** *** ****** phone *********, ****** ***’* have ***** ***** ******* finding * *** ** open ** ***** ********.

* **** ***** ** the *********?

“**** ******, ** **** hacked **** ********, ** you ***’* **** *** demands, ** **** ***** buying **** ********** ******** en *****!”

 

 

Fletcher Williams

IPVMU Certified | 04/04/19 06:22pm

**** ** ***** *** option ** **** ****** on ******? * ***'* see **** ** *** screenshot ***** ** ********** the ********* ******. 

Avatar

Sean Patton

IPVM | In reply to Fletcher Williams | 04/04/19 06:25pm

********,

***** ** *** * strict ****** ** ****** only ** ******, *** you *** ****** ******-**** retention, ***** **** ****** video ******* ****** ******** after * ****:

George Bentinck

In reply to Fletcher Williams | 04/04/19 07:20pm

********,

* ****** **** ****** for *** ** *** details ** ****** ***** retention.

Fletcher Williams

IPVMU Certified | 04/05/19 12:33am

***** *** **** *** George.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

07/24/19 03:50pm

*** ****** **** ****** special ********* ******* ?   I'm **** ** * trusted ** ******* ** a ******** ****** ***** in ****** **** ***** is ******** * *** camera ***** ** $**** on * **** **** subscription- ** **** ******* per ******.

 

**** ***** ******** *** camera/less ************

**** ** **** ** beat ** ****.

 

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 07/24/19 03:59pm

#*, * ** **** they **. **** **** ******* ** ** special ********* *******.

*** ********* ** *** deal, * ***** ****** it ** ** ********** to ***** *********** *********.

** $*,*** *** * camera / * ***** really **** ***** * deal ******? ***** **** alternatives ***** ** ******* for **** ***** ** less?

Undisclosed End User #3

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 07/24/19 04:09pm

* ***** * *** in ***** *** ** of ****, **** ***** storage, *** *** ***** Archive (** *** *********) came *** ** $***.** USD *** ******. *** not ******* ************. **** translates ** $**** ******** dollars *** ******. * got **** ***** **** a ***** ***********, *** an **********.

 

 

Avatar

Sean Patton

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed End User #3 | 07/24/19 04:50pm

**** ** * *********** discount ** *** ****** and ********** *** *******, but *** ********* **** Meraki. * ***** **** have * ******* ** the *****, **** **** included * ****** ** day/3 **** *******, ***** would **** ***** ********* for * ****** ******, not *** **.

Undisclosed End User #3

In reply to Sean Patton | 07/24/19 05:32pm

***********. * ******* ** told ** ****, *** it's **** * *** months ***** * ****** this ***. **** ***** put *** ***-****** **** at $**** ***, ** which **** ***'* ********* price ** $**** *** really ** * ****** good ****. *** **** two ***** ***** ** the ********. 

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