ONVIF Ending Support for Profile S
A commonly asked question is “what is ONVIF protocol?” This question confuses two different concepts: a standard and a protocol. ONVIF is a security standard, whereas RTSP — a key element of video and audio streaming — is a protocol.
For the avoidance of doubt, “ONVIF protocol” is an incorrect term, because it is a standard. The ONVIF standards are defined by several manufacturers in the video security industry, including Pelco, enabling products across brands to work together and interface seamlessly. This standard determines how a protocol like RTSP will work.
RTSP stands for Real Time Streaming Protocol. It controls video and audio transmission between two endpoints, and enables it to happen with minimal latency (delay) over an internet connection. ONVIF IP cameras use a specific standard (known as a profile) to stream video and audio. In doing so, the standard defines certain rules about how RTSP should work and which ONVIF specifications it should follow.
Over
a larger ONVIF security camera system, this means that all
devices are using the same streaming protocol to transmit video to network
recording devices, which are primed to receive it in that specific format.
ONVIF stands for Open Network Video Interface Forum. Its aim is to provide a standard for the interface between different IP-based physical security devices. In simple terms, ONVIF specifications provide a consistent way for devices from multiple manufacturers to work together, where previously they would not have been able to. These standardized ONVIF specifications are like a common language that all devices can use to communicate.
The end
user benefits from this interoperability because they are no longer tied to
a single brand for everything to work; now, a business can use
several different brands’ systems, with a single standard to communicate.
Want to use the best ONVIF camera from Brand A, but you also want
Brand B’s ONVIF IP cameras, and Brand C’s ONVIF NVR?
No problem — because
the ONVIF standard
enables them all to work together.
ONVIF recommends the use of Profile T as a replacement for Profile S. Launched in 2018, Profile T includes virtually all Profile S features plus advanced video surveillance capabilities. End users can still use Profile S for basic video streaming between Profile S conformant devices and clients, but for security reasons, ONVIF strongly encourages customers to discontinue the use of the username token authentication method and choose instead more secure authentication mechanisms like digest authentication supported in Profile T or through TLS (HTTPS mode).
Profile S Conformant Products
ONVIF
conformant products and is the authoritative source for determining whether or
not a product is officially ONVIF conformant and supports one or multiple ONVIF
profiles. A product is registered in the database after it successfully passes
the relevant ONVIF test tool and all the necessary documents have been
submitted to ONVIF by the member manufacturer. Conformance is tied to a
product’s specific firmware/software version and is valid indefinitely for the
specific firmware/software version of that product. To ensure an existing
product is conformant, the product’s firmware/software version must match the
version listed for the product in the database. ONVIF releases new device and
client test tools twice a year (June and December), and each test tool version
is valid until a new version is released, plus a further grace period of about
three months. For more information, see the Conformance FAQ page.
Note that products may use ONVIF specifications, but they may not claim to be ONVIF conformant without completing the ONVIF Conformance Process. Only ONVIF members can claim conformance, but ONVIF membership alone does not guarantee that products sold by members are ONVIF conformant.
TLS Configuration Add-on
