VMS 101
This guide teaches the fundamentals of video management software.
Inside, we cover:
- NVR vs VMS
- Viewing Video - What are common client features? Layouts? Camera Lists? Timeline?
- Searching Video - How is video searched for? Time? Motion? Analytics? Thumbnails?
- Exporting Video - How is video exported? File Format? Watermarks? Cloud? Mobile?
- Camera Discovery/Addition - How are cameras discovered/added? Auto? Manual?
- System Administration - How is the system configured? Recording? Users? Health?
- Mapping Support - How are maps supported? Images? Hosted Maps? Dynamic?
- VMS vs Low-Cost NVRs - What are pros and cons of each? Cost? Features?
- Installation Comparison - Why are NVRs easier to install? Training? Skills?
- VMS Hardware Flexibility - How are VMSes more flexible and scalable? Open?
- Widely Used VMSes/NVRs - What companies are widely used or notable?
NVRs ** ***
*** *********** ********** ******* ***** ********** Software *** **** (** ******* ***** Recorders) ** **** **** ******* *** bundle *** ***** ********** ******** ** their ********** **** ** ********* ******. As ****, ***** ******* ******** (*.*. on-premise ********, ******* ********, ** ** the *****) *** ** ********* ****** to ********.
***********, *** ******** ***** ** ***** greater *************** **** ****, ****** **** is * **** ** *****, *** required. ******, **** *** ******** ********* offer ***** *** *** ******* *** simplicity ** **********. ****, **** *** providers ***** * ***** ****** **** supports ********** ** ******** **** ************** with ********* ************* *** **********.
Viewing *****
*** **** ****** ******** ** *** surveillance ****** ** ******* **** *** recorded *****.
************ ***** ** ****** ** ******** typically ******** ** ** * "******", which ******** *** ***** **** ******* or ********* ** ******. ***** *** typically *** ******* **** *** ** PC/workstations, *** ********, *** ***********.
******* ****** ********* ******** ******* ** viewing *****, ****** *****, ******* ******** menus, ***** ********, ******* ****** ********.
Viewing **** *******
******* ******** ******* ** *** **** time ** * ****** **** ********** task. ******* *****/******* ***** *** ********** views ** ******** ******* (***, ***, 4x4) *** ***** ****** ** **** camera ***** *** ********* ** ********** and ************* ******* ** **** ***** (e.g. *** *********, *** ******* ****, cafeteria *******):
*******, ******** * *** ** ******* simultaneously ** *********, *** ******* ******* can ** **** ** **** ****** is **** *****.
Camera *****
****** ***** ****** *** ***** ****** to ******* *** *********, *******, ** a ****** *** ***** *** ** difficult ** ******** ******. **** ***** offer ********** ******* **************** ***/** ** building ****/********, ** * ***** ****** bar *** ****** ******:
Common ******* ******** ****
******* ******** ***** ***** ***** ****** to ****** ******* **** ****** *********, PTZ ******** *** ******** *********.
- *********:******* ********* * ***** ***** ** what ** ******, ****** **** * video ****, ******** ***** ******* *** save ** *****, ***** ** ******* and ****** ** ***** **** *****. However, ********* *** *** ********* *** entire ********.
- *** ********:****** *** ******* ******** ** * target ** *********** *** ****-******** **** monitoring. ****** *********** *** ****** ******** settings ****** ** **** ** ****** the ****** ** *** ******* (*.*. looking ******** ** * ****, ***** by * ****** **** ***** ********** an ********, ***.).
- *********:**** ************* *****, *********** ****** *** easier ******* ** ***** ** ******* a ***** **** ** *** *** which ****** ********* *** *** ******** instead ** ** **** ** ******. However, ******** ********* ** *********** *** them ** ** ********* *** *********.
Video ********
***** ******** ****** * **** ** quickly ***** ******* * *** ** video ( ******** ********* *** ******* time ** ***** ******):
*******, ***** ****** ***** *** ****** designed *** ******* *** ******** ****** or * ******** ***'* *******.
**** ***** ******* ********* ******* **** and ******** ***** ** ***** *** Timeline.
Instant ******
******** ********* *** **** ********* ******* while ********** **** *****, *** ******* Replay ****** ***** ******** ***** (*** - * ****) ***** ******* **** video, ****** *** **** ** **** a ********* ***** ******.
