Just went through this myself, I did a few and the Axis stuff is solid but bloody expensive with the software. I now typically rollout Axis IP cameras and intend on using Zoneminder for software with the next line.
I am not 100% sure about where axis software is right now, but the last run in with it caused me some grief, the (then) current version required a good graphics card on the video server? WTF? Since when did enterprise storage and server manufactures put good graphics cards in rack mount servers? I had to ask for a key for the previous version. Given the required reliability, I wasn't about to whitebox something up, lame... So grab a analogue server, and look at Zoneminder, it will be cheap and work well. You export storage of any type under it, very versatile. jlc From: Glen Johnson [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 1:46 PM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: Network video recorder Reading the thread "home servers" and looking at the recent network maps and seeing a surveillance DVR reminded me to ask the collective this. We currently have about 28 analog camera but the recorders are crap. Slow to search for events and don't provide more than a few days storage. I'd like to purchase some video servers, aka analog to ip converters and software to record the camera. We will also migrate to IP camera as budget and time permit. So far I've narrowed our selection down to NVR from video-insight and their VE4 encoders. The encoders come with camera licenses so that is a plus. I've also looked at the AXIS line of converters and they look good on paper, are well supported but would cost more since I'd have to purchase the video-insight software separately. My questions is, what software if any, do you recommend for setting up a network video recorder. I have a Dell 2950 with 2.5tb storage for video, and plenty room for the OS and apps. I'd prefer to start out with server 2008/x32 as the os but this isn't a deal breaker if there is something out there that beats video-insight but only works with server03 os. Any suggestions, horror or success stories. Glen. ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~
