SNMP / Network Monitoring For Surveillance

Last Updated Dec 19, 2022 20:43 PM

Surveillance systems typically rely on the the VMS to report issues, but this most often just means knowing a camera is "down" with no warning or detailed information.

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Network monitoring systems can give users more insight into their network, from the camera to the switch to the VMS server, but are seen as too complex or expensive to be used in simple surveillance systems.

However, significant practical benefits can be gained by understanding these monitoring platforms, with free software available, and minimal setup time.

In this guide, we take a look at network monitoring specific to surveillance, explain the basics and software available, and give real practical examples of its use.

Topics Covered

In this guide, we cover these topics:

  • What Is SNMP?
  • What Are Traps And Requests?
  • Network Monitoring Software Basics
  • SNMP Integration Challenges
  • Using Network Monitoring Systems Demonstration
  • SNMP Traps Basics
  • Using SNMP Traps
  • Device SNMP Support
  • MIB File Overview
  • Manufacturer MIB Support
  • Default Sensor Support Rare
  • Surveillance Applications
  • Camera Monitoring
  • Server/VMS Monitoring
  • Switch/Router Monitoring
  • Other Related Systems

What ** ****?

****** ******* ********** ******** (****) ** used ** ******* ****** *** *********** information ** ********* *******. **** *********** is ****** ********* ** ** "*******", such ** ** **** ********** ******, or **** ** * ******* (****** a "****") ** * ******.

  • ******** ********* ******* ******** ***********, **** as *** *****, *********, **** ***** speed, ***. **** ** ***** ********** typically ******** * "******" ******* ** an **** ********** ********, ********* *****.
  • ***** *** **** ** ****** *** manager ** *********** ******, **** ** temperature ******, ***** ****** ********, ****** tampering, ***., ***** ** *** **** a ******** ******.

Network ********** ********

******* *** ********* ***** * *********** monitoring ******** ***** ********** **** ******** and ***** (** **** ** ***** protocols) *** ******** ****** ***********, **** often ***********. ******* **** ** *******, servers, ********, ***., *** ***** (**** like ****** ******* ** * ***) and *** ** **** "*******" ********** with ****. * ****** ******** ******** which *** ** *********, **** ** pings, ******, *********, ** **********.

***** *** **** ******* ********** ********* available, *** *********** *********** *** ******** *******, **** **** *** ****. **** popular ********* *******:

** *** ************** *** **** *****, we **** **** ******* ** ** one ** *** **** ******* ********* available. ************, ** ****** * **** variety ** ****** ***** (****, ******* Management ***************, *** *** *****/***, ****, Ping, *** ****), *** **** ********* for ** ** *** *******.

SNMP *********** **********

******** *** **** ******* ** ********* than *****, ***** *** ******* **** know ***** ******** **** ********** ** inspect *** *** ** ********* *** response (******* ** * ******/*** ***********), while ***** *** ********* **** ** a *** *****.

************, ***** ** ** ******** *** which ******** * ******** ****** ********, so *** ******* ***** **** ************* may ******* **** ******* ** *** devices, ****** ** ***. *****, **** is ****** ********** ** ******/******** *************, leaving ***** ** ********** *** ********** to **** *** ******* **** ******* are *********.

Using ******* ********** *******

**** ***** ************ *** ****** ** adding ******* ** **** ** *********** and ********** ******* ** ******* ********** software:

SNMP *****

***** *** ********* ***** * ******* type ** ******, ****** ****** * receiver, ***** ** **** ** ******* and ********* **** **** **** ****** information. ** ***** *** ****, ***** contain ******* ****** **** ********* *********** sometimes ********* ** **** ** *** in ***** ****. *** ******* *** manufacturer's ***** **** **** ****:

******-***-**::***********.****.*.*.*.*.*.* = *

******-***-**::***********.****.*.*.*.*.*.* = *

******* **************, **** ******* ** ******* to *** ****. *******, **** *** trap ** ********** **** ****** ***********, it *** ** **** ** ****** alerts ** ******** **** ******** ******.

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

Device **** *******

**** ******* ****** ** ******, **** cameras ********* ********* *** ***** ***********, while ******* *** ******** ******* **** detail.