*** **** ***** *** ********* ***** the ******** ****** ** ** ****** live *** ******* ****** ** ** useful.
Searching *****
********* *** ******** ***** ** * critical ******* *** * ***, *** offering * **** ***** ** ****** for * ******/*******, *****, ** ****-****** object ** ********* *** **** *****.
***** *** ********* ****** ***** ****** in **** *****, **** **** **** and ****, ********* ** **** *********** is *****. ****, ******, *********, ********* and ******** ******** *** *** **** common *****
Time-based ******
****-***** ****** ** *** **** ***** search *** ** ****** ** *** system **** *** ***** ********* *** only * **** ***** ** ***** for ** ********:
****-***** ******** *** **** ************* ****** than **** ***** ****** ***** ******* you **** ** ***** ******* *** full **** ***** ** *****.
Motion ******
****** ****** ** ********* ******* **** time-based ****** ******* ** ***** **** motion ****** ** * ****** ***** can ******** *** **** ****** ** find * ******** ********.
*******, ** ****** *** *** ******** by *** ******, ** ** ***** are **** ****** ****** ** * camera, ****** ****** *** **** ** much **** ** ****** ** ****-***** searches
Analytic ******
******* **** *** ****** ******** *** take * **** **** ** ** through ******* ** **** ******, ********, or *******, ******** ******** *** ******* increase ****** *****:
*******, ************** ****** (****** ** *******, male ** ******) *** ***** **** results. ********, ** ****, ******* ** is ******** *** ***** ** ***** robust ********* ************, ********* ****** ********* will **** ******, ********* ** *** VMS.
Thumbnail ******
********* ******** *** ** ******* **** time ** ****** ******** **** ** object (*******, ***) ****** ** ****** the **** ** *** ******, *** analytics *** *** ******* ** *** VMS/cameras.
******* **** ****-***** ********, ***** ***** must ** ******** ********, *** ***** events *** ** ****** ******* * thumbnail ******.
Bookmark ******
******** ****** ****** ***** ********* *** an ***** **** **** **** ********** identified ******:
Exporting *****
**** ******, ********* ** ******** *****, exporting ***** **** ***'* ***** ************ system ** ******** ** ******* *********.
***** *** ******** ****** ** **** VMSes, ********* ****** **** *********, *********** video *******, *****-****** ******, ******** **** players, ************/********** *******, **** **** ******* support.
Export **** *********
******* *** ******* ***** *** **** time ******* *** ******** ***** ** make ***** *********** ****** ********* *****, without ****** ** ******* *** ****** process ***** * *** ****** ** use:
*******, ********** ******* ** *** ****** menu *** ***** ********* *** ***-******* users.
Proprietary ***** *******
********* ***** ** *** ***'* *********** format ** ******** *** **** *** require ***** **********/**** ******** ** ********** to ****-*******. ****, ********* *** ****** are ******** **** *********** *******, ***** can ** ******** *** ******:
*******, *********** ***** *** **** ** reviewed ** *** *** ****** ** standalone **** ******, ***** *** ** difficult *** *** ******* (*.*. ****** departments, *******).
Multi-Camera ******
****** **** ****** ** ****** ***** from **** ****** ************, *****-****** ****** can **** *********** **** ** ******** users ** ****** ******** ***** ***** from ********* ******* **************:
***** **** ** **** ********* **** single-camera ******, ** *** *** ********** when ********* *** **** **********.
Export **** ******
******* *********** ***** ******* ******* ******* software *** ********, ****** **** ******* offer ******** ******* ************ ** * VMS ****** *** ***-**** ******** (*.*. zoom, *********, ******* ******, ****** *** bookmarks):
***** *** ********** ******** ** ******* back ** ****-****** ******* (*.*. ******* Media ******, ***, *********).
Watermarking / **********
******* **** *** ***** **** ** ensure **** ******** ***** ** *** tampered ****, ************ *** ********** *** be ***** ** *** ***** ** ensure ** *** *** **** ****** or ******** ****:
**** ***** ********** **** *** ********** to ********* ***/** ******* ***** **** exporting *** **** ******* ****.
Open **** *******
********* ** ****-****** ***** ***** (*.*. MP4, ***) ***** **** ***** *** more ****** **** ******** ***** ******* they *** *** ****** ***** ******* (e.g. ******* ***** ******, *********, ***):
******** ******** **** ********, ******* ****, and ******/********* *** **** **** ********* to **** *******
Camera *****, *************, *** ***********
****** *****, *************, *** *********** *** the **** ****** ***** **** ******** a ************ ******.
***** *** ****** ********** ******** ****** to **** *****, ********* *********** *** adding *******, ********* ****** ********, ****** health **********, ******** **********, ****** ***** reports, *** ****** *********** *****.
