*******
******** *********+ ** *** of *** **** ***** featured**** **************, **** ***** ****** ******* and ******** ****** ******** not ***** ** **** free ***** ** *** cost ****, **** ** storage ******** ****** ***** in **** **** *********. Additionally, ********* ****** ********* sped ******* ****, ****** cameras ** *** ********* server **** ****** ******, an ******** *******.
*******, *********+ ** ***** ******* and **** ********* *** setup, ************** *** *** for * ***** ***** / *****-***** ******. ******* are ****** ** ** confused ** *** **** components, ************ *******, ***********, and ****** *****, ****** these ***** *********+ ******* more ****** ** ** sold *** ********* ** integrators **** *********** ** end ***** **********.
Limitations ******** ** **** ********
******** *********+ ** *********'* latest **** *** *******, replacing ********* *** ** before **, **** ***** key *********** ******** ** other ******** ********:
- ***** ********:*********+ ** ******* ** eight ******* ********. **** that "*******" **** *** always **** * ****** imager/camera, **** ******* **** as ******** *** *****-****** cameras ***** **** * single *******.
- ****** ******:***** *** **** **** a ****** *********+ ****** at * ****, ********** of *** **** ******** are ********* ** **** server (*.*., ** ******* of *** *-****** ******* simultaneously).
- ******* ***-***:*******, *********+ ** ******* in ***** ********* ***-*** may ** ****, **** only****** *****************.******** ***, ******, ***, *** Access ******* ****** **** paid ******** ** ********.
************, **** **** ****** features **** ** **** storage, ********* ************/********* *****, failover, *** *********, *** not *********.
****** ******* (*.***, ***** codecs, *******, ***********, ***.) and **** ***** ****** features (****, *** *****, events, ***.) *** ********* ********* to ***** ******** ********.
No ********* ******
************, ****** **** **** VMSes ***** ***** ********* duration ** ***** ******* or ***** **** **** viewing, *********+ **** *** have *** ********* ******. Users *** ***** ***** as **** ** ***** disk ***** ****** (********, external, ** *******).
New ******** **** ********
***** *********+ ******** *** free ** ********, ***** may ******* ****** ** installing *** *** ******* on *** ** *** previous ***. ** ******** upgrade ********** *** *********, unlike ***** ********* ******** which ******* **** **** in ***** ** ****** new ********.
Disadvantage: ******* ************
******** *********+ ************ ** more ******* **** **** VMSes, **** **** ******* presented ** *** ****, without ***** ********, ********* single ******/*********** ****** *******, IIS *****, *** ******** Milestone ****** ***** ***** are ******** (****** ******, event ******, "******* *******", etc.) *** **** ***** familiar **** ************ *** not **********.
**** **** ***** *** simply *** "****" ** walk ******* ************ ******* changing *** ********, *** the ****** ** *********** presented *** *********** **** may ** ********* *** novice ***** (* ***** segment ** ***** ******* for **** ***).
*** ************ **** *** take * *********** ****** of **** *** ** the **** ** *** install (****** ***). ** our *****, ************ **** over ** ******* ***** to ******, ******* ** stall ** ******* ****** in *** *******, *** ultimately ********** ******* ******.
Advantage: ********* ****** *********
****** ************, ***** ****** common *********** *** ******* on ***** *******, **** XProtect *********+ ************* ****** cameras ** *** ***** network ***** ***** ** complete. *** *******, ** entered ***** *** ****, two ****** ********* *** cameras:
*** ******** ***** * cameras ***** ** *** **** ******* from * ******* ** manufacturers (*****, ****, *****, Geovision, *****) ******* *** manual ************. **** **** users **** **** **** 8 ******* ****** *** want ** ******** *** specific *******, ** ***** is ** *** ** control ***** ******* *** automatically *****.
Advantage: ********* ****** *******
******** *********+ ******** *** same ******* ** ***** versions ** ********, **** *,*** ******* ***** ** *** **** of *** ****, **** some ******* ********** **** many *****:
- ******* ************ *.*** *******: ******** ******** * *************' H.265 *******, **** **** most *****, **** ** Exacq (* *************), ** Avigilon, ***** **** *** support *.*** ** ***.
