Viktor

We're trying to design a system for a local pizzeria chain. The chairman wants to have both on-site and remote recording from a couple hundred cameras set up on 30-ish pizza joints, and remote and mobile viewing capability. They already have a system that uses a hodgepodge of IP cameras but it has been troublesome for them, especially since the DSL lines here in Mexico are somewhat unreliable. They also asked to have to buy as little hardware as possible, so a full server might be out of the question, and we'll have to stick to DSL. We were thinking of setting up local systems hooking individual DVRs (embedded? PC-based?) and a set of the IP cameras they already own to a hub which in turn would connect and stream the video feed through a VPN to a cloud-hosted NVR so it can be viewed remotely in a sort of centralised off-site security room. We don't have a lot of experience in the field, so we were wondering if this setup is viable, or even possible. Any input on brands, models and software that could help us achieve this will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Greetings, name's Viktor. A friend and I just are just getting started on CCTV surveillance for home security, trying to get a small business up and running. Hope I'll be learning fast about all technical aspects of installation and equipment.

Yeah, we were considering that because the chairman wants local recording... hybrid DVRs can mix and manage both IP and analog and then stream the data right? Thanks for the advice people, you've given me a lot to chew on. Our goal was (is) to keep the system as simple and streamlined as possible running from a remote central surveillance console without having to get new server hardware. Bandwidth is indeed going to become one of the main issues.

Compatibility with the gear they already own is a big issue, I'll have to go over GeoVision and AVer's supported hardware lists once I get the full inventory. I really don't know what to think about that local DVR, since all the cameras they own are IP, going for analog seems to complicate the matter further. Might as well go full IP, let's hope the expense for each camera's NVR license and growing cloudhosting costs doesn't scare the pizza guys too badly *dreads next meeting*. Also, someone suggested Milestone's Xprotect. Choices, choices...

I know, this job is gonna give me nightmares eventually... 5 cameras per site on average, 1 front access, 1 rear access/locker room, 1 counter/cashier, 1 kitchen, 1 parking spots. I still haven't got a full list of the camera brands or models. Local DSL is supposed to be 4Mbps in all restaurants, and is shared with POS and timekeeping software running on their network. I'm assuming the video feed will suck up most of the bandwidth, but I don't think the other software they run will suffer.