Video Surveillance Commissioning / Install Checklist

By: Ethan Ace, Published on Feb 08, 2016

This 60+ point checklist helps end users, integrators and consultants verify that video surveillance installation is complete.

It covers the following sections:

  • Camera Physical Setup
  • Camera View Setup
  • Camera Network / Security settings 
  • Camera Configuration Changes
  • VMS Hardware
  • VMS Security
  • VMS General Settings
  • Workstation Setup
  • Network Setup
  • Cable Verification

**** **+ ***** ********* helps *** *****, *********** and *********** ****** **** video ************ ************ ** complete.

** ****** *** ********* sections:

  • ****** ******** *****
  • ****** **** *****
  • ****** ******* / ******** settings 
  • ****** ************* *******
  • *** ********
  • *** ********
  • *** ******* ********
  • *********** *****
  • ******* *****
  • ***** ************

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

Download *** *** ***** ********

********:

*********: ** ********* **** person ***** **** ********* the **** *** ***** own ***** / **********. There ** ** '*** size **** ***' ********* but **** **** ** meant ** ***** ** a ******** ***** ** make ** ****** *** quicker ** ***** **** own.

******

**** ******* ****** ************* of ******* (** *** otherwise), ********* ******** *** physical **************, ***/***** ******* concerns, *** *******/******** *****.

********

  • ******* ******* *** ***** fasteners *** ******
  • ************ ******* ****** (*** our ************* ************ ******)
  • ***** ****, ****, ***/** housing ***** ********
  • ***** ******* (** ********)

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

  • *** *** ***** ****** (using **** ***/** ****** fine *****; *** *** ******** ******** ** **** ** ******* ********* ********)
  • **** ***/**** ***** ******** (all ****** **, ** full ***, ***.)
  • ****** ******** ******** ** daytime ***** ** ****
  • **** ***** ******** (***** worst **** ********, *.*., all ****** *** ********, if ******** ****** ***** ********)
  • ****** ******** ********* *********** meets ******** **************/************; *** our ******* *** ***** ** Image ******* ****** *** *** ****** / ******* Illumination *****
  • **** ***** ***** ******** if ******* (**** ** sunrise/sunset ** ****/**** ****** cameras, ******** *** ******* when *** ** **** direct, ***.); *** *** *** ********
  • ****** ******** ***/***** ***** performance ***** ******** **************/************

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

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

**** **** **** ** these ********, **** ** resolution, *********, ***********, ****** detection, ***., *** ** configured ** *** ***, though **** ****** ********* on *** ******/*** *********** used. ******** ******** **** as ***, ***** **, analytics, *** ***** ****** are ****** ******** *** the *** *** **** be ********** ******* *** camera *** *********.

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

**** ******* ****** ************* of *** ******* *** NVRs/DVRs, ********* **** ********/******* setup ** **** ** OS *** ********. **** of ***** ***** *** not ** **** ********* on ** *** *** platform. *** *******, ******** recorders ********* ** *** require ** *******.

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

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

  • ****** ********/********* ** ****** version
  • ****** ***** ******** **** default
  • ****** ********/**** ******
  • *** *** ****** *** verify **** *** ****
  • ********* ******* ******* (******** drives, ***, ***)
  • ********* ******* ****** (******* recording ******)
  • ********* ********* ******** (*.*., 24/7, ***-***, ***-*****, ********, etc.)

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

**** **** ******** ****** workstations, ********* ********, **, and *** ****** ***** and *************. **** ** these ***** *** ** omitted ** ***** ******* on ******** ********* ** used.

  • ******** *** *******(**) ** each ***********
  • ****** *** ******** ** address(es)
  • ***** ****** ** ******* (unless *** *********** ** manufacturer)
  • ****** ****** ***** ********
  • ****** ********** ***** ** specified
  • ******* *** ****** *** update ** ****** *******
  • ********* ****** ***** ** required; *** *** *** **** ***** ********
  • ********* **** *****/********* ** required
  • ********* *** ***** ** *********; see *** *** ******* ********
  • ********* *****/***** ***** ** required
  • **** *** ********* *** runtime (** ********)

*******

**** ******* ******** ************* of ******* ********, ********* switches, *******, *********, ***. Some ** ***** ******* may *** ** **** in *** *******, ** managed ** *** ********** integrator.

*******

**** ******* ****** ************* of *** ************ ******* system, ********* ********, ********, aesthetic ********, *** *******. See *** ******* ******* *** ***** Surveillance ***** *** ******* ** ***** topics *** ****.