- ***** *.*** *******: ************, ********* ******** *.*** via *****, ***** **** **** VMSes ***** ******* *** codec do ***, * ******* camera *********** ***** (*** our ******: *** *** **** ***** Will ******* *.***
************, ********* ******** ******* manufacturers' ******* *********, ******** configuration ** ****** ** multiple *************, ********* ***** codec *************, ***** *** I/O *** **** ********* devices, *** **** **** used ********, **** ** Mobotix's ***** *****, ****** it **** ****** ** support ******* ** ***** cameras **** **** *****.
Smart ****** ********
******** *********+ **** *** same ***** ****** ** other ******** ** *********, so ***** ** ***** versions **** *** ****** difference. **** ** **** good *** ***, ********* on ***'* ********** **** the ***** ******, ** some ********* *** **** intuitive ** **** ******* than ***** *****/*********, ********* briefly *****. **** **** we **** ***** ***** functions ** **** ****** in *** ********* ******** **** ****.
**** **** ***** **********
****** ***** *****, ** which ***** ****** **** cameras **** *** *** of ******* ***** ** a ******, ********* ******** users ** ***** ***** mode ** ***/****** ******* and ****** ******. ***** cannot ****** ****** ******* 2x2, ***, ** *** layout ** *** ***, without *********** **. ************, ******* cannot ** ******* **** a **** ******* ******** setup.
********/****** **********
********* ******** ******* ******** and ****** *****, ********* timeline, *****, *********, *** smart/pixel ******, ******** **** flexible ****** **** **** VMSes, *** **** ****** than ******* *** **** NVRs/CMS, ***** ********* ******* only ******** *** ***** event ******. ******** **** includes ************ *****-****** ******, not ********* ***** ** NVRs, *** **** *****.
*********: ********** ********** ***** (Events, ****, *** *****)
*******, ******** ******** ******** specialized **** ***** ***** may ** **** *** system **********, **** ** which *** ***** **** in ************ ** ********** systems.
- ***** ****/*****:***** *** **** * list ** ****** **** a ******, ***** **** a ******** **** **** to **** ***** ***** as **** *****.
- ******* ****:******** ****** ******* *******, allowing **** ** ** nested, ******* ******, */*, audio, ***** ***** *******, server ****** ***********, ***., allowing **** ******** **** than **** *** ****/**** platforms, ***** *** ********* limited ** ******* ****.
- *** *****/******/****:*******, ***** *** *** web ***** ** **** as ****** ****** ** text ** ******** *******, typically ******** **** ** enterprise ***. ***** ******* may ** **** ** display ****, ************, *******, external *******, ***., ** the ******.
Disadvantage: ************* **********
***** *** ** ******** Essential+ *** **** ************** and ************* **** ********* than ***** *****/****, **** some ****** ***** ********* additional ************* ***** ***** may *** ** ******* to **** *********** ***** of ***** *****.
*** *******, ******* ** simply ******* * ********* schedule ** ********* "**********" as ********* ****, ***** must ****** * *** rule ** *** ******* to ************ ****** ** XProtect ****, ******* ******** **** the "******" *** ** camera *****.
************, ***** ****** **** VMD ** ********* *******, requiring ***** ** ****** an ***** (******, *********, I/O) ** ******** ****** it *** ** ****, while ***** *****/********* ****** receive ***** ****** ************* from ********* *******.
Advantage: **** ******** ****** ******/**** ******** ****** ***
******** *********+ ******** ********* Mobile ****** ** ** additional ******, ********* ** default. ***** ********* ****** apps, ***** *** **** live *****, ********, *** event ***** **** *** Essential+ ******, ***** *****. In *** *****, ** saw ** ***** ******* this ****** *** ** to * ******* ** the **** ****** ** recording *** **********, **** CPU **** **** ********** a *** *******.
Compared ** *** **** *********
******** ** *** **** NVRs **** ** ***** or *********, ***** *** several ********** ** ******** Essential+:
- ****** ****** *******:******** ***** **** *,*** devices ** *********, *** direct ******* *** ***** Profile *. ** ********, most *** **** **** mainly ******* *** ************'* own *******, **** ******* support *** * ******* of ****** ******* *** ONVIF. ** *** *****, third ***** ******* ** typically ****** ** ***** recorders, *** ****** ** XProtect.
