Milestone Launches Professional NVRs (Husky)

JH
John Honovich
•Published Sep 12, 2013 04:00 AM

Suddenly, Milestone loves boxes! The former software only provider is now launching a series of NVR appliances, called Husky [link no longer available], to target the professional market.

Of course, this is not Milestone's first NVR as you may recall their ill fated, poorly received HP Essential NVRs from 2 years ago. Indeed, introduced this Spring, their new VMS platform, Arcus, has enabled a series of third party NVRs, including from LenovoEMC, Razberi and Coldstore.

Now, though, Husky represents Milestone's most ambitious, broadest NVR offering. In this note, we break it down comparing it to Exacq, Intransa and Arcus partners.

Product ********

*** ***** ****** ** ********* **** 3 ************** ******* **** *** ** M50, **** ******** * ********* *** of *******:

  • ****** ********: ***** * ******** *** *** M10; *** - ** ** ** cameras *** *** *** ** ** 80 ********.
  • ******** *******: ******* **** ***/* *** *** the ***, ***/* **** *** *** M30 (*.*", **** **** ******* *, *, 5, **), *** ******* *** *** rack ***** **** ** ** **** (8 ****, *.*"). **** **** ****** on *** *** *** *** ***** the *** ****** *** ********* ***** bays.
  • ******** *******: ** ******** ******* ** ********* which ******** *** ** ****** *** a ****** *** (*** ******* ** M10, *** ******* ** ***), *** COTS ******** ** ******** **** ***** partners (*********, *********, ***.).
  • *** **** ****: ** *** *********** **** ** separate *** **** ****** *** ***** more ***** ******** ** ****** **** drives.
  • ****** / ********: *** *** ** ********, *.*., no ***** ********** *** *** *** *** ** support ***** *******.
  • *******: * * **** (**** ******** day *******) *******, *** ******** ******* **** is ********  
  • *******: *** **** **** **** *** support 
  • ********: *** ******* ***** ** **** and *** *********** ** ******** **** flush, ******** */* ***** ****** ***** *** ******* ****** *** no ********** ***** ** **** ** damage *** **** ** ******* ******. The *** ** ******* *** ** **** ** ******* ** 0 ** ** ******* * (*** F).

     

  • ********: *** *** ** ***** ***** and ***** ***-****** **** *****. *** and *** **** ***-****** ******************** ** ******* *, *** ******* to * ********* ******* ******* (****** or *********) ****** ** ****- ********************* ** ********** $*** *** ******* is *********. **** **** ******* ***-****** 3rd ***** ****** ******* *** **** discovery ** *******.
  • *******: *********, ***, *** ******* **** can *** ** ****
  • ***********: ******** **** *** ** ******** in *** **** ************ ***** ******* one ** ****** *** *** ****** to ***** (**** ***** ********* ********).

*** *** ********* **** *** *** with ****** ********** ** *******, ****** and *********. *** **** **** ** available ** ***** *** *** *.* for *** ******* ****** ** **** with * ******* ************ ** ******** of ****.

*******

******* **** ** ******* ** ********** higher **** '************' ******* *** *********, with *** *** * ******* **** at * $*,*** ****, *** ** - ** ******* *** ***** ******* $4k *** $** **** *** *** larger **** ** ~$***+

****** **** ** *********'* ***** ************* over *** **** *** *****, **** does *** **** ***** ****** ** create * *********** **** *********. ** particular, *** **** **** ** ********** to ***** ********* ******* ******* ****, like****/*****.

Risks / ***********

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

  • ******** *******: **** **** ** * ***** run *** ********* ********** ***** *** hardware. **** ***********, **** *** ********, there *** ** ******** - ****** flaws, ***** ******, ***. **** **** require ********* ** ****** **** ******, different ****-******* ***** ****, *** * streamlined ******* *** ***'*; ******** ** any ** ***** ***** ***** ***** a *********** ** ******* *** ***** NVRs.
  • ** ******** ************ ********** ** ******* ***** *** cases (* ******* ******* **** **** 1TB, ** ******* ******* ****, ***.).
  • ***** **********: ** **** ** ********, *** higher ****** **** ***** ** ******.
  • ***-**** ******: *** *** ***-**** ****** ***** be ***********, **** ****** ** **** or *** ************ ***** ******* ***** require ******** ** ***** ************. ********* temperatures ******** *** * ** ** ******* C (*** *).