  • ***** *** ******, ***** panels, **** *******, ***., as ********* (*** *** ***** ********* **** *********)
  • ****** ****** *** ******* to ******** (*-*****, ******* truss, ***.)
  • ******* ****** ***** ********/********
  • ***** ******** ****** *** dressed ******* ***** ** camera ******** *** **** end ** ********; 
  • **** *** ************ *** document ******* ** ********* (*** our ******* ***** ******* *****)
  • ******** ***** **** ******* as ********* (** ************* is ********)

Comments (23)

Carla Calk

02/08/16 02:49pm

This is a great document, thanks

Avatar

Chris Daniels

IPVMU Certified | 02/08/16 03:39pm

Very helpful starting/ reference, must have info for every VMS specification set.

Thank you IPVM!

Chris Daniels, HAWA Incorporated

Avatar

Armando Perez

IPVMU Certified | 02/08/16 11:19am

In the past we had line items for techs to write down ip and credential info for each camera. since moving to in-house instead of on-site programming that all happens on the build bench, but simply having that info months after the install is a boon to serviceability. The next step for us is saving a copy of the VMS config file and storing it for future service restore, etc and even remote service on the fly. The checklist is a critical first step though. nice job!

Tom Sorrell

02/08/16 08:19pm
Nice points list. Thanks
Avatar

Jason Neubauer

IPVMU Certified | 02/09/16 04:49am

Great reference. This is why i don't mind paying dues!!!

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

02/08/16 03:27pm

When you assign the network address, it would be good to gather all serial numbers from the products. It makes returns and repairs easier AND it can handle a dispute where the customer purchased materials and added to the system from another source which involves warranty support.

As a comment, I had a dealer who arrived at a site and several of his cameras went missing. He replaced them and when someone returned, there were additional cameras of the same type added by the customer. Now, who wants to call a customer a thief....but a little proof would have gone a long way.

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 02/08/16 09:31pm

Excellent point and I can't believe I left that out.

Thanks for the suggestions, we'll update this this week.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to Ethan Ace | 02/09/16 07:10pm
I thank you for building this list, I'm going to make an Excel sheet out of it!

Undisclosed Integrator #2

02/09/16 09:26am

You missed one of the most imporant thing: backup configuration of VMS/NVR/DVR which contains not only camera configurtion but user permissions, priviliges, schedules, etc.

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 02/09/16 05:35pm

Thanks for pointing that out! It was actually in there but things got moved around and it got lost in the shuffle. I'll get it back in.

Andrew Thomas

02/09/16 05:39pm

This reads as if this is an "AS-BUILT" document as opposed to an installation plan.

Tariq Saleh

02/10/16 10:50am

I believe you have forgot the following

1) make and model of the cameras, NVR's, and servers

2) VMS software version

3) License information

Thanks

Jason Welin

02/19/16 04:54pm

Any idea of when the document might be ready??

johan Schorreel

03/03/16 02:51pm

this is nice but I wonder if there already is a Excel document available ?

Jason Welin

03/06/16 08:42pm

Still eagerly anticipating the word/excel documents!!

John Honovich

IPVM | 03/07/16 09:08pm

Sorry about the delay on the excel document, I dropped the ball on this. I just queued this up with our graphics person. I am not exactly sure the best way to lay this out but we will do a version and then share with you all for feedback.

John Honovich

IPVM | 03/11/16 08:48am

Added:

Download:

Let us know what you think of them.

johan Schorreel

03/11/16 03:39pm

thanks !

Undisclosed Integrator #3

05/09/17 02:06am

May I ask what is the purpose of document the MAC address?

David Shepherd

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 05/08/17 09:22pm

In my experience it depends on the customer, sometimes the IT staff will require it, for example if they are running port security. Regardless its still a good idea to make a note of it.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 05/09/17 02:50am

It's like documenting a hidden junction box in a remodel, you only know you need it when you really need it.  If you document anything, document everything.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 05/09/17 11:41am

It can help IT department to locate network issues. Better to have on-hand than going out to the site, climb to the ladder to read it or check it on a workstation (if available). 