- ****** ****** *** ******: ** *** *******, ********'* search *** ****** ******** are ******** ** *** cost ****/*** ********, **** more ****** ******* (*********, smart ******) *** *****-****** export **** *********** ******.
- ****** *** ********: ******** ******** ******* ******** not ***** ** *** cost ****, **** ** screen *********, ******* *****-**** maps, ******** *** *****, event **********, *** ****.
*******, ***** *** ******* drawbacks, ** ****:
- **** *******/**** *********:****** *** **** **** which ********* *** ** unboxed *** ******* ***** immediately, ***** **** ******* a ** *** ******* software **********, ******* ****** to *** ****** ** time ********* *** ****** setup.
- **** ******:*-******* *** **** *** be ***** ****** *** $300-400, ******* ** *** pricing ** *** ******* PC ******** *** ********* installation. ************, ***** **** supply * ******** *** switch, ** ********** $***-***, making ** ******** *********+ recorder/switch ****** ***** *** price ** ** ***-**-*** NVR.
- ** ***** ******/******** **** forwarding ** ***:*******, ***** *********+ ******** the ********* ****** ****** at ** ********** ****, users **** ******** ******* router ***** ** *** VPN *** ****** ******, while **** *** **** NVRs *** ******* **** cloud ******, ********* ** port **********.
We downloaded and tested XProtect Essential+, looking at:
Comments (29)
Dwayne Cooney
Good evaluation Ethan.
I recently completed testing and implementing the corporate version here. During that process, Milestone released free Essential+ so I replaced my paid version at home with Essential+. It surprisingly has a lot of features for a free VMS.
I feel the only issue with Essential+ is that the average consumer might have trouble configuring the system. For example, I prefer to record 24/7. Although its easy for anyone proficient on these systems, I do not see the average consumer understanding or even being aware of how to create a rule to do this.
Of course this is good news for integrators but it is not likely an integrator would be selling & installing the free license anyway. So maybe to only negative would be for the DIY consumer.
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Undisclosed #1
I installed at my home to familiarize myself with Milestone. One thing that I found frustrating - it appears to block push notifications to mobile app or SMS notifications.
Did you try to set this up?
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Mike Dotson
Users will have to get familiar with the Knowledge Base for sure. They do have a specific one pertaining to a 'always record' HERE
The KB area helps a little when the manuals are 'light' on the subject matter such as this one.
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Tasneem AbuQutaish
IPVMU Certified | 11/10/17 11:04am
Many Thanks for this article, as a reseller I can fully agree with all mentioned above, and that the Essential+ is getting its way more among our clients, even though I think ill have to argue with your drawbacks point of more costly; because well its like the lets say worst scenario where the setup is all clean, but many of our clients already have cameras, poe switches & PC so its mostly the case where only programming the SW is needed, so perhaps it can be added that it depends on the client/user environment setup and needs.
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Itamar Kerbel
I think the Essential+ is a very good idea.
Since companies like Milestone/Avigilon/Genetc are not even considered as an option for small scale installations, they actually do not lose much or anything by offering this free version.
For large installations the Essential+ will not be considered an option so it doesn't hurt their business.
I think other big brand should consider doing something similar....
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Corbin Hambrick
We've done a couple of Essential+ jobs BECAUSE it was free.
The cost of the Dell PC (on sale) was still a bit more then an NVR but no biggie.
Only problem I've run across is that a couple of times (once on my test setup and once at a customer's site) we lost live and recorded video. The services showed to be running...but stopping and restarting the services "fixed" the problem.
No time has yet been spent trying to replicate and therefore determine the cause...and since it's free no tech support is offered.
For us the only real negative difference between VMS and NVR is adding PC support to our knowledge base. Being an A/V integrator primarily, that's not within our standard business model.
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TOMISLAV GOLUB
Great info, thanks. I am planning to install it and test it soon. Maybe to replace my existing VMS.
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Truman HW
Question 1
Seems like it will support/use H.265 via ONVIF -- even when the device' status in compatibility testing implies they haven't added the H.265 feature for many models of equipment I like. Haven't quite finished building the machine I will be testing it with -- but... what's the consensus?
IF the camera encodes in H.265, will Milestone Systems record it in that codec?