Discovering *** ****** *******
****** ********* *** ****** ******* ** a *** *** *** ***** ***** to ******** * ******, *** ****** be * ***** *** ****-********* ******* that ***** *** *** ******* ****** and ******* *** * **********:
*******, ******* ********* ********* *** *** always **** ********* ** *** *******, manual ****** *** ****** ***** *** be ****.
Adjusting ****** ********
******** ******* ****** ******** (**********, ***** rate, ***********) *** ******** ** *** proper ******** ** * ***, ***** on *** ****** ************* *** ********* and ******* ************:
*******, *** *** ***** ******* ********* camera ******** *** *** ****** *************.
Camera ****** **********
******* * *** ** **** ********* when ******* *** ********* *** *********, camera ****** ********** ***** ******* * critical ********. ***** ********* **** *** alert ******** ** * ****** ** offline ** *** *********, ************, **** offer ******/******* ****** ****** ******* **** can ** ********* ****:
***** ***** *** ** ********* ** monitor ****** ****** ****, ***** ********** false-positive ****** ******* ****** *** **** to ******* ***** ******** ****.
Firmware **********
******** ****** ******** ** ********* ******* helps **** * *** *****-****** *** as ***** ******* ****** **** ******, it ******* **** ********* *** **-**-**** and ******** ** ********:
******** ******** ******* * *** ** typically ******* ** ****-************ *******, *** often ******** ***** * **************** ************* *********** *** ****** ************.
Camera *********** *****
**** ******* **** ** *** *******, being **** ** ****** **** *** configuration ** ******** **** *** ********** installed ****** ** *** *** ****** is * ******* **** *** ******* technicians/installers:
*******, ****** *********** ** **** ****** in **********-******* *****.
System **************
***** *** **** ********* ****** *** camera ************* **** ******* ** * VMS.
***** **** *** ****** ******* ** configuring *** *****/*********** *** *** ************* that **** **** ************* ********* ** the *** *** *********, ***** *** common ********** ********* *******, *********, **********, and **** ***********.
Storage
***** ***** ** ****** *** *** long ** ** ****** ** *** of *** ******* ********* **** ******* up * ***. ******* ***** ** recording ** *** ******* ****** ******, and **** ********** ** *** ***** to ****** ** **** ****** *** the *** **** *******.
******* **** ********* **** ******* ******** days ** *********, *** ****** ******* allowed ****, ****** ************* ** *** long ** ****** ***** ** * necessity.
**** ***** ******* ***-****** ********* ********, however, **** *** *** ********** ** system **************.
Recording
******* ** *** ********* ***** ** customers, ********* *** **** ** ********* (e.g. ******, **********) ** ********* ** provide *** ******** ******** *****.
**** *** ************* ****** *** ****** of ******* ********. ********, ********* ****** settings *** ** ******* *** **** monitoring *** ********* *** ********* **********.
**********
******* ***** *** ** ********* ********** for ********* ********* ** *** **** of *** ** ****, ********* *** primarily **** *** ******* ************. **** is **** ******** **** ** **** as ******* ***** **** ********* *************. They *** **** ** **** *** controlling ***** ************* *** **** *****:
********* ** *** ********** ** *** configuration **** *** ******* *********** ********** setup **** ** *** ***.
Users - *********** *** ******
*********** **** ******* ***** *** ******* to ***, *** ****/*** **** ****** the ****** ** *********. ***** ***** user *** **** ***** *************:
********** ****** (**** ******* *** ******) provide *** ******* ***** ** ******** and **** ********, *******, **** ** 2023, ****** ****** *** ********** *****, who *** ***** * ********** ** is ***** ******.
**** ***** ******* ******** **** ****** to ******** ******** ********** *********** *** each ****, *******, **** ** **** common ** **** **** ***** *****.
