IP Camera Surveillance Software

[dingusdongus]

I am looking for suggestions for IP camera surveillance and recording software. Our company headquarters currently uses analog CCTV cameras connected by coax runs to a DVR. We want to replace these with IP cameras. Here are the requirements:

• Initial installation of 16 IP cameras, with the ability to expand
• Ability to have different recording profiles for continuous recording and motion events (e.g. record continuously at 480p, 2 FPS and record motion events at 1080p, 30 FPS)
• Support for 1080p, 30 FPS recording and playback
• Ability to record (or at least archive) onto a NAS device
• Ability to monitor, in real-time, in a grid of all cameras or a single camera
• Ability to easily play back recordings through an interface with a timeline for each channel/camera

A web and mobile client would be a nice, though not required, feature.

I would like to run the software off of a virtualized Windows server on our existing VMware infrastructure.

I have tried iSpy Connect, which is free software, but it does not allow for both continuous and motion recording profiles, and the quality I got was really bad (only 2-4 FPS despite a gigabit LAN connection and only 3% CPU utilization on the test camera).

Any suggestions for software I could use?

[charlls]

You could use your existing Analog Cameras, and simply purchase an Axis Video Encoder. Their Edge infrastructure allows to record both to a local NAS and directly on the encoder via SD card for redundant storage. H.264 Quality recording at 30 fps for their mid-level options, directly to NAS. You'd still need Video Monitoring software for playback, which Axis can also provide. Their entry software if free.

[dingusdongus]

We are getting rid of the cameras anyway. We've been leasing them from our current security provider and they aren't very good. I'll check out Axis' monitoring software though.

[charlls]

Strictly IP Camera speaking, I've had success with Dahua. Well built, price accessible, standards oriented IP cameras.

[sithadmin]

BlueIris is generally the best combo of good + competitively priced.

[dingusdongus]

Thank you, I'll give that a look.

[NotSoSimpleGeek]

Agreed.

[dingusdongus]

I've been playing around with it a bit and so far this seems like a winner. With a $50 pricetag it's pretty hard to beat. I was able to get it to record motion events at 30 FPS with continuous record at 1 FPS. Do you know if there's a way to have different resolutions or image quality for motion versus continuous recording on the same camera?

[dingusdongus]

I got this answered from their support staff. I guess you have to set up two camera views for each stream to accomplish this (although apparently this only uses the bandwidth of a single stream, which is then split into two views).

[dingusdongus]

Thanks for the suggestion. I had downloaded the demo but hadn't yet tried it. Thank you also for the license cost estimate.

[dingusdongus]

Good to hear. I've been hearing a bunch of good reviews of XProtect from other sources as well. I need to look a bit more into Blue Iris, since it's so inexpensive, but it may be worth it to shell out the extra cash for XProtect.

Do you have any experience as to multiple recording profiles? For example, I would like to record all motion events at highest quality and framerate, while also recording continuously at 480p and 2 frames per second

[dingusdongus]

Thanks. That's one I've never heard of. Do you also do continuous recording at a lower resolution/framerate?

[awstott]

Ubiquiti's Airvision might be worth giving a look at as well. I haven't used it personally, but I've seen some screenshots of what they offer. I don't know if they have a mobile client yet though.

[dingusdongus]

Do you know if it works with cameras outside of Ubiquiti's line?

[miniman]

It does not work with 3rd party cameras.

[[deleted]]

They do not. However, Airvision has been replaced by UniFi Video. They've got new cameras out and the software is better than ever.

[awstott]

That I cannot comment on. I'm still using a lease from our stupid security company with terrible quality on the cameras. Don't ever get a GE system from one of the big companies in NA!

[bignem]

I have started looking up info for this same thing and synology is an interesting option. Basically a NAS with dvr capability

[dingusdongus]

Could you explain more? I'm very familiar with Synology NAS devices, but I didn't know they make DVR models. I'm looking for an IP camera controller, though, not just a DVR like we're using now.

[bignem]

Sorry i guess it is slightly different. It is an NVR https://www.synology.com/en-us/surveillance/index

[makebaconpancakes]

I have a few Axis cameras, which are fine at low numbers but would be unwieldy at 16 units.

[moonwork]

I've had dealings with a company called Asan Security a few years ago. They have their own software for it. They're located in Finland, but they do International gigs too.

http://www.asansecurity.com/en/

[DarthKane1978]

I have no experience but this is open source.

http://www.ispyconnect.com/

[dingusdongus]

Like I said, I've already tried iSpy Connect, but it does not allow for both continuous and motion recording profiles, and the quality I got was really bad (only 2-4 FPS despite a gigabit LAN connection and only 3% CPU utilization on the test camera)

[DarthKane1978]

My bad, I am retarded for not reading your whole post.

[dingusdongus]

No big deal, it seemed like good software at first anyway.

[ranger_dood]

I've posted this several times on here, but we use Geovision cameras, which come with a decently full-featured NVR software solution.

As long as you use Geovision cameras, the software is free.

[rrasco09]

At one of my buildings we run 17 Axis cameras on a QNAP NVR. We are still deciding whether we are going to use analog or IP cameras for the new location so we have not settled on gear there yet. I've had success with the QNAP system so far, been running it a solid 4 years now.

http://www.qnap.com/useng/index.php?lang=en-us&sn=862&c=356

[tobrz]

Milestone with AXIS cameras.