- or -
Will I have to wait for the device(s) to have the H.265 [seal] added to their model #?
Question 2
Can I set up rules for storage; to move from 'layer' to 'layer' with a 'time decay' to their importance?
I want to record initially to SSD - unless there's someone here who's recorded:
~10x 4K cameras
Maximum FPS
Maximum quality (VBR with HQ selected - and allow the camera to decide)
Question 3
Use of additional server required to stream to mobile clients?
Question 4
Can I use any NAS I elect - as a means of both backing up and playing back from - albeit, obviously it will be SLOWer.
Question 5
Or, should I use an NVR as my basic recording device - and the Milestone system merely to view it? Will something like a Hikvision high(er) end unit allow for quickly locating events I want to watch, and not 'sputter' ? Because I will require the assurance of those with experience to believe that my results will suddenly be different. As I said, SSDs were instant, and NAS pro drives, NEW, were frustratingly slow.
Thank you all.
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Jeffrey Hinckley
I would recommend taking the 3 day Milestone technical training. I have been an Exacq guy since 2007, and was amazed at the configuration abilities on this system. You have to be familiar with “rules”, and “storage/archiving”, to really harness the power of this system. It would take awhile also learning all the other abilities via programming this system offers, but once you do, the capabilities are endless.
You present this a not being “cookie-cutter” as a draw-back, but Certified Milestone dealers should be taking the training anyway, which will clear up the complexities.
Offering the free system is awesome for Certified dealers and their techs to have access to working demo systems. The + offering with upward migration, especially for “seed” customers is enticing with similar pricing with Pro + to other options on the market. (I will admit that the smart client has never been intuitive for the non-technical users).
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Truman HW
Hi, I apologize for how remedial this is going to sound - but, the cameras on my network aren't being found by Xprotect Essential+.
1. I can open all cameras from IP addresses on my network via the computer I've installed a fresh OS on to run XProtect.
2. I entered the 3 passwords Hikvision, Samsung, etc., mandates the password sophistication satisfy. Again, all of which I'm able to enter from a browser and view the cameras from the same computer.
3. I haven't turned off windows defender but I'm going to - although, I doubt this will make a difference. I have 5 cameras, all of which are on the same domain, subnet, as the computer the server is installed on.
4. I'm going to install the Arcus server and locate/open all of them (except the Samsung Hanwha, as those I believe aren't ONVIF compliant?).
Why is there no way to custom install cameras which aren't detected? This is the peculiar thing to me... why can't I just specify an IP address, username and password as well as the model/manufacture if it can't extract the info to configure the camera? Or is there a way to do this that I'm not thinking of?
I'm sure this is a remedial question, but right now I have no way of accessing my surveillance except by using Back to my Mac, and viewing the IP interface for the cameras... which only works sporadically with [some] companies goodies. Such as (bizarrely), Uniview has an OS X web plugin, but doesn't have one for windows!? Though it prompts you to download the plugin? lol. Or maybe their navigation isn't intuitive on their website.
Okay, thank you to all/any people who take the time to help.
Regards,
Truman
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John Honovich
This IPCamTalk discussion is a good example of the strengths and weaknesses of the free Milestone version:
The positive side is that he was impressed with the functionality (with makes sense given what if offers compared to other free or low cost offerings). The downside is that the guy almost gave up because it was hard to get started.
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Mike Dotson
What is a bit ironic with the 'hard to get started' reference is that Milestone has several video tutorials that will do a decent job of getting you started with the various versions.
Milestone Video Tutorials
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Sebastian Kratzke
Can Essential+ be configured to use/install Onvif Bridge?
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Alex Knapik
01/07/18 10:14pm
Thanks Ethan for the evaluation of Essential+.
A note I'd like to make on this piece:
It is accurate that Milestone does not sell the Milestone add-on products you mention (and other custom Milestone integrations as well) with the free Essential+.
However, Essential+ is fully open to our MIP SDK (Milestone Integration Platform) for in effect any integration that someone would create for any Plus / Advanced version of Milestone software.
To me, this is could be a huge deal. Anyone who wants to develop a custom integration for their video management system can do it - fully functionally - with our free version. Not demoware, not evaluation freeware with storage and client limits or other caps - a complete (of course capped at eight devices) VMS.
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