The end of DVR in Video Surveillance

The end of DVR in Video Surveillance 

People are moving away from outdated DVRs in analog CCTV world to a more standardized and scalable IP video storage environment. The trends which are paving way for the demise of DVR in video surveillance field are as follows-

Edge Storage significance- People are nowadays going with the best available technology for their surveillance needs and are showing a lot of interest on edge based surveillance cameras. For this reason, IP camera vendors are getting busy in increasing the storage capacity of their SD/MicroSD Card driven network cameras. In next five years, there is a possibility that IP cameras with 1TB on-board video storage will be available to serve the purpose of Edge based video surveillance. There is a leeway that these edge storage enabled cameras can be used as standalone surveillance devices or in conjugation with a centrally located video storage solution, in order to achieve failover redundancy.

Network Attached Storage high availability will also play a vital role in the demise of the DVR. Interestingly, this deployment can be used in conjugation as a standalone archiving solution or in conjugation with an edge based network device. In case of small surveillance projects, both SD card and NAS storage systems will be good deployment solutions. Usually, these solutions will be a perfect match to analog technology deployment standards employed in retail stores or in offices.

Lower cost per Gigabyte of storage drives is the next trend which may pave way for the death of DVR. IT sector will find a strong focus from big data manufacturers on physical security and its associated video management system plus video analytics. The need for longer video storage periods and higher quality of video will also increase the need of higher storage capacity devices. People will then have the flexibility to just dump the appliance and go with reference architecture from the server manufacture. Again this centralized storage approach will also pair up with edge or intermediary secondary storage such as decentralized cameras, which are a perfect solution in environments where failover and bandwidth issues remain as main criterion.

Migration to cloud by IT sector will also pave way for the demise of DVR, as hosted video surveillance services will be on high demand. With existing partnerships in between software, camera hardware and cloud service providers getting strong; a fast, easily accessible and scalable solution for network video will be on high demand. Multi-location gas stations, retail sectors and quick server organizations have already become patrons of cloud based video surveillance storage. Seeing the secure central access enabled video approach, many large and mid-range organizations which have operations in geographically separated environments will go for cloud approach. As cloud based video surveillance cuts down the number of IT staff, its craze will double up by end of 2021.

So, presently for the above said reasons, the demise of DVR can predicted for sure. Feel free to speak up your mind on the said trends and let us know your opinion on DVRs existence in future of video surveillance.

Choose ONVIF Prescribe ONVIF

Choose ONVIF Prescribe ONVIF

As an eSecurity Professional I always prefer to use ONVIF. ONVIF allows me to be truly independent of brands and recommend a way forward for customers that is not going to tie them in to a single, specific manufacturer. As I work as a System integrator in last 12yr found purchasers have probably all heard of ONVIF, but in my experience, the high level of competition in the CCTV market drives many manufacturers to attempt to differentiate themselves to understandably stay ahead of the pack. Unfortunately, I have seen many cases where the manufacturer tells the customer they make ONVIF-conformant products, but they then upsell additional features for their product and in many cases will say how that method is better than ONVIF. This doesn’t help many buyers of CCTV products today as they are not always experts in the field of CCTV or in the business of security, so they don’t see the strategic benefits of employing an ONVIF approach. We also see that the end users do not yet see the wider benefits of using an open standard and what that can offer them in the longer term.  They are instead more focused on the short term project, so there are many strategic influencers who are not yet aware of ONVIF.

Many projects I work which under government-funded customers that have long approval cycles and need to be able to have longer term plans. ONVIF allows this, as it has a stable roadmap and retains backwards compatibility in most things, so I am able to set a roadmap and a vision for a customers that they can plan around whilst having access to a large range of vendors and innovative new products. Government-funded long term projects will benefit the most from using ONVIF-conformant componentry. In India very few consultant prescribe ONVIF product, basically they still not clear about spec of ONVIF profiles. In UK, USA, Australia whether it is rail, roads, national or local projects, ONVIF has to be a key consideration in government-funded projects.

More systems will be ONVIF conformant and people buying products will be able to choose new and innovative solutions – like thermal cameras – as they become available, based purely on quality and cost instead of the manufacturer. That is a much simpler decision for them to make and the best products will rise to the top and remain in the market. There will also be more opportunities for systems to interoperate so that systems can be shared.

Each ONVIF profile has a fixed set of features that must be supported by a conformant device or client. Realizing a need for the standardization of communications between IP-based physical security products, Axis Communications, Bosch Security Systems and Sony Corp. in 2008 formed the Open Network Video Interface Forum (ONVIF).