  • *******:**** ** ******* ** *** ******* any *********** ********, ** *** ******* to ****** **** *** **** *******. A *** ************* (**** ** ******, discussed *****) ******* **** ******** *******, while ******, ********* ********, ****, *** Hikvision, ******* **** ****** *** *** files (********* *****), **** ** ******** throughput, ***********, *** ***** ********* ******, but **** ** ****. **** ******* also ******* ******* *** ***** **** error, ****** *** ***** ****** *** how ******** ****** ******.
  • ******* (*******/*****):******* ******* **** ******** ***********, ********* detailed *********** *******, **** ** *** load, ********** ** *** ***, ****** usage, **** */*, *** ****. *******, server **** ************* ** **** ******* due ** *** ****** ** ******* supported *** *** ******* ***** *** error ** *** ******* ***** ********** do *** ** *** ****.
  • ******** ****:****** *** *******, ******** **** ****** support **** *******, ** ***** *** of *** ***. **** *** ** integrated *** ************ *** ***** **** cameras, *** **** ** ********.
  • ******* ********:*******, **** ******* ******** ******* ******** information, ********* ** * ****-**-**** *****. Throughput ** *** *** *** **** port *** ** ******, ***** **** errors,**** *******, *** ****. *******, **** **** monitoring ***** **** ** * ****** may ** ******, ** **** **** is ********* **** ** * ******** sensor ** ********** *********, *** **** another *******. ******* ** ****, *** ports **** ** ****** ******* ** backbone *********** *** ** ********* *******.

Dealing **** ****

**** ** **** ****** ****** ************* with ********* **** ***************, ******* ********** developers ****** ** ******** ** ********* with *** ********* *** ** ****. Because ** ****, ************* *** ******* MIB ***** (********** *********** ****) ***** contain ******* ** ***** ******** *** traps **** *******. ***** ***** *** then************ *** ******* ********** *********** ***** uses **** ** ********* **** ****.

**** ***** ***** *** ******** ******' *** ***** (******** ********* *** download), ***** *** ****** ** ****:

IPVM Image

MIBs ********

**** **** *** ***** *** **** in ************ *** *** ********* *** all *************. ***** ****** *** ****** that **** *** ****** ******** * MIB ** ******* ***** ******* ** recorders ** ******. **** ***** ***** manufacturers ***** ***** ****, ******* **** sensors *** ********* ******, ** *** application ** **** ***** *** ***** and *************** **** **** *** **** expected ***********.

******* ************* ******** ***** ****, *********:

**** **** **** *** **** ** manually ********* ************ *****. *******, **** ** * ****-********* process *** ****** *** ***** ** this *****.

Default ****** ******* ****

** *** *****, ***** *** *** manufacturers ***** ******* **** ******** ******* out ** *** ***, ******* ********* MIB *****. *** *******, ****** ******** Ethernet *******, *** ****, *** ** card **** ***** ***** ******** **** sensors, *** ****. *******, **** ******* is **** ****.

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Surveillance ************

***** *** ******* *** ***** ***** network ********** *** ** ** *********, including:

  • ****** **********
  • ******/*** **********
  • *******/********
  • ***** ******* (***, ********)

Camera **********

***** *** ******* ******* ***** *********** on *******, ********* **/**** ****** *** throughput, **** *** ********** ********** ******* may ******* **** ******.

  • ********** ********** **** ** * ******, users *** ** ******* ** *** camera ****** ***** ***** ******* ******, which *** ******** ***** ****, **** if *** ****** ** ***** ***** as ** *** ********** ** *****. This ********** *** ** ********* ****** at *** ****** (********* ***) ** at *** ****** **** (********* **). For *******, "******* **" ** *** switchport ***** ***** * ****** ****** size ** ~*.* **/* (*,*** **/*).

IPVM Image

  • ************, ***** * ****** ** ***** HTTP *** **** ****** ** *** camera's *** ********* ***** ******* *** camera ** **********, ********** ** ******* it ** ********** ** **** ** not. **** ** *** ********* ********** that * ****** *** ******, ** other ******** ** *** ****** *** stop (*** ******, *********, ***.) ***** it ***** ******** ** *****.
  • *******, **** ** **** ***** *** be *********, ***** *** *** *** only ** *** ****** ** ** or ****, *** ********* ** *******, as ****. **** ***** ******** *** camera ******** *********, **** ** ******* of **** ******, ** ****** ** keep ** **** ******* *** *** compression/high *********/**** ********* *********.

