Eliminating Control Panels? Viscount Reviewed
Author: Brian Rhodes, Published on Dec 05, 2013
*** **** ** ********'* ****** ** 
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
Higher Power PoE 802.3bt Ratified, Impact on Security Products Examined
on Oct 12, 2018
Power over Ethernet has become one of the most popular features of many video, access, and other security products. See our PoE for IP Video...
Door Hinges Guide
on Oct 10, 2018
Some of the trickiest access control problems are caused by bad door hinges.
From doors not closing right, to locks not locking, worn or warped...
Security System Health Monitoring Usage Statistics 2018
on Oct 09, 2018
How well and quickly do integrators know if devices are offline or broken? New IPVM statistics show that typically no health monitoring is...
UTC Merges Lenel and S2, Creates LenelS2
on Oct 03, 2018
UTC has completed the acquisition of S2, launching literally Lenel's2 LenelS2 with UTC declaring that "LenelS2 unites two world-class teams with...
Anti-Tailgating Startup: Spyfloor
on Oct 03, 2018
A Canadian startup, Spyfloor, is using a different approach to warn against tailgating, a common access control problem. By counting feet,...
VMS Mobile App Shootout - Avigilon, Dahua, Exacq, Genetec, Hikvision, Milestone
on Oct 01, 2018
Mobile VMS apps are a critical interface for the modern surveillance user.
But who does it best and worst?
We tested 6 manufacturers - Avigilon,...
Favorite Power Supply Manufacturer 2018
on Sep 28, 2018
While power supplies are becoming less important as PoE matures, they remain vital to access control systems, where increased power for locks,...
AHJ / Authority Having Jurisdiction Tutorial
on Sep 27, 2018
One of the most powerful yet often underappreciated characters in all of physical security is the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
Often,...
Access Control Lock Guide
on Sep 26, 2018
In this guide, we examine locks; critical elements of any security system and fundamental parts of every access control system.
Two fundamental...
Ladders For Installers Guide
on Sep 25, 2018
Ladders are one of the most important pieces of worksite equipment for the surveillance technician. Too often, however, even highly experienced...
Most Recent Industry Reports
Knightscope Winning Investors, Struggling With Growth
on Oct 16, 2018
While Knightscope's new financials show the company only winning 11 new customers in the past 12 months, the company continues to win new...
Integrator Laptop Guide
on Oct 16, 2018
This 18-page guide provides guidance and statistics about integrator laptop use. 150 integrators explained to IPVM in detail about their laptops,...
Huawei Admits AI "Bubble"
on Oct 16, 2018
A fascinating article from the Chinese government's Global Times: Huawei’s AI ambition to reshape industries.
While the Global Times talks about...
ADI's Financials Revealed + W-Box Growth Priority
on Oct 15, 2018
ADI is one of the most powerful distributors in the security industry but how big are they? How much profit do they make? How much do they sell...
Amazon Touts Home Security Market Disruption
on Oct 15, 2018
Amazon is coming for ADT and all of home security. Indeed, Amazon is advertising this as, in their own words, calling home security a:
Inside...
Higher Power PoE 802.3bt Ratified, Impact on Security Products Examined
on Oct 12, 2018
Power over Ethernet has become one of the most popular features of many video, access, and other security products. See our PoE for IP Video...
"New Zealand Govt Uses Chinese Cameras Banned In US", Considers Security Audit
on Oct 12, 2018
Newsroom NZ has issued a report: "NZ Govt uses Chinese cameras banned in US":
This comes after the US federal government banned purchases of...
Mysterious Patent Troll 'Secure Cam' Targets Industry, Sues Hanwha, Hikvison, JCI, Panasonic, More
on Oct 11, 2018
A company named "Secure Cam," who is actively hiding their ownership, has acquired a slew of video patents and is systematically suing video...
Unfixed Critical Vulnerability In Millions of XiongMai Devices Disclosed
on Oct 10, 2018
XiongMai, one of the biggest OEMs alongside Dahua and Hikvision, has suffered a critical vulnerability impacting millions of their devices.
This...
The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.
Comments (10)
John Grocke
Good to see you back writing articles Brian!
Create New Topic
Luis Carmona
I don't think I would be comfortable having door controllers dependent on network connections, and I'm a network guy. It's one thing if a network connection to a camera gets interrupted- so you lose some video.... If these "bridges" loose network connection, you have access issues that prevent you from getting in or maybe getting out, or permitting unrestricted access, I guess whichever way the devices default too or are configured. This possibility increases exponentially if are using wireless access points.