Mapping *******
************* ***** ********* *** ********* ***** live ********** *** ************* *** ******** relationships ******* ******* ** * *** is ********* *** ******** *********, *** can ** ********* ** *** ****** of ******* *********.
***** *** ****** *** ******* ******** including * *** *****, *** ***********, and *** ******.
Map *****
***** *** * ******* *** *****:
- ****** ****** (**):******* ** *** *** *********, *** limited ** *** ******** *** ****** feedback ******* ** *****-*********** *** **** mapping.
- *****-*********** (**):** *** ** ****** ** ***** suspects ******* ****** ***** ******* ** provides ******** ****** **** *** ****** view *********** **** ****** ** *******. However, ** *** ** **** ********* to ********* *** *** ** ********* for ***-******* *****.
- **** ********** (***):****** * ****** ***** ** *********** to ******* **** ******* ******** *** dispatch ******** ***** ** ****** ****** and ****-******** **********. ** ** ********* an ********* ***** ** ******** *** mapping.
Map ***********
*********** **** ***** ****** ****** **** for *** ****** *** **** **********, which ****** ******** ***** ** **** easily ***** ******** ** ******** ********** behavior.
************, **** ****** ****-******** ******* (*.*. Jails, ********, *******), ****** *******, *********, LPR *** ***** ******* *** ******** integrated **** **** *** ******* ****** monitoring.
*******, **** ***** *********** **** *** create ********* *** *********, ***** **** negatively ****** **** **********.
Map ******
******* ************* *** ****** *** ****** can ****** ********* **** ***** ** an ********, ***** **** ******* **** where ** *** *** *** ***** was *********, ********** ***** ******** ****.
*******, ***** **** **** **** ****** can ** **** ******** *********** *** confusing **** * ***** ********* *****/***** list.
Rising ************ ** ***-**** ****
* ***** *********** ** *** **** 5 ***** *** **** *** ******** in *** ************ ** **** ***-**** Asian **********, *** **** ********* **** their ******* ************.
******* ***-***** ********** *** ********* *-* times **** ********* **** ***** ******** ones. * - ** ******* *** Appliances **** **** ****** ** ***** from $*** *** ** ***** $*,*** USD, ** ********** ** ******* ***-***** appliances ** *** $*,*** - $**,*** USD ***** **** ***** ********.
*** ********* ********** ** ******* ********** include:
- **** ****** ****** ****** ************
- **** ********* **** ********** **** ******** Video ****** *** ****** *************
- ****** ********* *******
- *****-******/*** **********
- ****** ****** **********
- **** ********
- *** *******
- **** *********
**** ***** ******** *** ******* ****/****:
Appliances ******* ** *****
***** *** ******** ** ***-****** ** appliances, *** ********** ********** ****** ********** the ********* ******, *** ******** *********** itself, ******** ********** ********, ***. **** can **** * *** ***** *** eliminate *** ****** **** ********** ********.
Appliances ****** ** ******
***** ********** *** ********* ***** ********** to ******* ***** ***** ******* **** on, ** ********** *** **** ** know *** ** *** ** * PC/server *** ******* * ********/*** ***********. For **** *************, **** ***** ** knowledge ** ******* *** ***** ** advantage, *******, *** ******, **** *** allow **** ** ** *********** **** less ******* ***********.
VMS *** ****** ************ ***********
* ************ **** **********, *** **** to *** *** ************'* ********. *** common ******** ***** ****:
- **** ************ *** ************ ***** * certain ******** (*.*., ****, **, ***.) and *** **** ********* ***** *** servicing ******** **** **** ************. ** appliance ****** **** * ********* ******** falls ******* **** ******* *** *** be ******* *** ***** ** ***** logistical ******.
- *** ****** ******* ******** ************** ** component ******* *** *** *** *********** with ********* *** ********* ********. **** is ********* **** ** ***** *** advanced ********* *****.
** ****** ****, *** ******* ** pick **** *** ******** ** *** of *** ********** ** ***** * Software **** ********.
Virtualization **** ***
******* ******** **** *** *** ** installed ** *** *******/***** ****** ********, many *** ********* *** *** ** a ******* ****** ***********.