** ******** ** ************, ***** *** also **** ****** ** ******** ****, which *** ** **** ** **** for **** **** ********, ****** ******* are ********* ** ******** ********, ***. For *******, *** ***** ***** ***** information *** ******* ** ****** *** speed **** * ** *** ******, with *** ****** ********* ~*** ** of ******* *****, *** ********* ***** 6.2 ** *** ******.

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Server/Recording **********

******* ********** ******* *** ** **** to ******* ***** ****** ***********, **** as *** *** ****** ****, **********, and ****. ***** ***** ********** *** available ***** *********** ******* ** ***** tools, ***** * ********** ****** *********** this *********** *** ******** *******, *** allows *** ****** ******* *** ***** alerts **** * *********** ********.

**** **** ****** ******** ******* ******** to ** *********. **** ****** ***** better ********** ** ******** ****** ****** and **** *************** *********** ***** ******* stops/starts *** ****** *** *** ** correlated ** ***** ******, **** ** high **********, **** *** *****, ***.

IPVM Image

*******, ****** ***** *** ** ********* to **** ** * **** ***** whether ***** ** ***** ******** ** not. ** ********** **** ****** ********** per ******, ***** *** ** ******* if **** ******* ***** ***** ** expected *****. *** *******, ** ******* are ***** ******* ** **** ** a ******* ** ** **/*, *** disk ****** **** ** *** **/*, but ******* *** ***** ** *** streaming, ***** ** ****** * ****** recording ***** **** ***** ****** ***********.

********/*******

** **** *****, ****** ***** *** be *** **** *** ** ********** camera ********** ** *** ****** **** not ******* *** **** ******* ****** or ******* ********** *** *** *****. However, **** **** ********** ****** ***** requires ******** *******, ***** ********* **** consume * *******. *** *******, ******* at * ** **** ****** *****, we *** *** **** **** ** displayed ********** (****************, ****************, ***.). ********** all ***** ** **** ****** ***** require ** ******** ******* (** *** ports **** * *******), ****** ** more ****** **** **** *** ***** (critical *******, *******, *******) ***** ** monitored.

IPVM Image

******* **** *** * ****** ******* port, *** ********* ***** **** ***** than ********. ******* **** ********** ******* additional *********** ** ***** ********, **** as ******** ******* ** *** *******, which *** ** ****** ** *****-**** systems. *** ********, *** ******* ***** shows * ********* ****** ** ****, monitoring ******** ****:

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Other *******

** ******** ** **** ************ **********, users *** ** ********** ** ********** related ******* ** ****, **** ***** (*************** ***** ******), ******** ******, ** ****** ******* systems. *** ******** ******* ********* *** each **** ******, **** ***** ***** well ********* **** ******** *********** ***** access ******* *** **** ******* **/**** status ** *******.

Example ******* *** ******

*******, ** **** ***** ** ****** common ******* *** ****** ***** *** be **** *** **** ** ************ monitoring:

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

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

[[****: **** ***** *** ********** ******* in **** *** ************* ******* ** 2018 *** **** ** ******* ******** device ************, *** ************, *** ******** examples ** ********** *** ******* *******]]

Comments (17)
Avatar
Jared Tarter
Aug 21, 2018
Milestone Systems

The Milestone XProtect Corporate and Expert platforms have MIB files available.  They are not available from our website but they can be retrieved from the two locations below after the software is installed:

On the Management Server:
C:\Program Files\Milestone\XProtect Management Server\SERVER-MIB.mib

On the Recording Server:
C:\Program Files\Milestone\XProtect Recording Server\RECORDER-MIB.mib

(15)
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #1
Aug 21, 2018

Hanwha Techwin MIBs:

Hanwha SNMP MIB

(6)
Avatar
Ethan Ace
Aug 21, 2018

Added those, thanks!

Jd
Jurgen den Hartog
Aug 22, 2018

Nice overview! Some additional comments:

1. I think it would be good to address the various versions (v1/v2/v3) of SNMP, with v3 the only secure version. Using v1 for example might allow an attacker to find out which switches and firmware you are running and thus which attacks will be successful (if you are not up to date with updates). Most if not all major camera brands support v3.

