Consideration to deploy a surveillance system

Video surveillance systems  for large scale deployment, there are several main considerations. 

1. Select cameras 

Cameras normally are selected by camera resolution, shapes, and if need pan/tilt. Our CMS software needs the camera ONVIF protocol supported. 

Be noted that we suggest to contact us to confirm if the camera is connectible to our system, since some cameras in the market are with Onvif support, but not fully supported  

2. Select NVR and Storage volume 

In the software, there is no limitation of maximum cameras. Camera total will be decided by Disk volume, camera video stream rate and requested records day. 

Premium and standard types of eNVR use enterprise level 19 inch rack mount type servers, and with windows server 2016, and raid hdd . It is recommended to select these types, if the video recording is very important. 

Value type eNVR  is suggested for those customers who want to balance the cost and performances.  

We strongly suggest that the camera is set to use streams with variable bit rate, not constant bit rate. Otherwise, the video will be huge.  As reference Typically for 4MP IP camera, 30fps, variable bit rate at max. 1Mbps, Video Data 8-25GB/day.

The recording days of video can be set by the camera channel individually. So the number of recording days can be set according to the camera’s importance.

3. System Architecture

The system is deployed with pyramid layers, the video can be recorded at the low layer of edge nvrs, or at nvrs of the higher layer. From edge to top layer eNVR (or servers), if the camera video stream passes the NVR, then the video can be watched and recorded from this server, and upper layer server.   

Video streaming path and recorded location can be configured.  

Multiple layer pyramid deployment

The system can be deployed in either two layers (edge NVRs and top server), or three layers( edge NVR ,second layer server and top layer server). 

Edge NVR connects with cameras via the local camera network.It is deployed at the location where the cameras are installed.  Since the NVR is with two ethernet ports, it is suggested that one ethernet port connects to your local area network, another port connects to cameras via POE switch.

Second layer NVRs ( servers ) normally are deployed at own data center, or comercial cloud server center. It is to store the video streamed  from edge NVRs. Consider saving videos at second layer servers when 1) the environment condition  of edge NVRs is not  good; 2) there are risks for local staff to delete video purposely when events happen. 3) need to save video copies.   The disadvantage is that it increases the equipment cost and it needs higher bandwidth of the internet.

Top layer server normally is deployed at its own data center, or comercial cloud server center, it does not need a high performance, and big storage. the main functions are below.

  • From the top layer server,  all the clients of the surveillance station can access live and recorded video at all nvrs. So there is no need to do special settings on the router which Edge NVRs is connected to.     
  • This server can check the credentials when users access videos.

So it can greatly enhance the video security and make the. video access simple and safe.  

                                       Tow layers                                                                      Three layers  

Two layers vs three layers deployment 

Three layers of structure can balance the load of storing the videos, and enhance the security. But it increases the equipment cost. In our customer’s application like the automobile factory line, they set the second layer server at the data center inside the facility, so it does not request the internet bandwidth. It stores all the videos at edge NVRs for a short period, while storing some videos for those who need to keep for years.    

Two layers of structure are commonly used like retail store chain, nursing homes. Some important videos can be set to store video copy at the top layer servers if the server is with enough data storage space. 

In our retail customers, they use a compact model (eNVR -CPT- 1TB) and top layer server in the cloud.  On the NVRs, only several day’s videos are stored, and store all videos at the top server for months.      

Compact model of NVR can work outdoors, even in winter and summer. 

4. Connect cameras to edge NVR

NVR is with two ethernet ports, it is suggested that one ethernet port connects to your local area network, another port connects to cameras via POE switch with separate network segments. Make sure the camera network is isolated, and is prohibited from accessing the internet.  

5. To access the videos from video surveillance station 

There are ways to access the live and recorded videos 

  1. Access videos on edge NVR itself.
  2. Surveillance stations visit Edge NVR, which is the same local area network.
  3. Surveillance stations visit the top layer server. if the top layer server is deployed at its own facility, then the server IP needs static IP ,and set the firewall to allow access via the internet. 

It is not recommended to directly access the edge NVRs via the internet because the  firewall settings are requested, and client security management has to be done at each NVRs.

When a client signs into the system to access video from the top server, it needs to pass the security checks by password, registered trusted device, registered trusted IPs.  The client can get live and recorded videos from the accessible cameras which are assigned by the administrator. Account accessible videos can be picked from the same edge NVR, or the combination of cameras from multiple edge NVRs.