** *** ******** ************** ******, **** will **** ******** **** *** *** add ********** *** ************ *** ************ and *******. ********** ** * ******* server *** ******* * ****** ***** trained, ****** **** **********.
Appliances ******** ***************
***** *** ************ ******** *** ******** and ***-****** *** ********, **** **** much **** ******* *** * ****** understanding ** **** ***** ** ***** and *** ** ************ **. ** is **** ****** *** *** ************ to ************ ******** ****** ** ******** ******** ** ***** *** **** more *********.
** ***** ****** ****** ** **** time *** **** ****** ***, ** the ***** ****, ** *** ****** in ******-******** *** ***** ***** ****** that ** ** **** ********'* ******.
*** ****** ******* **** ********** ******** and ******** ********** ** **** ** can ****** ** ****** *** ************* responsible *** *************** *** ************ ******. The **/****** ******** *** **** **** one ***** ***** *** ********/*********** ***** into *******. **** *** ******** ********** and ***** ****** ** ********* ******** compared ** ** *********.
Many ********** ******* ** ****** ******** *****
****, *** *** *** ********-**** *********, charge ****** ***** *** ***********/********* ***** software. ***** ***** *** ****** *** upfront ******* **** **** * * year ****** (*.*, *** $*** *** a ****** ******* ******* **** ******* $100-$150 **** *** **** *** *****). By ********, ********* ********* ********* ** not ****** ****** **** ***, *****, give **** ******** ********.
*** ********* ***** ***** **** ***** annual **** ****** ** **** **** advanced ************* **** ********** **. ********* this ** **** *** *** ******. This ***** ****** ** ********* ********** on *** ***** ********* *** ** considering.
VMS ******** **** *********** ** *****
********** ********* **** *** ******* ** a ******* ** ************** *** ***** have ************ ** *** **** *** be ********.
** * ******* ****, ** *** exceed *** **/** ******* ***** ** even * ** * *******, *** will **** ** *** ** ********** appliance. ** ********, ** ***** * software-only ********, *** *** ****** ** add ********** ** ******** ** *** please, ** *** ******* ********* ******* a **** ****** ****** *** ****** count (***-***).
** ******, **** ******* *** **** the ********* ****** ** ** ** but *** ***** **** **; **** can **** ** ****** ** ***** the ************ ****** **** **** *******, higher **********, ****** *******, ***.
**** ********* ******* *** ***** ******** NAS/SAN ******* ******* ** ****** ******* storage ********, *** ***** ** *** add **** ********** ********, **** ****** retention *****.
Appliances ****** *** ***** ****** ***********
*** ***** **** *** ******* ** VMS ******** ** ****** ********, ******* the ******* ** ******** * ** 64 *******. ** ***** **** * hours ** *** ** * ******* recording * ******* *** ******* * for *** ********* ** *******.
*******, *** **** ** ****** ************** as * ********** ** *** ***** job ** **** ****** ** *** 4 ****** **********. ** ****, ********** are ************ ********** *** ***** **** small *******. *** ********, **** ** a **** *** **** ******* *** they **** ***** ****** *** *********, appliances ***** ******* * *********** ********* as ** ***** ********* *** ***** of ************ *** ********.
VMS **** ****** ** ***** *******
**** ********** *** ******** ** ***** to ******* ****** ****** - *, 9, **, *** ** ******* ***** the **** ******. ** *** **** more ******* ** * ***** **** or **** ********* ************ (***** **** resolution ***/** ***** *****), ********* ******** only ** * ****** ****** ** you *** ********* *** ******** *** your **** ********* *****.
Widely **** ** ******* ***** *** ****
***** ** ** ************ **** ** widely **** ** ******* *** *** NVR *************:
- ********: ******* ** * ******* ********** VMS / ** ******/***** ********* ********, and ************** ** *** *** **** via ***** *** ****** *** ****-**** analytics (*** *****,*,*,*).
- ****: *** ***** ** ****** ************ and ***** *** ******* ***-***** ***, Axis ****** * ******* ** ***** but **** *** ********* **** ******** used *** ********.
- *****: * ***** ***** ****** ************, they **** ***** **** **** *** widely **** *** ** ***-**** *** not ********** **** *******.
- *****: * ****-******** ***, **** *** of **********'* *********, *** ******** ** favorability ********* ******** **** ** ****.