I wish there was more mention or a development in terminology when reviewing access or other devices like this to distinguish systems that use a "sync'd data architecture", where the controllers or bridges are actually syncing and caching data, either with a master controller or PC based server, thus allowing them to operate independently when communication issues occur, versus systems that do not, where the controller or bridge cannot function on its own.
See John, free lunches don't affect my objectivity. =)
Create New Topic
Vasiles Kiosses
I approached VSI many times at their booths. I was impressed with the technology however they explained the system as using IT infrastucture and Active Directory to do the management. What I quickly found was that there must be an active directory domain controller on the site that has the devices since as you say, the credentials have to be passed to a system with a database to provide a response. So if you are network dependant, intersite for example, I would not be putting this in. It is a greate idea and can work on a local area network with a domain controller available. And that is where I left the product. The cost of deploying domain controllres everywhere and supporting them far exceeds the cost of a control panel at the site. Maybe what people may want to design is AD Domain Controllers that can fit in the palm of your hand and can hold 100s of thousands or millions of records. It would make the whole system plug and play for everyone.
Create New Topic
Daniel Tyrrell
Viscount has had a system like this for awhile. I've always called it Mesh, though they now have a different product called Mesh.
The Mesh system I worked with was server dependent, but without a "Bridge". The reader was semi-intelligent in that it handled all the connections, including lock relay, RTE, door position switch. But it needed the server for cards. If the server went down you were screwed. A single cat5e ran back to a hub/switch which could also server as a junction point for all the additional hardware if you didn't want to go right at the reader. The switch/hub had an in from previous reader/server, in from the reader, and then out to the next one. As well as a screw terminal set for the door hardware.
We've only ever had one customer on the system (and recently upgraded to a Keyscan system) and it did work surprisingly well for 6-8 years.
I like the idea of the bridge, as it would leave me able to use any reader, where as the older Mesh style we were stuck with Viscounts readers and cards.
Create New Topic
Kok Long Pang
My R&D developed a simillr system few years back, where we use fingerprint devices to read fingerprint images from users, and send back to server for verification. Result of verification return from server to the fingerprint devices to response to the users. The idea is similar, where server stores all credentials, verification algorithm, access rules and database. This is ideal because you will only need a server and multiple slave fingerprint readers.
When comes to real operation, we noticed the software can only handle single thread of data transfer. It only receive and proceed verification for the "first reach" fingerprint images. While it ignores the rest of the fingerprint images sent from other fingerprint devices. The result, only 1 fingerprint device can verify 1 user at the same time, while the rest fail.
By the end, we pull back the development and change to develop bigger fingerprint storage in our products. We know no matter how big the storage of the device can achieve, it cannot compare with server-client based system.
When comes to a server-client based verification system, how many threads can the server handle? Will it accept all "input" in queue? Or it ignore the rest? I am not familiar with the VSI, but I like the idea of server-client verification. However the delay time between every read/verification is my concern.
Create New Topic
Luis Carmona
"When comes to real operation, we noticed the software can only handle single thread of data transfer. It only receive and proceed verification for the "first reach" fingerprint images. While it ignores the rest of the fingerprint images sent from other fingerprint devices. "
Kok, I would think that should have been a simple software fix- one system process that receives data and qeues them up for processing and another process that processes the images. If you send the fingerprint straight to the imaging process without any queing then I can see how you'd miss processing requests from other devices.
"This is ideal because you will only need a server and multiple slave fingerprint readers. "
What about that would be the ideal? Is it a possibly cheaper cost of the edge devices, since they don't have to perform any or a limited amount of intelligenece and storage? That would be the only benefit I could think of.
Create New Topic
Undisclosed Manufacturer #1
VSI's software technology seems admittedly cool. However, I've noticed over the years that cool software technology doesn't always succeed in access control because:
VSI will certainly find some success with this in the higher-end market wtih established IT environments. Time will tell if this can become mainstream.
Create New Topic
Joe Cunetta
Any thoughts on using the Nano Cube Server or have any experience with it? I find it interesting and am wondering when these are generally installed. I would be worried to have my access database on something that someone could potentially plug into a wall socket not in a secured room.
Create New Topic