ONVIF has surpassed 10,000 conformant products that meet its global interoperability standards, further broadening the organization’s offering and relevance in the IP-based physical security marketplace.

Membership is open to manufacturers, software developers, consultants, systems integrators, end users and other interested groups. The organization’s membership base covers six continents and offers more than 9,000 profile-conformant products.

How important is it for devices to be able to openly communicate, with some sort of standardization in effect? The technology researchers at the Gartner Group predict that by 2020 there will be 50 billion devices connected over IP networks, or what’s known now as the Internet of Things (IoT).

As ONVIF standards have evolved they have been designed around a list of performance profiles. Each ONVIF profile has a fixed set of features that must be supported by a conformant device or client. An example would be that an ONVIF Profile S device must work with other ONVIF Profile S devices.

Within each profile are product features listed by ONVIF and classified as mandatory (M), conditional (C) or optional (O). You can check online at the ONVIF Conformant Product List page and search for compliance confirmation. Do remember smarter video systems play a clear role in generating data.

To get an idea where products for your next project stand, here’s a look at current ONVIF profile specifications.

ONVIF Profile Specifications

For electronic access control systems:-

• Profile C conformant devices and clients support site information, IP door access control and event and alarm management.
• Profile A devices can retrieve information, status and event, and configure entities such as access rules, credentials and schedules. Conformant clients can provide configurations of access rules, credentials and schedules. The client can also retrieve and receive standardized access control-related events.

For IP-based video systems:-

• Profile S could be a camera or video encoder that can send video data over an IP network to a Profile S client. A client might be video management software (VMS). This profile also covers pan/tilt/zoom control, audio, multicasting and relay outputs for conformant devices and clients that support such features. So it addresses common functionalities of IP video systems, such as video and audio streaming, PTZ controls, and relay activation.
• Profile G products such as a camera or video encoder device can record video over an IP network or on the device itself. A Profile G VMS client is one that configure, request and control recording of video data over an IP network. Profile G also includes support for receiving audio and metadata streams. So it addresses video storage, recording, search, and retrieval.
• Profile Q aims to provide quick discovery and basic configuration for Profile Q-conformant products. Profile Q also covers specs for TLS (transport layer security) configuration. TLS is a secure communication protocol to protect against tampering and eavesdropping.
• Profile T is a release candidate for IP-based video systems. It supports video streaming such as the use of H.264 and H.265 encoding formats, imaging settings, and alarm events such as motion and tampering detection. This profile is designed to work with Profile S and not replace it.

The most majority IP-based security products claim to compliant with ONVIF standard. However, when end-users try to install these devices marked with this standard might encounter some problems, such as network video recorder can't discover the IP cameras in the same LAN network, motion detection doesn't work. Why is this happening?

First, you need to verify that your installed devices are truly compliant with ONVIF standard. Some manufacturers often mark their products as compatible with ONVIF, although this is not true. It's better to buy/use the IP-based security products from members of ONVIF. You can find the full list of members/manufacturers who are verified to offer ONVIF compliant products.

Second, it's not possible to be ONVIF compliant only; the IP-based security products need to be compliant to a Profile as well. You can be ONVIF conformant only, but if you are it is not guaranteed that you would get interoperability between other ONVIF devices and clients. To truly reap the benefits of ONVIF, you need to be Profile S compliant as it dramatically increases the chance of things like video and audio streaming or video configuration and multicast actually working well together.

One may encounter cases within a set of devices with Profile S, having no problems with connectivity and video streaming, but with some functions (e.g. motion detection). It is usually caused by errors of the standard or, more often, by an incorrect implementation of the standard/profile made by the manufacturer. Such problems should be immediately reported to the manufacturer that, in turn, should release improved software. ONVIF forum is heavily working on new, improved versions of the standard, which will be debugged and more precise in terms of terminology.

ONVIF has suspended Dahua & HikVision on October 9, 2019.

ONVIF Benefits to End Users:

• Greater flexibility
• Increased product choice
• Future proof

ONVIF gives you the flexibility to pick and choose optimal products for your needs without being locked into a specific brand. An ONVIF conformant video management software, for instance, will allow you to integrate ONVIF conformant devices from different hardware manufacturers. With software that supports both ONVIF and proprietary application programming interfaces (APIs), you can choose to use the ONVIF interfaces for certain functionalities and the proprietary API for other features at the same time. Having ONVIF conformant products is like having an insurance policy that future-proofs your system for a more secure investment.

ONVIF offers thousands of conformant products from different vendors that support one or more.