- *******: *** ** *** ******** ***** and ***** ***********, ******* *** ******* to ** * **** ****-*** ********, whose ******* ** ************* ** **** of *** ****** *** ***** ******** functionalities *** ********** ****** ** ********** end-users.
- ******: * ***** *** ****** ****** manufacturer, **** ***** ***** *** *** and *** ******* *****'* ***.
- *********:*** *****'* ******* ***** ************ ************, in *** ****, **** *** ********* a ***-**** ****** *** *** ************. Their ******* ***** **** ****** **** but ********* *** ****** *********** ** **********'* overall.
- *********:*** ** *** ******** *****, ********* offers * ***** ***** ** *******, from **** ** **********, **** ***** on ***** '****' ** ***** ** 3rd ***** ******* *** *********. **** have ******** ** ************ ** *** past *** ***** *** **** ***** their ***** ******** **** ***** ******* company *******.
- ******* *****:* ********** *** *** (******* ****), they ********* *** ***** ******** ** partners (******, ******* ********). **** **** risen ** ************ ** * *****-**** mid-market *********** ** ***** *** *********.
- ******* (*** ***):*** *** ******* ***** ***** ************ manufacturer, **** *** ******* ** **** camera *** *** *** ** *** West, *** ** **** *** *****, their **** **** ******* ******** ** Dahua *** *********.
*** **** ************ ** *** ***** ********** ******** (VMS) ************ * **** ******** ******* ** VMS *************.
************ / ******** *** ***** ************:
*****- ************** *** ***** ********* *** *****, this ** * ********** *** ** refer ** *** *** ***** *** manufacturers **** ********** ****** ** ******* that *** *** ********* *** **** similarly ******* **
**** **** ** *** ****** ** Chris *******.
*** ***** *********** , ********, ********* along ***** *****. ** ** **** an ************ *** *** *******'* ****. in ***** ****, * ***** **** were ***** *** ******* ** *** and ********.
***** ** "***** *** **** ** guo" , *** **** *** :)
******* *** **** **** **** *********** if *** **** ******* :
*** ***** *********** , ********, ********* along ***** *****.
**, 华 (**á) ** ** ******* Chinese **** *** ***** **** **** carries *** ******* ** ***********, ********, etc.
** *** "***** *** **** ** guo", **** *** **** **中华人民共和国 (**ō** **á *é* *í* *ò** hé **ó) ***** ****** *** *** PRC / ******'* ******** ** *****, not ****** *****.
*** ** ** ************ ** ***** hua. ** *****'* ***** ** ******. when ******* ****** ***** ** ***** country *** ***** ***, *** *** guo.
******* ** *******, **** ******* ** the ****** ****** ** *******, ***'** say "*'* **** *** ****** " or "*'* **** ******* ", *** won't *** "*'* **** ****** "
*** ***'* *** "*'* **** ****** "
****** **** *** **** *******, ** any ***. 华 (**á)**** **** *****.
***, **** ******* ** ***** *****! Well, **** ** *** *** *****... It ******* ** **** *** *** it *** *** *** ***** ******* it **** ***** **********.
**** **** ** *** ****** ** Chris *******.
***** ** ****, ** **********:)
****'* * ******* ****** ** *** other **** ** **** ******** (******* from ****):******* *** ******
* **** **** ** ***, * read *** ****** **** *** ***** between **** *** *********** #*.
*** * **** ** ***, * lost ** ******* ** ** ****. LOL.
****, *** *** *** ** ******* onto ** ************ ** ********* ** for *** **** **** ******** **** content? ***
**** ***,
*** ** **** *** ** **** this ?
*******
**** *** ** *** ***** *** easy ** ********* ** **** ** create **** *** ****** ******* *** interactive *** ******?
***** ******** ******, ** **** ***** that ***** ******/**** ******* **** *** mapping, **** ** **** **** "****-***-****" configuration:
- ******* ******** ****** *.* ******
- ************ ******* ****** *** ******
- ********* ******** **** ** ******
** *** **** * ******* **** for **** ***** ** *********** *** alerts *** *** ******* ***?
***** **** ** *** ***/***** ********** that **** ***** *****, ***** ******* to *********, ********* **** *******/***** *******:
** ***** ** ******* ** ******* what ******** ***** *** ***?
**: *********** ****: *****...