2. We have been using Zabbix for a few years now which works fine, and is open source and therefore free.

3. Some caution when using SNMP: depending on number of devices, number of sensors, uodate frequency, you might generate a lot of network traffic.

(1)
(2)
UE
Undisclosed End User #2
Aug 22, 2018

Nagios use to be free and open source, not sure what it is today

BM
Ben Molloy
Aug 29, 2018
IPVMU Certified

It still is, however Icinga2 is a fork of Nagios which has now been completely re-written and is a more modern choice.

SS
Scott Sheldrake
Aug 22, 2018

Are you aware of a simple/free app for Linux that allows SNMP monitoring of IP cameras and can send reports to the outside world (ie email etc) 

We've searched for years for something like this and it doesn't seem to exist.  

LB
Lee Brown
Aug 23, 2018

I have used Cacti (https://www.cacti.net/) for years and found it a stable, versatile and reliable tool for SNMP, notifications and graphing.

Note that the rrd graphs are a bit ugly compared to Solar Winds. The data that Cacti collects can be sent to syslogs and NoSQL databases like Elasticsearch.

Elasticsearch(ELK),will afford you the ability to make easy and arbitrary queries on your SNMP and other data that the "PAID" closed source platforms may not provide or provide as a paid feature.

Took some screen shots showing temperature data being collected through SNMP requests and sent to syslogs and recorded / visualized in Kibana (the "K" in ELK, Elasticsearch-Logstash-Kibana).

snmp in ELK

In a nut shell Cacti for SNMP/alerting and ELK for Data analytics and pretty graphs/dashboards.

Both Cacti and ELK are Free and Open source.

 

DR
Dennis Ruban
Aug 27, 2018

PRTG is definitely the best. If you consider the TCO, it's the cheapest NMS as well. Don't waste time on Nagios or similar systems unless you have highly knowledged system administrators on salary and not loaded with the tasks.

Avatar
Schyler Jones
Aug 29, 2018

Timely article. As a traditional MSP, network design, installation, and monitoring is the heart of our expertise, and they're a set of skills we're looking to bring to the IP camera realm.  Earlier this year we decided to enter the space, and also partnered up with an existing installer who like us, sees the value of monitoring and maintenance services.

UE
Undisclosed End User #3
Aug 29, 2018

SNMP is great for system level metrics but it has limited use understanding traffic or quality statistics for video flowing over a network.  Of course a vendor could build this in but I havent seen it yet.

DR
Dennis Ruban
Aug 29, 2018

what's wrong with traffic? Just collect the stat data from the switch port

UE
Undisclosed End User #3
Aug 29, 2018

That only tells you data is flowing.  Not if is out of order or if 10% got lost along the way, etc.  That is why an understanding of what the traffic is so important.

DR
Dennis Ruban
Aug 29, 2018

I still didn't get what you want to see. If by lost video data you mean dropped frames, then you need VMS or client to monitor that (and reply to NMS via SNMP as an option). But if you're talking about regular IP packet loss, that is easily monitored using SNMP.

Avatar
Attila Szűcs
Aug 29, 2018

Zabbix should be in the above list as well. They have really useful subscriptions as well above the free license.

(1)
JO
Jesse Osterhout
Sep 28, 2023

I am curious if it is possible to use snmp on our new resort as it is an air gapped system. Other than having it up on a monitor in the MDF I cannot see how it is possible to get these notifications to our Tech team.

AN
Andrey Nedranets
Oct 02, 2023
IPVMU Certified

Grafana and Prometheus are current de facto tools for real-time and historic monitoring in the IT / Networking world. Both free. Virtually every serious datacenter is using these tools nowadays. Things do change fast – from uber expensive HP OpenView and Cisco Works to PRTG, Solarwinds, and Nagios, now they are losing to new rivals like Prometheus.

Node-RED is more common in IoT and automation. It is also free and supports SNMP.

All these three systems also work well with MQTT, which allows the addition of a plethora of environmental sensors that, together with network device monitoring, give a more proactive and broader view, alerting and any logic you would like to add to the game.