Hi everyone, to be honest I am newbie with VMS but the client asking my boss for this kind of setup that includes not only cams and nvr but also workstation with Milestone software + eventually additional network storage.The cameras will be 12pcs with 4mp resolution.Their will be security guard that will observe the cameras on monitor.That is the whole information that I know.Till now I have made only installations with NVR , so this look much more complex and more expensive than the usual projects.For me is unclear because there will be nvr and PC workstation /I suppose that Milestone software will be installed on it/, why eventually they will need additional storage?I appreciate if you can give me any guides or advices about this setup and for what parameters of PC should looking for?Thank you very much.
So, XProtect Express+ is the most popular Milestone VMS for smaller, single sites like this.
You'll need a base licence to install the software on your machine and a device licence for each camera.
It's also highly recommended to purchase Care Plus so that you can access software updates and support from Milestone - you'll need one Care Plus licence for each device licence (so 1x base licence, 12x device licences and 12x Care Plus licences in your case) - just be aware that the Care licences need to be renewed, so it's a recurring cost to consider.
Milestone Systems is a comprehensive open platform IP video management software for mid-sized installations. Buy from a UK supplier.
www.use-ip.co.uk
Then, you have a couple of options...
Use a single computer to act both as the server (to store recordings) and for viewing the cameras, with the Recording Server, Management Server and Smart Client installed. This limits your storage capacity though, so is only suitable for small systems and depends on how long you'd like to store the recordings for. A single computer setup is only really suitable for viewing a 4-8 camera streams simultaneously, depending on CPU and RAM.
Use a separate, dedicated server for recording (with space for more hard drives which can be more easily swapped in the event of a failure), and another machine for viewing. This is recommended, especially if you may add more cameras in the future. Recording multiple high-resolution camera streams is resource-hungry, so dedicating a server to this helps avoid bottlenecks when running the viewing and managing the system on a different machine.
Milestone sell their own machines, with models suitable for all-in-one or separated systems. It's worth looking at those for an idea of their recommended specs:
With six surveillance appliances to choose from, the new Milestone Husky IVO™ series has you covered for video management solutions of most scales and specifications. Explore it here.
www.milestonesys.com
You can also find their hardware requirements for Express+ and the Smart Client here for those using their own machines:
See the minimum requirements for a wide range of Milestone products.Find out which system requirements are needed for the Milestone product you are buying in terms of VMS software, operating system and hardware.
www.milestonesys.com
Their Husky calculator is useful too, as it shows which of their machines they recommend and storage space required for your planned setup (e.g. cameras, recording settings, encoding and required retention period):
Once you have the cameras and hardware, it's worth trialling any VMS before buying the licences.
Milestone offer a 30-day trial for Express+ here.
You can also download their Essential+ software, which is completely free to use with 8 cameras and can be installed on a single machine - it has fewer features than Express+, but is a good way to see if your client gets on with the software:
Get the free version of Milestone XProtect, the award-winning video management software for security cameras.
www.milestonesys.com
Phil's discussed some of the other options in these posts - e.g. if you're looking to use a NAS specifically, Synology Surveillance Station is a good option:
Schools often come to us and ask us to recommend CCTV software. Cost is frequently a driver. Many schools had their original system built using corporate CCTV / VMS software, which typically incurs an annual ongoing support cost. Unfortunately, many schools and their IT departments are simply...
Hi, we're currently tendering for a new 100 camera system for our school and one on the contractors has proposed a Dahua system. All of the others have gone Hikvision, which is also where my experience lies. I've never heard of Dahua, can anyone give me a guide as to quality and support?