Competitive ******

*******, ** *** **** ** * solid, ********* *********** *** ********* ** serve *** ***-****** **** ***** ******* solutions. ** **********:

  • *****: ****** ********* *** ******* ** compete ******* *****'* **********. *** **** have * ******** ******** **** **********'* fear ***** ******* ***********.
  • *******: ******* *** *** ***** ****** count **********, *** *** *** ********* line ** ************* ******* *******, ***** will **** ********* ****** **** ********* integrators (*** ********* ****** ***** **** than ******* ******).
  • ***** ********: ***** ***** ******** **** ***** advantages (******* *********** **** *** ********* Arcus *****, ***** ** *** ****** for *** ********, **** *** **** storage *** *********), ********* ** ********** the **** ****** *** ***** **** the ***** ******, ******** ********* *** partners.
  • ********: ************ ** ************* **** *** ***** ** *** companies ******* ******** **** **** ******** pre-loading ******** ** ****. ********* ****** an ****** *** ** ********** **** and ***** ****** ****.
  • ******/ **** / ***** ****** *********: **** **** ** * *** negative *** **** ** **** *********** will ****** ** *** * **** key ******** ******** **** *** ************.
  • ******: ****** *** ** ** ******** by **** * ******'* ****** ** the ****** *** ** *** ****** than **** ***** *********.
Comments (16)
JS
Josh Snow
•Sep 12, 2013

Linux only ? Or windows option ?

SW
Sarit Williams
•Sep 12, 2013
In reply to Josh Snow

The M30/M50 will be pre-installed with Windows 7; I updated the article to clarify that.

Avatar
Luis Carmona
•Sep 12, 2013
Geutebruck USA • IPVMU Certified

Is this an attempt to imitate Exacq? Is this capitulation to service integrators who don't know enought about computer/server technology? Is it an attempt to reduce support challenges that may be due to improperly designed hardware?

JH
John Honovich
•Sep 12, 2013
IPVM
In reply to Luis Carmona

I doubt Milestone sees this is as 'an attempt to imitate Exacq' :) That said, yes, this basically targets the sweet spot of Exacq.

Yes, I suspect it will reduce support challenges not only to improperly designed hardware but also issues on setting up software, configuration, etc.

SP
Sean Patton
•Sep 12, 2013
In reply to John Honovich

Is the reduction of support challenges worth any increases in support volume now that they would be on the hook for both the software and hardware? I'm sure their answer is yes, but what is your point of view having been in the manufacturer market?

JH
John Honovich
•Sep 12, 2013
IPVM
In reply to Sean Patton

Don't forget the increase in revenue and contribution margin from selling NVR appliances vs VMS software licenses.

If they can get it to scale and get past the learning curve, it should be a profitable and valuable offering.

That said, this will likely help Genetec in IMS 'rankings' since this will further split Milestone's sales across two categories. Not that I think this ultimately matters but it underscores one of the bizarre segmentation issues we have in 'rankings'.

SP
Sean Patton
•Sep 12, 2013

This seems exactly like a shot out at the Exacq partner market; not being able to add on external storage seems like a bit of an oversight though.

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #1
•Sep 12, 2013

Maybe problems concerning 3rd party hardware wouldn't be such an issue if their software wasn't such bloatware.

VMS Installation Comparison

SW
Sarit Williams
•Sep 12, 2013
In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

It'd be interesting to know how much space all of the pre-loaded camera finders take up.

JF
Jason Fitch
•Mar 06, 2014
IPVMU Certified

I think this is a great solution for customers with alot of old DVR's. Makes the tranfer simple for the customer.

U
Undisclosed
•Jun 30, 2014

As a Milestone Corp customer/installer it seemed like a good concept for my smaller sites, but practically we're finding the range of cameras supported by the M10 units are limited. That includes both current model AXIS and Canon IP cameras.

JH
John Honovich
•Jun 30, 2014
IPVM
In reply to Undisclosed

Good feedback. I believe the M10s are Milestone Arcus only, which has far less 3rd party camera support than XProtect.

AA
Andres Agredo
•Mar 07, 2015
IPVMU Certified

Do anyone compare cost and benefits of alternative solution of buying separated server + VMS software with respective cost of licenses.?

if you are an integrator can this save time and simplify installation?

JH
John Honovich
•Mar 07, 2015
IPVM
In reply to Andres Agredo

Andres, we have a guide on that topic: Software Only VMS Vs NVR Appliances

You can certainly save time and simplify installation by using an NVR.

The big questions are:

  • Given your organization's skills, how much time and simplification will that be? Some organizations with strong IT skills, see it as minimal, and therefore perceive little benefits.
  • How much more is that NVR going to cost you vs buying our own COTS hardware and VMS licenses? Typically, the total product cost of the NVR will be higher than buying the parts yourself.

Which way to go depends on (1) your comfort building it yourself, (2) and the price premium that a given manufacturer charges for going the NVR route.

U
Undisclosed #3
•Mar 07, 2015
IPVMU Certified
In reply to John Honovich

Is there a degree of freedom lost as well? Or can one repurpose one to run a different VMS at a later date, if necessary?

JH
John Honovich
•Mar 07, 2015
IPVM
In reply to Undisclosed #3

It depends on the manufacturer.

It might be possible but it often is not feasible. I wouldn't recommend someone buy an NVR with the expectation that they are going to run another VMS on the future.