oday, not only large modern enterprises and infrastructure facilities, but also small and medium-sized business owners are installing surveillance systems. After all, the high demand for surveillance systems has provoked the development of technologies and a decrease in the cost of equipment. VPS-UP experts provide comprehensive information on choosing a server for a video surveillance system, revealing the key selection criteria for optimal system performance.
What is a typical video surveillance system
To answer this question, you should familiarize yourself with the main components of a video surveillance system:
- A video camera for recording the environment and transmitting this information to a video recorder.
- A video recorder is a separate device or a PC with installed software that allows you to play video images on a monitor, process them, record them on external drives, broadcast a video stream to a server, etc.
- Infrastructure for connecting cameras and DVRs (switches, routers, etc.).
What are the types of video surveillance systems
They are divided into modern digital ones and more outdated analog ones that are still in use.
Analog video cameras capture an image with a lens and transmit a signal to a video recorder
Advantages of analog cameras:
- They are easy to set up and install. It is more difficult to connect an analog camera than a digital model.
- There are no delays or freezing of the image. Video stream of 25 frames per second is transmitted in real time.
- Compatible with other devices. Cameras and DVRs from different manufacturers will work well.
Disadvantages of analog cameras:
- Low image resolution, which differs significantly from the new standards.
- Difficult to configure for remote work.
- Limited scalability.
Digital IP cameras convert the image on the display into a digital signal via the TCP/IP protocol. The video is sent to a recorder or a remote server.
Advantages of IP cameras:
- They have many different functions, such as integration with other security systems at the enterprise.
- New IP cameras can perform video analytics, so if, for example, a person enters a restricted area, a screenshot will be triggered immediately.
- They are characterized by a high resolution of 12 megapixels and more, while analog models can only boast a resolution of up to 3 megapixels.
- They have a higher frame rate of up to 50 frames per second, which is twice as high as the analog model.
A significant disadvantage of an IP camera is its cost.
Read also: What is SSH and how to work with it
Tasks of the video surveillance system
Having invested in their own business, every entrepreneur strives to properly organize and protect their business from various factors:
- reduce the likelihood of theft;
- remotely control several objects;
- monitor the work of staff;
- protect the client of the institution.
Which company should install video surveillance? Any company whose owner cares about property and the efficiency of working time of employees in offices, production facilities, educational institutions, cafes, etc.
How to organize a video surveillance system: step-by-step steps
Let’s look at the main stages of implementing video surveillance at an enterprise.
Choose a camera and mounting location
Tips for choosing a camcorder:
- If the device is going to be installed outdoors, it should be adapted to weather factors.
- A camera with a backlight is better suited for shooting around the clock.
- The resolution should be at least 4-5 megapixels, but it all depends on the requirements for image detail.
- A camera with an integrated microphone is suitable for customer service in various establishments.
Before buying cameras, you need to determine their installation location and number. The image of one camera should not be duplicated by another. The height of the camera is optimally 3-4 meters. It should not be exposed to sunlight, spotlights, or other light sources. Modern cameras with a Wi-Fi module have their own IP address, which allows them to connect via an access point or the Internet.
Installation of video surveillance
To install the cameras, strong and high-quality dowels and screws are used to attach the devices to a hard surface. The reliability and efficiency of the system will depend on the correct installation. Therefore, it is better not to install it yourself, but to entrust the installation to specialists.
How to choose a server
To store and manage video camera recordings remotely, you need a virtual server. The technical parameters of the server will determine how long the memory will last and how clearly the video image will be transmitted.
The capacity of the IP server is selected for a certain number of cameras. A large number of cameras requires more resources. Video surveillance can be organized for only one place – up to a dozen cameras are enough. But it can be a video surveillance system for 100 or more devices, for example, in a shopping center.
A server with mediocre RAM and CPU characteristics can be chosen when it comes to recording and storing data. If you need storage media that can overwrite information many times, fast and fault-tolerant SSDs are better. However, the number of overwrites is limited, so you need to control this and change the SSD in time.
When you need to do analytics with images and video using special software, it is better to choose more RAM and a more powerful processor. After all, you need more computing power.
Advanced video surveillance systems can do all sorts of things: recognize people by their faces, car serial numbers, track customers, find and monitor moving objects, and more.
Important to know! Materials on the servers are deleted over time to make room for new gigabytes. In most cases, the data storage period is 7-60 days (the user chooses the overwrite time in the settings). You can record video on a schedule, when a motion detector is triggered, or continuously (it all depends on the type of object).
How to rent a virtual server
To do this, you need to follow the following algorithm:
- Choose a provider company, taking into account its reputation in the market, reviews, package cost (depending on the configuration), technical support conditions, etc. We advise you to pay attention to a VPS-UP provider that has its own data center. This ensures that your data will be in a safe place.
- Determine the configuration of the virtual server in terms of performance, number of resources, type of operating system, etc.
- Sign a virtual server lease agreement, which should specify the cost and duration of the lease, the package of services, the rights and obligations of the parties to avoid problems.
- Pay the lease and get access to the back office server from the provider.
- Install the appropriate software and configure the video surveillance system.
Virtual servers attract users because of several advantages:
- Optimal resource utilization: They allow you to distribute the resources of a physical server among several virtual machines, which contributes to the efficient use of server capacity and reduces unused resources.
- Flexibility and scalability: You can change resources without moving them to another physical server. This allows you to quickly respond to changes in workload or project needs.
- Cost savings: The cost of virtual servers is usually lower because resources are shared among multiple users, reducing hosting costs.
- Speed of deployment: Virtual servers can be set up quickly, allowing you to get started quickly.
- Security and isolation: Each virtual server is isolated, which provides a certain level of security. Failure of one server will usually not affect the others.
A video surveillance system is no longer a luxury, but a daily necessity for companies that care about their customers, their property, and their interests in disputed situations.