Mendy lewis

05/08/17 10:11pm

What about DDNS, static ip ,port that opened 

also, if it's a take over job, or upgrading very important to document and photograph , existing condition  of systems before any new work starting, soon as you touch the system the costumer can blame you for pre-existing issues that you didn't plann to repair

 

 

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

ONVIF Video Surveillance Tutorial on Jan 29, 2019
ONVIF is well known within the surveillance industry as an interface to connect IP cameras and VMS systems. However, new users may find it...
Verkada Cloud VMS/Cameras Tested on May 02, 2019
Verkada is arguably the most ambitious video surveillance startup in many years. The company is developing their own cameras, their own VMS, their...
Genetec Security Center 5.8 Tested on Mar 19, 2019
Genetec has released Version 5.8. This comes after a wait of more than a year that caused frustrations for many Genetec partners. Our previous...
Camera Configuration Manager Shootout - Avigilon, Axis, Bosch, Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision on May 01, 2019
Which camera manufacturer has the best management tool? We tested 6 manufacturers - Avigilon, Axis, Bosch, Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision to find...
Exacq Remote Cloud Access Tested on Jun 20, 2019
Remote cloud access has been missing from most VMSes (including Exacq and Milestone). Now, Exacq, after releasing Cloud Drive Storage earlier in...
CheckMySystems Company Profile on Aug 14, 2019
CheckMySystems says that too many users respond, "I get an email when something is wrong" when talking about their video system maintenance plan,...
ONVIF Exposure To "Devastating DDoS Attacks" Examined on Sep 06, 2019
ZDnet reported "Protocol used by 630,000 devices can be abused for devastating DDoS attacks", citing exposure of ONVIF devices. And after an...
Network Optix NxWitness 4.0 Tested on Oct 10, 2019
Network Optix released Nx Witness 4.0, proclaiming new features like a deep learning analytics metadata SDK, increased H.265 support, and UX...
Camera Calculator V3.1 Release Improves User Experience on Oct 17, 2019
IPVM has released a new version of our Camera Calculator, V3.1, with significant user experience improvements, a new development plan, and an...
IP Camera Browser Support: Who's Broken / Who Works on Dec 10, 2019
For many years, IP cameras depended on ActiveX control, whose security flaws have been known for more than a decade. The good news is that this is...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Brivo Business Profile 2020 on Jan 27, 2020
Brivo has been doing cloud access for more than 20 years. Is the 2020s the decade that cloud access becomes the norm? CEO Steve Van Till recently...
Favorite VMS / NVR Manufacturers 2020 on Jan 27, 2020
In 2018, a new winner emerged and a former top choice declined. Now, there is a new #1, a new top 5 finisher and 2 major VMSes in decline. Our...
"Hikvision Football Arena" Lithuania Causes Controversy on Jan 24, 2020
Controversy has arisen in Lithuania over Hikvision becoming a soccer team's top sponsor and gaining naming rights to their arena, with one local MP...
Axis and Genetec Drop IFSEC 2020 on Jan 23, 2020
Two of the best-known video surveillance manufacturers are dropping IFSEC International 2020, joining Milestone who dropped IFSEC in 2019. The...
Multipoint Door Lock Tutorial on Jan 23, 2020
Despite widespread use, locked doors are notoriously weak at stopping entry, and thousands can be misspent on locks that leave doors quite...
Avigilon Shifts Cloud Strategy - Merges Blue and ACC on Jan 23, 2020
Avigilon is shifting its cloud strategy, phasing out its Blue web-managed surveillance platform as a stand-alone brand and merging it with its ACC...
Verkada Paying $100 For Referrals Just To Demo on Jan 22, 2020
Some companies pay for referrals when the referral becomes a customer. Verkada is taking it to the next level - paying $100 referrals fees simply...
Camera Analytics Shootout 2020 - Avigilon, Axis, Bosch, Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision, Uniview, Vivotek on Jan 22, 2020
Analytics are hot again, thanks to a slew of AI-powered cameras, but whose analytics really work? And how do these new smart cameras compare to top...
Intersec 2020 Final Show Report on Jan 21, 2020
IPVM spent all 3 days at the Intersec 2020 show interviewing various companies and finding key trends. We cover: Middle East Enterprise...
Vehicle & Long Range Access Reader Tutorial on Jan 21, 2020
One of the classic challenges for access control are parking lots and garages, where the user's credential is far from the reader. With modern...

What IPVM Is

The world's leading authority on video surveillance, with 200,000+ visits monthly.

  • Articles on cameras, video analytics, VMS, and trends
  • Tests showing actual performance and problems
  • Courses in surveillance, access control, etc
  • Camera Calculator for designing systems

Dedicated To Independence

We're dedicated to staying independent and objective. We're the only industry source to refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship, and consulting from manufacturers. Why?