ONVIF Benefits for System Integrators/Specifiers:

• Greater product choice
• Assured interoperability
• Easier integration

ONVIF conformant products allow you to create a flexible, cost-effective and future-proof system. ONVIF enables you to choose optimal products from different vendors. The conformant products allow you to be confident in their interoperability and makes integration of products from different vendors easier. The interoperable functionalities are determined by a conformant product’s ONVIF profile(s). 

Please share this handy guide to all consultant, System integrator & customers. After reading this guide if you ask any of them, what would make your life easier? They’ll likely reply with open source integration of systems. Well, it’s been some time coming, but it looks like that wish is becoming more of a reality these days.

Reset IP Security Cameras

Reset IP Security Cameras

If an IP security camera has failed or if some of its functions are not responding you may need to reset the camera. Every brand has its own resetting sequence. 

As per my last 12yr experience I have prepared this useful guide about how to reset IP cameras, with the help of IPVM.com (one of the most reliable and frontier information source of surveillance systems).

Reset Button Locations

There are a few common reset button locations, shown below. For added security some reset buttons may be located under the dome bubble or an access panel. For ease of access some reset buttons are located at the end of the whip or exposed on the exterior of the camera. Exposed locations are notably less secure than others, as they allow the camera to be reset without disturbing it, which could effectively take it offline.

3xLogic

3xLogic has two different reset methods for different series.

Visix V Series:

Press and hold the reset button for 2 seconds while the device is in use. System will reboot.

Visix:

Press the reset button and hold it for 10 seconds. This procedure will reset everything to the factory settings (password, username etc)

ACTi

1.                Disconnect the power cable.

2.                Press and hold the Reset Button. While continuing to hold the reset button, reconnect the power cable.

3.                After the power cable plugged keep holding the reset button around 6 seconds, release the reset button. The unit will reset to factory settings

ADI / W Box

Follow the same steps of Hikvision resetting procedure.

Advidia

Advidia has different resetting methods because of OEMs multiple manufacturers

A Series (HikVision OEM)

Follow the same steps of Hikvision resetting procedure..

B Series (ACTi OEM)

1.                Disconnect the power cable.

2.                Press and hold the Reset Button. While continuing to hold the reset button, reconnect the power cable.

3.                After the power cable plugged keep holding the reset button . The red Power LED light will flash on for 3 second first, turn off for about 15 seconds, flash on for another second and turn off again. This procedure takes around 20 seconds and camera will power up. Release the reset button.

E Series (Dahua OEM)

Press and hold the reset button until the blue LED (about 5 seconds) underneath the camera lights up.

Arecont Vision

*For MicroDome Duo , MegaVideo 4K and the new generation models

Press the reset button and hold 10 for seconds and then release the button.

ATV

4.                Switch off the network camera by disconnecting the power adapter.

5.                Press and hold the Reset button (SW1) on the board with your finger while reconnecting the power.

6.                Keep the Reset button (SW1) pressed for about 2 seconds.

7.                Release the Reset button (SW1).

8.                The network camera resets to factory defaults and restarts after completing the factory reset.

Aventura

Press and hold the INITIAL SET button for about 10 seconds while the power is on.

ANNKE

1.                Unplug camera from power source and NVR.

2.                press and hold reset button on camera for 20 seconds. KEEP HOLDING UNTILL the step let your hand go.

3.                keep holding reset button. At the same time, plug camera to NVR. ...

4.                hold on reset button for 20 seconds after camera is plugged into NVR and let hand go. NVR.

Avigilon

5.                Disconnect power source from the camera.

6.                Press and hold the firmware revert button.

7.                While holding the button, connect the power source back. Then release the button after 3 seconds

AXIS

1.                Disconnect product form the power source.

2.                Press and hold the control button while reconnecting power.

3.                Hold the control button until the amber lights turn on (up to 30 seconds)

4.                Release the control button. The process is complete when the light turns green.

Basler

1.                Disconnect product form the power source.

2.                Press and hold the reset button. Connect to power source back to device while holding the default button.

3.                Wait for 5 seconds and release the reset button

4.                Wait approximately one minute for the camera to finish the reset process and to reboot

Bosch

Press and hold the reset button for more than 10 seconds while the power is on.

Brickcom

Press and hold the Reset Button for more than 10 seconds

Canary

Hold the power button down for 12 seconds when the power is off.

Continue to hold until Canary Flex reboots (while light will be spinning) then release the button.

Cisco

1.                Press and release reset button. Wait for the Camera to reboot.

2.                Press and hold the reset button until the status LED rapidly blinks.

36300 and 6630 Cameras

Press and hold the reset button for 15 seconds

Dahua

Press and hold the reset button until the camera restarts (about 5 seconds) while the power source connected to camera.

Digital Watchdog

Press and hold the reset button for 5 seconds.

EZVIZ

Press and hold the RESET button for 3 seconds while the camera is on.

FLIR

Ariel

1.                Press and hold the reset button for 30 seconds.

2.                Both LEDs on the RJ45 connector are extinguished.After one second, the green network LED flashes once and remains lighted.

Others

Follow the same procedure for Dahua.

GeoVision

Press and hold the default button (for about 8 seconds) and release when status LED blinks

Hanwha-Techwin

Press and hold reset button for about 5 seconds to reboot the system.

Hikvision

Press and hold the reset button, power on the camera, continue holding for more than 10 seconds.

IQEye

1.                Disconnect the power source.

2.                Press and hold the reset button until the status indicator blinks. Then release the button.

3.                When the power indicator changes to green (may take up to 40 seconds), the process is complete.

Mobotix

Unfortunately Mobotix cameras do not have a reset button. They must be returned to the manufacturer.

Nest

1.                Press and hold the reset button on the bottom of the camera for several seconds while the power is on.

2.                Hold the button for five seconds (light will be yellow during this) when the light turns blue release the button

3.                When the blue light is faded, resetting is done.

Panasonic

1.                Disconnect the power source

2.                Press and hold the initial set button and plug the power back in.

3.                Keep holding for 5 seconds.

4.                Camera will boot itself for about 2 minutes then the resetting will be done.

Pelco

1.                Press and hold the reset button for 10 seconds.

2.                Press button down again and release to reboot camera.

Sony

1.                Turn off the camera.

2.                Press and hold the reset button while turning back on the camera.

Swann (for NHD-820/830/835/850/880/881)

1.      Reboot the camera by disconnecting the power source (Ethernet for PoE and power adapter for non-PoE) then plugging it back.

2.      Within 10 seconds of powering up the camera, press and hold the reset button for 10 seconds.

Uniview

1.                Turn of and turn back on the camera

2.                Press and hold the reset button until the PWR LED turns red. (about 15 seconds)

3.                You have 10 minutes to apply this procedure after the camera turned on.

Vivotek

1.                Press and hold the button for a few seconds.

2.                While you're holding down the button, the LED will go to POST (power on self test).

3.                Wait for the self-diagnostic to run twice.

Please keep it in mind, resetting a camera cannot solve the hardware problems and also it is not always accurate to solve software issues too.

Most trusted Security Camera brands in the Indian market 2018

Most trusted Security Camera brands in the Indian market 2018

Closed-circuit television or video surveillance cameras are often used to record or stream the videos live. It is then transmitted to a set of display monitors through a signal. CCTV camera system is one of the most secure forms of surveillance available in the market. It is widely used by restaurants, schools, offices, hotels, airports, public buildings, hospitals, and other important buildings or areas to monitor the activities and maintain peace and order. The use of CCTV cameras in these sectors are on a rise, and so is the demand.

The global CCTV camera market is poised to grow at 13% CAGR from 2017 to 2022 in order to become a market of worth more than $25 billion until the end of 2022. The global CCTV camera market is experiencing a huge amount of unstable growth because of mergers and acquisitions of top 10 CCTV camera brands in the world. Another evident pattern in the global CCTV camera market is the large number of CCTV camera manufacturers in USA, Asia, and Pacific region.

The international video surveillance marketplace is set to feel favorable progress driven by components such as rising global terrorism, Internet of Things (IoT) prospect and rising urban population. Further, the possibility of market expansion will be broadened by the improvement of smart cities worldwide and international economic growth. However, the growth of this budding market will be stalled by associated high cost, strict regulations and bad trading environment.

Here we sort a list of best CCTV brand in India according to their quality of products, service and price. In or order to get best CCTV brand in India.

Best CCTV brand in India is listed below who can provide you with the awesome products at the very reasonable price. In CCTV setup, maintenance is very important and when you purchased the setup from the best CCTV brand then you may able to get maintenance by the company.

1.     Prama HikVision

2.     CP Plus

3.     Gobbler (Tikmany Telesystem Pvt. Ltd,)

4.     TVT & Hi Focus

5.     Dahua

6.     Honeywell (Performance series )

7.     Zebronics & Sricam

8.     Watchnet

9.     Sony (BOSCH)

10.  Godrej

India is one of the biggest markets in the world, with growth in the technology and economic standard of the people are looking for security options and one of the best security option is CCTV Cameras. This makes the need for CCTV cameras has increased rapidly and many manufacturing companies have established their units in India for speedy manufacturing and supply.